Viola Garcia Garza

Viola Garcia Garza, age 97, passed away peacefully surrounded by her three children on February 19, 2025. She was the wife of S.A. Garza and a wonderful mother, a grandmother known as Nina to eight, a great grandmother to seven, and a dear neighbor and friend to many in the Austin community. She is deeply missed by all.

Viola was born on August 30, 1927, in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. She spent her formative years with her five siblings and family members in McAllen, TX, or on nearby ranches in Texas and Mexico. As a young girl, she spent summers in Monterrey, Mexico with her aunts. She spoke Spanish fluently. She attended the University of Texas in Austin at a time when a college education was not typically expected of women. With her bilingual skills, she worked part time at UT’s International Student Office on campus. She met students from all over the world which gave her a unique viewpoint on the importance of a global perspective. Viola enjoyed college life as an independent, working student, thriving on fun social interactions, the vibrant student life, and the beauty of Austin. She was selected as a Blue Bonnet Belle at the University of Texas. She graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1948. She also met and in 1951, married her beloved S.A. Garza, a civil engineer. Their shared love for UT, sports, and for the city of Austin inspired them to make it their permanent home. Their 71-year marriage was full of love, laughter, exciting travels, life-long friends, and mutual respect.

Viola was also a dedicated career woman who had over 50 years of financial, business operations, and real estate experience. She took great pride in being her husband’s professional partner as they founded S.A. Garza Engineers, Inc. In 1963, they established their office in the historic Scarborough Building in downtown Austin. As Vice President, she managed administrative infrastructure, including facilities management, contract negotiations, accounts receivable and payable, banking relationships, and human resource management. Known as the “velvet hammer”, Mrs. G, as she was called by employees, was a formidable negotiator who asked the tough questions. She was known for her tenacity and strong commitment to the success of their company, which they sold in 1996. During this period, she helped S.A. coordinate and open engineering offices outside of Austin, including San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Edinburg, and Laredo. Beyond her work in the business world, Viola was a leader in professional and civic organizations including the Pan American Roundtable, Texas Society for Professional Engineers-Travis County Chapter (as President and member of auxiliary), National Chapter of the Auxiliary Board of Society of Professional Engineers (President), Urban Renewal Board for the City of Austin, Austin Symphony Guild Board, and the City of Austin Child Commission. Viola and S.A. enjoyed many social, neighborhood, and community events throughout their marriage. They also loved to travel regionally and abroad with family and friends. A role model for working women, she inspired and mentored many who followed in her footsteps.

Viola and S.A. Garza were married at St. Mary’s Catholic Church where they were active members until later joining St. John Neumann Catholic Church. Her unyielding and powerful faith guided and comforted her and her family throughout her life. She often shared with many her steadfast devotion to her faith and prayers to her “Friend upstairs”.

Above all, Viola was a devoted mother and grandmother. She cherished every moment with her three children, shaping their character while building a legacy of family traditions, inspiring priceless family stories and strong family ties. She especially loved traveling with them to South Texas and Mexico and attending UT football games. She assertively offered guidance, tough advice, and unconditional encouragement and support no matter what life obstacles arose. Viola and S.A. were very strong proponents of the power of education and instilled a love of learning and hard work for their children. They placed high expectations for educational excellence, which was reinforced with praise, motherly bragging, and gentle pushes toward continued academic achievement.

Viola was called Nina by the eight grandchildren. Together with S.A., called Papa, they carried on this support to the next generation of the Garza clan, providing a constant and loving presence both as companions and confidantes through life’s challenges. Each grandchild carries a special memory of an international travel story with Nina and Papa, each filled with joy, beaches, dancing, and a little tequila. Viola was known to proudly boast about the many accomplishments of each of them. In addition to free advice, Viola and S.A. were readily available for babysitting, attending sports events, eating at a cafeteria, attending baptisms, first communions, graduations, marriages, and other important life events. This is how Viola spent her free time, always focusing on immediate family, or cousins, aunts, nieces and nephews, uncles, or distant relatives and friends. Their travels took them to all parts of the United States, Mexico, South and Central America, the Caribbean islands, Europe, especially Italy, Spain, and England, and as far as China. Later in life, they purchased a hillside home in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. It has become a beloved, peaceful gathering place, known as Casa Nina, for wonderful memories with family and friends.

Viola is survived by her children and their spouses, Drs. Diana (Didi) Garza & husband Peter McLaughlin, Cclinda & David Hetherington, Rudy & Theresa Garza, her eight grandchildren and their spouses, Lauren & Bryant Black, Kaitlin & Kevin Necas, Kevin McLaughlin, Nicholas & Laura Hetherington, Christina & Peyton McDonaugh, Isabella Hetherington, Seve & Katie Garza, and Carlotta & Austin Garza-Kilkullan. Needless to say, these wonderful, devoted spouses were all officially approved by Viola prior to their marriages into the family. Viola is also survived by seven great grandchildren, Rudy & Eva Garza, Noah Hetherington, Poppy McDonaugh, Joaquin Black, and Luca & Francesca Necas. Even though they are still young, they met and enjoyed spending time with Viola during her last years.

The Garza family wishes to thank the all the loving caregivers, nurses, and chaplains who helped Viola during the past few years at her home, at Querencia, and Halcyon Home & Hospice Care. Their compassion and professionalism were a major comfort to Viola and our entire family. They cared for her with dignity, joy, and the utmost kindness. A special note of thanks goes to Maraba DiRaddo for her kindness, companionship, and ever-positive outlook for Viola. Our family will always be grateful.

A Memorial Mass and Celebration of Life is scheduled for March 28, 2025, at 10:00am at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 5455 Bee Cave Road, Austin, TX. 78746.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the University of Texas Exes, Garza Scholarship for Engineering Students. This scholarship was lovingly established by Viola and S.A. Garza many years ago and continues to provide funding for the education of engineering students. It can be accessed directly at www.texasexes.org/GarzaScholarship.