Victor Manuel Garcia Perez
- Published: November 28, 2019
Victor Manuel Garcia Perez
Victor Manuel Garcia Perez, 79, of Yellow Springs, passed away peacefully on Nov. 20, 2019. Victor was born on July 9, 1940, in Mexico City, Mexico, the son of Victor Garcia Gomez and Dinah Perez Diez.
Victor immigrated to the U.S. in the 1960s to continue his education. He completed his doctoral studies at the University of Missouri, which led him to teach at Antioch College as a professor of Spanish and Latin American Literature and History. During his very long tenure at Antioch, he pioneered an engaging, effective method of instruction, leading to a very high Spanish fluency rate in his students. He also developed and led numerous study-abroad programs, which allowed students to get a long-term, immersive experience in his native Mexico, Costa Rica and Cuba. In addition, he conducted several scholarly trips to Cuba and Japan and served as an electoral observer in El Salvador.
While widely respected for his teaching and scholarly activity, he was equally engaged with the community at large. A progressive humanist and social-justice warrior, he championed racial, economic, and gender equality. He was an active member of H.U.M.A.N. (Help Us Make A Nation) and DCASC (the Dayton Central America Solidarity Committee), and he helped found Del Pueblo, an advocacy group offering a range of services to the Spanish-speaking community.
Victor spent every day of his life as if it were his last — with energy, optimism and compassion for others. His passion for life, love and justice and his strong spirit made him a unique individual who positively touched the lives of many. He cherished the time he spent philosophizing and debating politics with friends, and he could always be counted on to be the humorist. He was an avid aficionado of Mexican soccer and a loyal Cincinnati Reds fan. He loved to travel; his adventurous spirit and natural curiosity drove him to explore the world and taste different cultures. He treasured his family immensely and was a warm, respected father figure to many generations.
Victor was preceded in death by his parents, Victor Garcia Gomez and Dinah Perez Diez; father-in-law, Gregorio Lopez Munoz; sister Maria Montes Garcia; and brothers-in-law Jesus Montes Castro, Jaime Cardenas Peña, and Edgar Lopez Flores. He is survived by his spouse, Erendira Lopez Garcia; daughter and son-in-law, Dinah and Mark Tolley; son and daughter-in-law, Victor and Heather Garcia; son Emilio Rodrigo Garcia; grandsons, Alexander and Alan Tolley; granddaughters, Anna-Marie Parthun, Kelsey Lorraine Parthun and Shelby Elisabeth Parthun; great-granddaughter, Layla Rose Sleeman; sister Dinah Garcia Cardenas; brother and sister-in-law, Rafael and Rebecca Garcia; mother-in-law, Elvia Lopez Flores; brothers-in-law Gregorio and Jair Lopez; sister-in-law, Martha Jimenez; and several nieces and nephews.
The family will hold services Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, at 11:00 a.m., at St. Paul Catholic Church, 308 Phillips Street, Yellow Springs. A friends-and-family gathering to honor Victor will follow at Vernet Ecological Center at 405 Corry Street in Yellow Springs. Contributions in Victor’s memory may be made to www.delpuebloinc.org.
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