Dr. Saldaña grew up in Laredo, Texas, as the second of seven siblings and a large extended family throughout the US and Mexico. He played high school football and was a member of the track team at St. Joseph's Catholic High School. He attended St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology in 1967. He then pursued his medical degree at the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL) in Monterrey, Mexico, graduating in 1973. While at UANL, he was asked to try out for the football team and was awarded a scholarship for the entire time he attended.
In 1968, Tony eloped with Nella Johnson and they later married in the Catholic Church. Together, they built a boisterous family with six children. Tony and Nella had a 58 year marriage and focused most of their time on raising their children and nurturing their relationships with family and friends. Tony’s life was buoyed by the love of his wife and her ability to provide and maintain a loving home supporting his career and their children’s upbringing.
Dr. Saldaña dedicated his career to radiology. He taught pharmacology at UANL before completing his internship at Bexar County Hospital in San Antonio. He was a radiology resident at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA), where he served as chief resident and instructor. He later became an assistant professor before joining M&S Imaging Associates in 1980, becoming a full partner in 1983. He practiced radiology with distinction until his retirement in 2012.
Beyond medicine, Dr. Saldaña found immense joy in family life. He was an avid photographer, capturing treasured moments with his loved ones. He embraced the lively gatherings of Sunday brunches and dinners and found peace in reading—often retreating to the quietest corners of the house with a book in hand. A cowboy at heart, like his uncles in Laredo, he remained passionate about ranching and cattle trading at his beloved ranch, El Encino.
Dr. Saldaña was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved daughter, Rebeca. He is survived by his brothers and sisters, Miguel Saldaña MD, Carlos Saldaña DDS, Martha Schmidt RN, Ana Irene Saldaña Bruni MSW, Patricia Semmelmann, and Maria Josefina Saldaña PhD; his children, Jose Antonio “Tony” married to Patricia Dominguez, Miguel married to Diana Cardozo, Rebeca, Carlo, Ana Cristina married to Kiran Thyagaraja, and David (MD) married to Rachel Arnold. His legacy continues through his twelve cherished grandchildren, Tony III, Emiliano, Sebastion, Natalia, Liam, Ava, Josie, Analisa, Carlo, Mayuri, Olivia and Zoe.
The family invites friends and family for a visitation Monday, March 24, 2025 at 6:00 pm, at Porter Loring Funeral Home, 2102 N Loop 1604 E, San Antonio, Texas. The rosary will follow at 7:00 pm.
A funeral service will be the next day, March 25, 2025, at 1:30 PM at St. Matthew Catholic Church, 10703 Wurzbach Rd, San Antonio, Texas.
Tony’s memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.
