Silvestre Antonio Ortiz, M.D., 77, of Victoria, passed away December 16, 2023. Silvestre was born July 29, 1946 in San Juan, Puerto Rico to the late Aglaé Ortiz Marin and Silvestre E. Ortiz. Silvestre attended various primary schools in Puerto Rico as he would on occasion leave the school in a taxi and be suspended from kindergarten. He then moved to Panama where he lived until seventh grade and again attended every school in the Canal Zone, at this point, Pipo was sent to Staunton military academy in Virginia until early high school when he was asked to leave. As his grades were exemplary (except in hyperactivity) he was admitted to San Ignacio High School in Puerto Rico where the Jesuit priests finally found a channel for his energy and he became a prefect. He graduated with honors and went to the University of Puerto Rico for his undergraduate and later the University of Puerto Rico Medical School. During his college career, he joined the ROTC and went onto Brooke Army Medical Center where he became a radiologist and served in the United States Army. He went to Kentucky then back to San Antonio where he was recruited to come to Victoria, Texas, and join a small practice. The rest is history. He worked until 2021 with a brief hiatus where he worked moonlighting in San Antonio and the adjacent area.
Silvestre is known by his friends and family for his happy personality, constant wit, and generous nature. As a passionate man, he was passionate about everything he did, his work, his kids, his golf, his hunting, his cars, and his friendships. If he was your friend he would be by you until the end. He was fair and brave battling cancer and later a neuromuscular illness that affected his ability to breathe without a ventilator, to talk, to eat ice cream. He still loved his life, always smiling and joking.
He was passionate about flying instilling that love into his son who became a helicopter pilot. He loved his sisters and remembered them fondly. He also loved golf, scuba diving, traveling, collecting guns, hunting, and motorcycles.
He enjoyed and loved all his children and grandchildren.
He was a great teacher, a great father, a great dog owner. He was a great husband and his wife is just happy to have been married to him from 1 month after meeting him until his death 36 years later. Life will never be the same for anyone who enjoyed his smile.
He died watching his Steelers play with his dogs on his lap.
His wife has said his epitaph will be, “He made me smile.”
Silvestre is survived by his wife of 36 years, Marisol Montes Ortiz; children, Carmen M. Segovia (Andy) of Spring, TX, Erika T. Ortiz of Victoria, Ana C. Jensen (Kris) of Denver, CO, Silvestre “Ucho” D. Ortiz of Prescott, AZ; grandchildren, Millie Segovia (Alexis), Andrea Segovia, Anna Mae Butchee, Lauren G. Wilson, Izzie Jensen, Paxton Jensen; great-granddaughter, Rozlyn Segovia and sisters, Marie Ortiz and Aggie Ortiz both of Puerto Rico.
He is preceded in death by his parents.
A visitation for friends and family will be Thursday, December 21, 2023, from 5-7 pm at Rosewood Funeral Chapel with a rosary to be recited at 7 pm.
A Funeral Mass will be Friday, December 22, 2023, at 10 am at Holy Family Catholic Church followed by full military honors under the auspices of the Victoria Veterans Council.
Pallbearers are Zac Zambrano, Tod Gann, Silvestre “Ucho” D. Ortiz, Kris Jensen, Andy Segovia, Brice Tyler Pope, Jaden Michel Biesenger, Andrew Charbula and Paxton Jensen.
Memorial donations may be made to the Wounded Warriors Project.
A heartfelt thanks to all the doctors and nurses at CMC MICU and ER who took such great care of him (us). Also thank you to the nurses and doctors at both PAM long-term facilities and PAM outpatient. Special hugs to PAM wound care who saw him weekly and accommodated us.
A special thanks to Dr. Juan Llompart who came to our home and helped me at the time of his death surprising the officers and EMS Crews.
Thank you to the officers present, particularly, Officer Keil who was very kind and understanding, and thank you to the EMS Crew.
A very special thank you to his caretakers, Macarena, Lorena, Nancy, Lulu, and Mayra. He loved them. Hugs to the two angels at Rosewood Funeral Chapel, Kristi and Cassie for their wonderful support.
Also thanks to Lindsay and Inelda from SAIL/WAVE who put up with 2 years of home ventilators for Silvestre.
Words of comfort may be shared at www.rosewoodfuneralchapel.com.
