Isabel A. Ortiz

It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Isabel A. Ortiz. Surrounded by family, Belle triumphantly entered heaven’s gate on July 12, 2023. In the days prior, Belle was serenaded by hundreds of mariachi musicians who paid tribute to the Mother of Mariachi Music Education.

Belle was born on February 12, 1933, to Guadalupe & Roy Aguilar. She was raised on San Antonio’s west side along with her beloved younger brother, Roy Aguilar, Jr. She began playing the piano at age four and performed professionally with Latin orchestras throughout the city. She graduated from Sydney Lanier High School and Our Lady of the Lake University with a B.A. in Performance and Music Education.

In 1953, she married Daniel San Miguel, Jr., and their family grew with the births of Leticia, Daniel III, Annabelle, Rosanne, and Roland.

Belle began her teaching career at Edgewood Elementary. She taught at Mackey Elementary (NISD) before accepting a position in the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD). At Barkley Elementary, Belle started Los Tejanitos, a folkloric dance and music group, to help her students proudly showcase their cultural heritage. In 1968, she returned to her alma mater, Lanier High School, and began the nation’s first high school ballet folklorico program. The curriculum was extremely successful. With Belle’s vision, the program was expanded to other SAISD schools. Belle launched the first full high school mariachi program at Thomas Jefferson High School and created college mariachi education programs at San Antonio College and Texas A&I University in Kingsville. Because of Belle’s efforts, today over 2,500 school districts, colleges, and universities throughout the world offer their students mariachi education.

It was through mariachi that Belle met Juan Ortiz. Their professional collaboration birthed the first International Mariachi Conference & Festival, and Mariachi Universal. At the suggestion of Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán, the group was renamed “Mariachi Campanas de America”, after Belle.

Belle and Juan married in 1982. Together, they utilized their talents to grow Mariachi Campanas de America into an award winning group of multi-talented musicians. They have performed at The White House for five Presidents, at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, with numerous symphonies in the U.S., at International Festivals, and at many premier venues worldwide. Belle and Juan founded the Texas Association of Mariachi Educators (TAME). Mariachi Campanas de America leads the annual Serenata de La Virgin de Guadalupe at San Fernando Cathedral each year on December 11th.

Belle was active in many community organizations and served on numerous boards to include the Mexican American Unity Council, the Texas Diabetes Institute, the Ford Education Foundation, the Vikki Carr Foundation, and the San Antonio Area Retired Teachers’ Council. Belle was inducted into the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Main Plaza Conservancy, the 2018 Inspire Award of SAISD Foundation, the Distinguished Service Award from SAISD, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber, the Our Empowering Women of San Antonio award, and the LULAC National Education Award. She was a member of the San Antonio Area Retired Teachers Association, Las Madrinas, and was very active in political campaigns, serving as a Democratic precinct chair for many years.

Belle was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Roy, Jr., her first husband, Daniel San Miguel, Jr., her son, Daniel San Miguel III, her daughter-in-law, Amada San Miguel, her granddaughter-in-law, Samantha Isaacs Van de Putte, and her great grandson, Rex Van de Putte.

Belle is survived by her husband, Juan Ortiz, and her children and their spouses, former State Senator Leticia and Pete Van de Putte, Annabelle and Federal Judge Orlando Garcia, Rosanne and Pastor John Valenzuela of Grace Point NE, and Roland and Cindy San Miguel. Belle cherished her twenty grandchildren and their spouses: Dr. Nichole Van de Putte and Jason Stiles, Vanessa Van de Putte and Hugo Sulaica, Jr., Henry Van de Putte III, Gregory Van de Putte, Isabella Van de Putte, Paul and Sarah Van de Putte, Daniel San Miguel IV and Lisa Molina, Adriana San Miguel, Angela Alcantara, Andrea Gonzales, Robert and Meredith Garcia, Lisa Garcia, Moses Valenzuela, Brian Valenzuela, Yvonne Valenzuela, Meagan Valenzuela, Timothy Valenzuela, Sean Valenzuela, Juan Rolando San Miguel and Alejandro San Miguel.

Belle adored her great grandchildren Julian, Jove, and Marlo Stiles, Hugo III and Hero Oliver Sulaica, Henry IV and Camila Van de Putte, Asher Van de Putte, Elliot Taylor, Coy and Claire Barnes, Evelyn Rose Van de Putte, Ezra Daniel San Miguel, Tyler Molina, Arianna San Miguel, Avery and Emily Garcia, and Rose Valenzuela. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren affectionately called Belle “Mamo”. Belle was beloved by numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and compadres.

Belle’s great talent and passion for the piano never dwindled. Through her instrument, she united and inspired people in song throughout her lifetime and until her final days. Belle will be remembered by her compassionate spirit, quick wit, irresistible charm, contagious smile, her ability to inspire and empower people, and her unwavering love for family and friends. She was a woman of deep faith, always believing that Jesus Christ was her Lord and Savior. If anyone said “I love you” to Belle, her reply was always, “I love you more.”

Services will be held on August 8th 2023, at Grace Point Church, 9650 Huebner Road. The public viewing will be at 5:00pm and the Celebration of Life and Rosary will begin at 6:30pm. Funeral service will be held at 9:00am on August 9th at Grace Point Church, with burial at San Fernando Cemetery II, 746 Castroville Road, at 11:00am.

As a lifelong educator, it was Belle’s wish to assist students in achieving their higher education goals. To support the Belle Ortiz Mariachi Legacy Fund, gifts may be sent to the SAISD Foundation, 2411 San Pedro, San Antonio, TX 78212, or online at saisdfoundation.com, with “Belle Ortiz” in the comment section.