Dr. Carlos R. Estrada, age 83, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on the 26th of January 2021. He was born on the 21st of September 1937 to Amanda and Rodolfo Estrada in Guatemala City, Guatemala.
He graduated from medical school in Guatemala where he received his medical degree, and completed his residency in Neurology and Neurosurgery at the Hospital General in Guatemala City. During that time, he was also a great political leader. He helped in facilitating an important part of the political movement that was taking place.
In 1965, at age 28, he received an invitation from Karl Menninger to bring his family to the United States and further his studies at the Karl Menninger School of Psychiatry & Mental Health Services in Topeka, KS. During his 21 years in Topeka, he served in many different capacities at the Menninger Foundation, including faculty member, lecturer, and clinical supervisor.
He continued his expertise of child, adolescent and adult psychiatry, psychoanalysis and forensic psychiatry when he moved to Corpus Christi, TX in 1985. There he became the Medical Director that opened Bayview Hospital. At that time, he also opened his own practice, Coastal Bend Psychiatric Associates. In addition, he also contracted with all of the local hospitals in the Corpus Christi area. In 1999 when Bayview closed its operations, Dr. Estrada and several colleagues were able to purchase the hospital. When it re-opened as Padre Behavioral Hospital, he continued treating patients and served as Medical Director. The hospital eventually sold in 2011 and became what is now Bayview Behavioral Hospital. In 2014 he closed his private practice but continued treating patients and serving as Medical Director of the hospital. Upon his retirement in 2019 he was honored with the Fountain of Hope, at Bayview Hospital “For his dedication and commitment to excellence in patient care and love for people. He has saved countless lives and improved the quality of human life in our community for over 30 years.”
Dr. Estrada was a member of the American Psychiatric Association, American Psychoanalytic Association, the International Psychoanalytic Association, the Texas Medical Association, the Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians, and the Nueces County Medical Society.
When Dr. Estrada was not helping and working in the community, he loved to spend time with his wife, Elana Estrada and their family. His passions included gardening and caring for his yard, traveling, dancing, and singing with his grandchildren, taking daily sunset walks with his martini, accompanied by his wife and family.
He will forever be remembered for his witty sense of humor and for sharing the many fascinating stories of his life. He will be remembered by many as “the gifted Dr. E” and “the most interesting man”.
He is survived by the mother of his daughters, Yolanda Batres and his four daughters, Dr. Luina (Craig) Estrada Barbieri, Patrizia Estrada Batres, Dr. Lilian Estrada, Mayri (Craig) Erwin. His wife, Elana Estrada and his step children, Sunshine (Mark) Thompson, Gina Oliva & Chris Fonseca, Gabriel (Jennifer) Oliva, and Elana (Jared) Perez. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Jimmy, Justin, Megan, Ariana, Isabella, Madelyn, Jayda, David, Emilia, Ally, Layla, Skylar, Elessia, Bella, along with numerous family in Guatemala.
Papa Carlos, We love you forever.
Virtual services for Dr. Estrada will be held on Tuesday, the 9th of February, 2021 at 12:30 PM. Please visit: http://cagemillsfuneraldirectors.com or www.tinyurl.com/cestrada for service links.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.CageMillsFuneralDirectors.com for the Estrada family.
