Julio Cesar Garcia

It is with tremendous sadness, the family of Julio Cesar Garcia share the news of his passing on March 30, 2023, at the age of 75. He leaves his wife of 52 years, Mary Gwyndalyn; eight children, Colleen (Steve) McMasters, Eric (Erin) Garcia, Aaron (Laura) Garcia, Joseph Garcia, Benjamin (Lisa) Garcia, Sonia (Matt) Arminio, Julie (Jacob) Sonn, and Christopher Garcia (David Cole) and 22 grandchildren. He was loved and admired by many as a son, brother, husband, father, brother-in-law, uncle, teacher, coach, and great friend to many.

Born in Guines, Cuba in 1948, Julio was the cherished son of Julio Luis and Julia Garcia and older brother to Jorge. He spoke fondly of his childhood there playing with toy soldiers amongst the tropical fruit trees in their yard and playing baseball in the street with his friends. He admired his parents, describing how his mom helped him with schoolwork and how his dad was his “best buddy,” taking him fishing and teaching him to swim by tossing him overboard. Sink or Swim: throughout his life, Julio demonstrated the tenacity and strength required to swim.

At the age of 13, Julio fled Cuba as part of Operation Pedro Pan. Spending much of his teenage years in Camps Matecumbe, Opa-Locka and foster homes, Julio explained that he “missed home a lot but got used to the American way.” He became Catholic in the tenth grade and in what he described as “quite an adventure” was taken in by Catholic Charities in Fort Wayne, Indiana where he lived with 14 other boys and attended Central Catholic High School. Julio credited much of his success to the teachers and counselors he met at CC, and that is where he met his future wife, Gwyn Richardson, the eldest daughter of a large Catholic family with 11 children. Julio said that when they met, it was nice to be with her family.

A proud graduate of St. Francis College and IPFW, Julio earned a Bachelors in Education with a major in Spanish and a minor in Psychology as well as a Masters in Spanish and a minor in Developmental Reading. He taught for Fort Wayne Community Schools for 26 years mainly as a Spanish teacher and track coach, impacting thousands of lives. As Julio and Gwyn grew their family, he also worked during the summers performing school maintenance and teaching adult ESL on weeknights. He took great pride in sending all eight of his children to Bishop Dwenger High School, IPFW, Notre Dame, and Northwestern Universities.

After retirement, whilst battling kidney disease, Julio focused his energy on his large family and his faith. Regularly attending Mass as a parishioner of St. Vincent de Paul and frequently calling friends and relatives, he was eager to chat with others. He will be remembered for his social nature, his great dance moves, and his love of sports. He was the one on the sidelines cheering us all on. Julio’s was a life marked by strength and immense love. He will be greatly missed.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00am, Monday, April 3, 2023, at St Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 1502 East Wallen Road, Fort Wayne, with calling one hour prior. Calling will also be held from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8pm, Sunday, April 2, 2023, at D.O. McComb and Sons Pine Valley Park Funeral Home, 1320 East Dupont Road, Fort Wayne. Burial will be in Highland Park Cemetery, Fort Wayne. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Catholic Charities, the National Kidney foundation, or the Alzheimer’s Association.