Antonio Aguirre Jr., “Dr. A” or “Tony,” of Tivoli, Texas, passed away in the comfort of his own home on January 15, 2024. He entered this world on December 26, 1947 in Beeville to the late Antonio Aguirre Sr. and Margaret Garcia Bela.
After high school, Tony served in the U.S. Air Force, and then started his lifelong love for education. He was the first in his family to attend college and once he started, there was no stopping him as he earned his undergraduate degree and then completed a Master’s and a Doctorate’s degree in education from the University of Houston.
He used these degrees to serve the community of Austwell-Tivoli ISD by being a teacher, principal, and retiring as the superintendent. He held a strong belief that every student should have an opportunity and success to him was seeing one of his former students doing well after graduation. Anyone who knows Dr. A, also knows his passion for directing the high school one-act play which he continued up to his last days. He has had the honor of directing numerous award-winning casts and competing at the state level of the University Interscholastic League.
Tony has known his wife, Lydia, since she was nine and he was eleven. It was a well-known story in our family that he returned to Texas from the U.S. Air Force with plans to buy a car, but ultimately that car became a ring for Lydia, which was the best decision of his life. Cars only last so long, but their love, respect, and support for one another has endured for 53 years after marrying on July 5, 1970. Five years later, they welcomed their daughter, Sarah. Tony and Sarah had a strong bond that was always evident. There were times where Lydia and Troy (Sarah’s husband) compared notes (or commiserated) regarding the similarities between those two.
Aside from his family and career as an educator, Tony had a range of hobbies over the years that included hunting, fishing, photography, and painting each of which he pursued with a passion. He was able to travel the world including Italy, Israel, Finland, Mexico and various road trips within the United States. He also was a life-long Catholic and a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church.
Towards the end of his journey, he reflected on his time, and summed it up by stating, “I have no regrets. I have lived a good life.” which is possibly the greatest achievement of all.
He is survived by his loving wife, Lydia Aguirre; daughter, Sarah Aguirre (Troy Williams); his siblings, Patsy Rivera, Sylvia Baker, and Nora Bela; and his half-siblings, Daniel (Ulrike) Aguirre, Gloria Butchard, Roy (Carri Gulbransen) Aguirre; Samuel (Rebecca) Aguirre, Lisa (Hector) Vega, and Valerie (Fakri Sadeh) Aguirre. He also leaves behind several cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, as well as many friends, all of whom he loved dearly. In addition to his parents, Tony was preceded in death by his step-father, Saragosa Bela and brothers-in-law, Eloy Rivera and Richard Villarreal.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 21, 2024 from 3-5 p.m. with a rosary to be recited at 5 p.m. at Colonial Funeral Home in Victoria. Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. on Monday, January 22, 2024 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Tivoli with Father Richard Kozial and Father Victor Ponnuswamy officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in Tivoli Cemetery.
Serving as pallbearers are Anthony Aguilar, Ray Chavez, Pat Gyllenband, John Moraida, Randal Rivera, and Gus Rodriguez Jr. Honorary pallbearers are Bobby Benavides, Arnulfo Perez and all former and present staff of Austwell-Tivoli ISD and students.
Memorial donations may be made to Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Tivoli Cemetery. Words of comfort and special memories may be shared with the family at www.colonialfuneralhomevictoria.com.
