Ricardo Dominguez Flores

Ricardo Dominguez Flores died peacefully at home surrounded by family in Austin, Texas on Monday, August 31, 2015. This summer marked his 70th birthday and was two months shy of his 45th wedding anniversary. Ricardo was born in Sinton Texas on August 9, 1945, to Anita Dominguez and Estaban Flores. Ricardo was a kind, patient and loving husband, father and friend. He was always willing to help and did it with a smile. He was steadfast in his views and a die-hard Democrat. He will be greatly missed but his smile and his spirit will always be remembered.

Growing up as a migrant farm worker made his early life unique and challenging. He did not attend regular schools and instead he worked to help his family. Because of the rigorous work schedule and the migration, he was only able to finish school through the 6th grade. He decided he needed to better himself with an education so he joined the Gary Job Corp to get his GED. However, after completion of the program, he was drafted by the United States Army at the age of 21. He served two years with distinction, overseas in Germany, and was honorably discharged at the age of 23. College was his next goal, so using his GI benefits to attend college, he worked, went to school and proudly graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1977, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History. Being one of the first in his family to graduate from college was quite an accomplishment. While attending college he discovered the sport of tennis and it became a lifelong passion. He met the other love of his life, Betty Flores, while attending college and they married in October 1971. Ricardo worked many different jobs to provide support for his family and finally landed in real estate up until the crash of the early 80’s. He then began his 22 year career as an Economist for the State of Texas until he retired in 2014.

Ricardo was very active in the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). He worked tirelessly to champion for equality and justice for the underserved and underrepresented. He also served as a mentor in the Austin Independent School District to encourage school children to read and provide guidance to them to be successful students.

He has been a long standing, active member of the Capital Area Tennis Association, including being a member of its Board of Directors. Playing tennis, teaching tennis and promoting all things tennis was in his soul. He would help anyone who wanted to learn the game and he was a great instructor. He was also an active member of the University Catholic Center located on the University of Texas at Austin campus.

Ricardo spent the last months of his life enjoying as much time as he could with his two grandchildren, Mason and Callie Maxwell. In addition to his grandchildren, Ricardo is survived by his wife, Betty Flores, daughter, Vanessa Maxwell and son-in-law, Matthew Maxwell, and his son, Joaquin Ricardo Flores. He was preceded in death by his father, Estaban Flores and brother, Ruben Gomez and survived by his mother, Anita Gomez and his brothers, Raul Flores, Ernest Flores, Jesse Flores, Robert Gomez, Tony Gomez and Carlos Gomez and his sisters, Yolanda Flores, Carmen Gomez, Concha Revuelta, Irene Graham, Juanita Flores, Margarita Villanueva, Dora Brock, Eva Gonzalez and Susan Herrera; numerous other relatives; and a host of friends.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., Friday, September 4, 2015 at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home with a Prayer Service at 7:00 P.M. in the Chapel. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 3:00 P.M., Saturday, September 5, 2015 at University Catholic Center, 2010 University Avenue with Father Ed Nowak, CSP, Celebrant.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like contributions to be made in Ricardo’s memory to the Ricardo Flores Memorial Fund through the Capital Area Tennis Association (CATA) at http://www.austintennis.org/ or CATA, c/o Ricardo Flores Memorial Fund, 5511 Parkcrest Dr., Suite 104, Austin, TX 78731.