Toby X Portillo Jr.

December 29, 1962 – October 12, 2026

It is with broken hearts and a sadness that words cannot fully express that we announce the passing of our beloved father, Toby Portillo Jr., who passed away on October 12, 2026, at the age of 63, in Austin, Texas.

Born on December 29, 1962, in Austin, Texas, Toby was a father, grandfather, brother, and friend whose presence, personality, and love left lasting memories with everyone fortunate enough to know him.

A proud graduate of the University of Texas in 1991, Toby was an intelligent man with a lifelong passion for sports. He enjoyed playing golf, shooting pool, and watching his favorite teams, especially the Texas Longhorns and San Francisco 49ers. Whether he was watching a game, enjoying a round of golf, or playing his weekly pool games with his eldest son, Jeremy, he found happiness in the activities and moments that brought him closer to the people he loved.

To his children, Toby was so much more than the things he enjoyed or the accomplishments he achieved. He was Dad. He was smart, loving, caring, sometimes stubborn, and always uniquely himself. He had his own way of showing love, and although life was not always perfect, his desire to be present in the ways he could meant more than he may have ever realized.

Some of the most meaningful memories his children will carry are not necessarily the big occasions, but the ordinary moments that now mean everything: the conversations, the laughter, the familiar sound of his voice, and the jokes that never seemed to get old.

Anyone who knew Toby knew he had a sense of humor that was entirely his own. His children will especially remember his unforgettable expressions, including “That’s what she said!” and the famous “Bigga, bigga bee!? … AH!”—a silly saying from their childhood that somehow followed them all the way into adulthood. No matter how old his children became, he could say those familiar words out of nowhere and, for just a moment, bring them right back to being little kids with their dad.

Those are the memories that will never fade—the ones that may seem small to others but mean the world to the people who shared them.

Toby loved his children and grandchildren, and he genuinely treasured the time he could spend with them. He also loved all the animals his children brought home; even though he would say otherwise, the pictures show that love. As a grandfather, he held a special place in the lives of Ethan, Paytyn, and Enzo. His family will forever cherish the moments they shared and the memories that will continue to connect them to him.

Losing a father means saying goodbye to someone who has been part of your story since the very beginning. It means realizing that the moments you thought you would have more time for have suddenly become memories. There are conversations we wish we could have again, laughter we wish we could hear one more time, and moments we would give anything to experience once more.

But even in the heartbreak of losing him, we are grateful that we got to call him Dad.

Toby was preceded in death by his parents, Hipolita and Toby Portillo, and his brother, Jesse Portillo.

He is survived by his three loving children, Jeremy Xavier Portillo; Taylor Noelle Martinez and her husband, Essau; and Zachary Ethan Portillo.

He also leaves behind his three cherished grandchildren, Ethan Joseph Juratovac, Paytyn Lilia Juratovac, and Enzo Gabriel Martinez.

Toby is further survived by his siblings, Maria Sanchez and her husband, Lorenzo; Lucinda Sanchez; and Christopher Portillo and his wife, Kymberlen. He also leaves behind Melissa Georgette Thomsen, his former spouse of nearly 20 years and the mother of his children.

Though Toby’s passing leaves a profound emptiness in the hearts of those who loved him, the love he gave and the memories he created will remain with his family always. His voice, his laughter, his familiar sayings, and the everyday moments he shared with those closest to him will continue to bring comfort and remind us of the special place he held in our lives.

We will miss the opportunity to make new memories with him, but we will never stop remembering the ones we were fortunate enough to share. We will speak his name, tell his stories, laugh at the things he used to say, and make sure his grandchildren know the man who was their grandfather.

He will be deeply missed, forever loved, and carried in our hearts for generations to come.

An intimate remembrance of Toby’s life will be held at Cook-Walden Capital Parks Funeral Home in Pflugerville, Texas. Cremation arrangements will follow.

Until we meet again, Dad. We love you, and we always will.

With all our love,

Jeremy, Taylor, and Zachary