Daniel Orozco

Daniel Orozco, 67, of Austin, TX, passed away on Sunday, April 6, 2025. He was born on September 22,1957 in Brenham, Texas. In 1965, the Orozco family moved to Austin, Texas, where Dan spent the rest of his life with the exception of a brief period in Chicago, Illinois. He was a 1976 graduate of McCallum High School and attended the University of Texas-Austin.

His entire career was spent in various library systems including the Austin Public Library and Loyola University-Chicago. But his last library job was as a librarian at the University of Texas Architecture and Planning Library where he worked for 31 years. Battle Hall became his second home, where he supervised student workers and other staff, many of whom became his lifelong friends and support system. The memories he carried from his time there–Christmas decorating, UT graduation receptions, birthday celebrations–were, undoubtedly, some of his most cherished.

Dan’s UT pride was very evident in his support of all things Longhorn, particularly Longhorn sports, and he always had a lucky Longhorn shirt to wear come game time. Dan loved music and, with his friend Eloise, loved to attend the opera. He also loved to read and at least once, missed his bus stop on the way home from work because he was so engrossed in his book. His fondness for movies perhaps came from his young adult years as an employee at Capital Plaza Cinema but carried through into his favorite Netflix movies. After his retirement from UT, Dan found time to garden and cook and loved to do both. He had fun occasionally venturing to Giddings with his sister Mary and brother-in-law Kookie for plants that he would bring home and plant in his pots on the porch. In recent years, Dan also joined Mary and Kookie on family vacations to Rockport and Galveston where he enjoyed time with their kids and grandkids.

Throughout his medical journey of dialysis and a successful kidney transplant last November, he continued to be the Dan we all knew. He never lost his gift of gab and love of laughter. He was diligent about maintaining connections with his vast network of friends through phone calls and the occasional shared meal. He enjoyed his time with his large family, particularly at the Easter family reunion, Thanksgiving, and the August family dinner. Dan delighted in being surrounded by his many nieces and nephews, and he loved to joke and laugh with all the many cousins with whom he shared his childhood. He especially cherished his long phone calls with his beloved Aunt Marcelina.

Dan was preceded in death by his father, Lorenzo Orozco, Sr. and his mother, Juanita Orozco. He is survived by sisters, Mary Irene Negrete (Refugio J.A. “Kookie” Negrete), Austin; Rose Linda Ochoa (John Z. Ochoa, Jr.), The Woodlands; Theresa Guerrant (William B. Guerrant III), Austin; Martha Orozco (Rebecca L. Robertson), Houston; and brother, Lorenzo Orozco, Jr. (Ann Orozco), Cedar Park. He is also survived by his many beloved nieces and nephews: Jennifer Nicole Fry (Kris), Pflugerville; George Louis Negrete (Nicole), Pflugerville; John Z. Ochoa III (Courtney), The Woodlands; David Orozco Ochoa (Emily), Fairway, KS; Stephanie Michelle Matthews (Kenny), Austin; Lauren Marie Guerrant (Simon Thexton), London, UK; Emma Mizoue Orozco, Cedar Park; Great-nieces and -nephews: Julia Gomez (Isaac), Jaye Cerda, Makayla Fry, Georgia Fry, Adriana Negrete (Joseph Riojas); Jai Negrete, Allexis Negrete, Zaniyah Negrete, all of Pflugerville; Olivia Ochoa, John Z. Ochoa IV, Henry Ochoa, James Ochoa of The Woodlands; Ophelia Ochoa, Evangeline Ochoa of Fairway, KS; Peyton Matthews, Duke Matthews of Austin; Great-great-nieces and -nephews: Lily Gomez, Lina Riojas, Daisy Riojas, Joseph Riojas. Finally, he is survived by his long time best friend, Josh Bailey, who supported him through these last years of medical challenges with his constant encouragement and love, for which Dan’s family is very grateful.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (wildflower.org), the Human Rights Campaign (HRC.org), or the National Kidney Foundation (kidney.org).

A Celebration of Life Service for Daniel Orozco will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in the Great Hall, 4801 La Crosse Ave., Austin, TX 78739.

10:00 - 11:00 - Continental Breakfast and Visitation

11:00 - Celebration of Life Service