Connie Tupino Montoya

Connie Tupino Montoya, age 76, passed away on Friday, April 1, 2022, in San Antonio, Texas. She was born on October 23, 1945, in Iloilo, Phillipines to Esperanza Tupino and Pedro Altaya Montoya. For one childhood birthday her father gave her an English language dictionary, Connie made a solemn promise to him that she would learn the spelling and meaning of every word. Connie attained a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Guam and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Northern Colorado. Her first job was as a medical social worker for disabled children with the government of Guam, Mariana Islands. She then filled the position of special needs teacher in Boulder, Colorado and Fort Campbell, Kentucky. She took a position as a Behavior Management Specialist with the Department of Defense Heidelberg, Germany District schools. Upon return to the United States, she held positions once again as a Special Needs Teacher with Northside and Northeast school districts, culminating in her retirement at Stahl Elementary School with forty-one years of service in the Special Needs educational specialty field. She held a Texas Educator Certificate for Life in Generic Special Education (Grades PK-12) and Seriously Emotionally Disturbed and Autistic (Grades PK-12). She received the Northeast ISD Superintendents Award in recognition of her selection as Teacher of the Year for Stahl Elementary for 1997/1998. One of her proudest accomplishments was completing the comprehensive training and qualifying as a Docent at the San Antonio Museum of Art to conduct tours; she particularly enjoyed doing the tours for school children. Connie had an innate ability to connect with special needs children and touched a lot of lives over the course of her professional career. She always had a smile and kind word for everyone she interacted with in her daily life. And, true to her promise to her father, she was a lifelong crossword puzzle enthusiast. She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Amy Michelle Senecal; and nephew, Iain Montoya. Connie is survived by her husband, Stephen Gardyasz; daughters, Stacy Jasmine Goodyear and Kathryn Goodyear; stepdaughter, Rebecca TruLove (Nathan); stepson, Alex Gardyasz (Jenna); step-grandchildren, Nicolas and Piper; brother, Ignacio Tupino Montoya (Fe); sisters, Helen McRae (Dan) and Jessica Montoya Sanchez (Larry); and several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends beginning at 6:00 pm on Monday, May 2, 2022, at Porter Loring Mortuary North.

ROSARY

MONDAY, MAY 2, 2022

7:00 PM

PORTER LORING MORTUARY NORTH

2102 NORTH LOOP 1604 EAST

FUNERAL MASS

TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2022

12:00 PM

ST. JOSE LUIS SANCHEZ DEL RIO CATHOLIC CHURCH

21140 GATHERING OAK

Interment to follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the San Antonio Museum of Art.