David Emil Mrizek

MAY 26, 1946 – MARCH 20, 2016

David Emil Mrizek, beloved husband, father, teacher, confidant, and servant of God, died peacefully on Palm Sunday – the first day of spring – March 20, 2016, surrounded by loved ones.

David was born in Berwyn, Illinois – a Chicago suburb - on Sunday, May 26, 1946 to Emil August and Rose-Marie Mrizek, both of Czechoslovakian descent.

David was a man of perpetual motion with boundless energy, loving to ride his bicycle throughout his life, motorcycle, water ski, snow ski, hike, play racquetball, and climb trees. He had a great love for music and played the saxophone in elementary school throughout high school as a band member. While in high school, he also was a member of the diving team. He received his B.S. in Education and M.A. in Rhetoric and Public Address from Eastern Illinois University. After college, he served in the U.S. Air Force for 4 years at Lackland Air Force Base, while also becoming an adjunct faculty in the Theater & Communication Department at San Antonio College. From 1974-1996, he held a full-time faculty position. During that period, he served as chair of the department for 13 years, was the Director of Forensics, the Speech Coach, participated in theatre, and served on the faculty senate for 6 years in elected leadership positions.

Beginning in 199 6, he moved from teaching to administration, serving in the following positions until his death: Director of Institutional Planning & Evaluation, Budget Officer & Institutional Effectiveness, Chief Financial Officer, and finally, Vice President of College Services.

He was a major force in the creation of the American Sign Language & Interpreter Training Department, as well as in the Scobee Education Center (Challenger), the Tobin Lofts, Ecco Central, and the future Veterans Center. His colleagues have described him as "a visionary," "a man of complexity and scope who had a hand in the modernization and construction of every building on campus since the 1990's," "dearly loved and admired."

In 1972, as a member of Grace Bible Church, he was instrumental in establishing the San Antonio Christian School (SACS), spending countless hours serving on the board and during the planning phase. Over the past 35 years, he has been a faithful member of Alamo Heights United Methodist Church serving on the board of trustees, teaching the Pilgrim's Sunday School Class for 25 years, singing in the choir for 25 years, and being a member of and chairing the Scholarship Committee for many years. Outside of work and the church, he was an avid reader of current events, scientific articles, biographies, historical books, and sci-fi. David was a builder of many things around the house, following in his grandfather's footsteps, a home builder in Chicago, and was also a handyman who could fix anything. He was a self-taught mechanic who repaired his own vehicles, a gardener (loved to mow the grass; to" dig in the dirt & delve in the soul"), a cook, an animal lover, and a helper to his wife in her genealogical research through the years. Ending a 9-year well-fought fight with cancer, we hear a triumphant song: "A long life of service has come to a close, and thy servant has gone into the presence of the Lord."

Left to cherish his memory are his wife: Ann; children: Kellie (Tony), Kristie, Nisa (Bryce), Michael (Caroline), & Emily (Isaac); grandchildren: Kaitlyn, Thomas, Grace, Chase, João, sister: Suzi (Jim), niece: Angela (Jason) and nephew, Michael (Nicole), great nieces: Sarah, Alia, Milly and great nephews: Andrew & Matthew and many friends and coworkers.

Memorial Service: April 4, 2016, 11:00 am, at Alamo Heights United Methodist Church, 825 E. Basse Road. Reception immediately following.

In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to: Alamo Colleges Foundation-David Mrizek Memorial Fund, c/o Alamo Colleges Foundation, 1819 N. Main Ave., San Antonio, TX 78212-3941 or Alamo Heights United Methodist Church Scholarship Fund, 825 E. Basse Road, San Antonio, TX 78209. You are invited to sign the Guestbook at www.porterloring.com