That Friday, before dawn broke, Mario (Nino) Loya awoke to take his daughter to the airport to join her twin across the state. He never hesitated to help his three girls-gently encouraging them through college, school bands, and their careers. And he was “all ears” when spending time with his kids and grandkids.
While doing errands for his properties his heart gave out, but he fought to keep going with his whole family supporting him by his bedside. He lived on his terms and was a faithful husband, father, thinker, history buff, and retired postal worker who was never heard uttering a complaint.
If you were fortunate to speak with Nino, you’d hear stories about his bare-foot summers in the Segundo Barrio or how teachers swatted kids’ hands at school for speaking Spanish. He was thrilled to describe the Northern Lights he saw while stationed in Alaska or tell you the details about the 1966 basketball games of the Texas Western College championship team. Family and friends will remember the jokes he made repeatedly and how fluent he was in English, Spanish, and sometimes French.
Born in La Cruz, Chihuahua and a ‘68 graduate from “La Jef,” Nino has his parents, Manuel and Francisca, to thank for selling their land and migrating north to the borderland where they eventually raised him and his successful sisters known as Chata, Chita, Gela, Coco, and Tere. When the family was celebrating his eldest sister’s wedding at the LULAC hall, he spotted a young lady with long, dark hair who had recently moved to El Paso. As introverted as he was, he couldn’t help approaching this beautiful guest and admitted to her that he didn’t know how to dance but that if she was patient he would try his hardest not to step on her. While they were dancing, Mario asked her if she liked the dance hall to which she replied, “Yes, it’s pretty.” He quickly added, with perhaps the most confidence he had ever mustered, “Well then, in one year we shall get married here.” And he was right.
We will forever adore you, daddy. We stand stronger and more knowledgeable through your humble hard work, guidance, and patience.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions in Nino’s name to Children’s Connections El Paso. https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://epccinc.org/donate/__;!!M2D_dUfSiN4E!bx5aQ1cJaV3rJhGGX8PdS7u_BTE7hzG3HEOhf3mQheb4v0mHJJ0-VyZMgget9cnnA8o$ [epccinc[.]org]
