Santos "Tito" Guerra

MCALLEN-Long time McAllen resident Santos “Tito” Guerra entered eternal rest on January 20, 2018 following a prolonged illness. Born on November 15, 1946 in Alamo, Texas, the sixth of 11 children, he moved to McAllen, Texas in 1951.

His parents Emigdio Canales and Dora Guerra and two brothers Carlos and Pedro Guerra preceded him in death.

His three children Mariesa Guerra, Bryon (Xotchitl) Guerra and Taryn (Daniel) Santos and five grandchildren, Sebastian and Alexia Guerra and Brodyn, Ellaryn and Jake Santos, survive him. Five brothers Emigdio Guerra Jr.; Gilbert Guerra; Horace Gavin; Ernesto Guerra; and Armando Guerra; and three sisters Elia Lopez; Corina Lopez and Irma Ruiz also survive him.

A 1965 graduate of McAllen High School, Tito was a star athlete in football and baseball. He quarterbacked the McHigh Bulldogs to the state quarterfinals in 1964. He was captain of the football team and was named All-District that year. Tito attended Pan American University before transferring to North Texas State University in Denton, Texas where he received his Bachelors Degree in Physical Education and a minor in Mathematics. He coached football and baseball at several Valley schools and was instrumental in the development of the McAllen Parks and Recreation Municipal Park Baseball League. Here, he created the first all-girls baseball team, organized McAllen's Baseball World Series Tournament and engaged young athletes from low economic households to share in his love for the game of baseball. In addition to being a community football and baseball leader, he was a highly respected math teacher. Tito spent the majority of his forty-six-year teaching career at Lincoln Junior High School in McAllen where he retired in May of 2002. That same year he began teaching math at Veterans Memorial High School in Mission. Tito was a larger-than-life figure and a positive influence to so many both in and out of the classroom. Throughout his teaching career he would engage, challenge and inspire his students. He was a mentor who taught not only sports and math but also greater life lessons that would guide his students to success in life. He is remembered as one of the most outstanding and dedicated teachers who changed lives and gave students confidence in their abilities. The impact he had on young lives was legendary.

In 2009, he fulfilled a life-long dream when he went to New York to see his beloved Yankees play. He received a media credential that gave him access to the field, the press box and to Monument Park, which houses the bronze statues and plaques of many Yankee greats. "It was a memorable and enjoyable trip," Tito said. "Probably more enjoyable, though, will be telling my students what I did on my summer vacation." That was Tito's forte -- always thinking about his students.

Lastly, as a father and grandfather, his impact will never be forgotten. He taught not only the fundamentals of sports, but also the fundamentals of life. Respect, discipline, love for your family and, “Sin Ganas, No Ganas!”

Memorial Services will be held at Palm Valley Funeral Home in Pharr, Texas on Saturday, January 27, 2018 from 10:00am to 12:00pm with a Celebration of Life beginning at 12:00pm. Burial of ashes to follow.

The family requests in lieu of flowers contributions be made to Amara Hospice or The Comfort House.