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Leonel Castillo Obituary

Leonel J. Castillo, 74, passed away on November 4, 2013. He is preceded in death by parents, Seferino and Anita Castillo, and sister, Mary Castillo. He is survived by his loving wife, Evelyn Castillo, daughter Avalyn Langemeier and son-in-law Paul Langemeier, son Dr. Efrem Castillo, 9 grandchildren, his brother Seferino Castillo and spouse Angie Castillo, his sister Anita Serrano and spouse Jim Serrano, and brother-in-law John Castillo.
Born June 9, 1939 in Victoria, Texas, Leonel obtained his Bachelor's degree from St. Mary's University in San Antonio, his Master's degree from University of Pittsburgh, and honorary Ph.D. degrees.
As a young idealist, Leonel volunteered for the Peace Corps and served in the Philippines, where he met his wife of over 50 years. Leonel then moved to Houston in 1967 with his family and soon became involved with local neighborhood organizations. He organized across racial lines and worked to find common ground on important issues to each community, including integration and better educational opportunities for the children of Houston.
He served as Director of SER-Jobs for Progress and board member of Catholic Charities and the Memorial Hermann Hospital advisory board. He was one of the co-founders of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Houston International University. He also was a teacher at the University of Houston and Texas Southern University.
As a civil rights activist, he served our city and country. Elected City Controller in 1971, Leonel became Houston's first Hispanic elected official. He served as Commissioner of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service under President Carter. He also served as education liaison and advisor to Houston Mayors Lanier, Brown and White.
Leonel will be missed as a husband, father, grandfather, mentor and friend to many people.
The visitation will be on Friday, Nov. 8, from 6 pm to 9 pm at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 6723 Reed Road, Houston, Texas 77087, with the rosary at 7 pm. The memorial mass will be on Monday, Nov. 11, at 2 pm, at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart at 1111 St. Joseph Pkwy (at San Jacinto), Houston, Texas 77002. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to your favorite charity or Houston International University, 1620 Crockett Street, Houston, Texas 77007.

Published by Houston Chronicle on Nov. 7, 2013.
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Memories and Condolences
for Leonel Castillo

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Miss you more as the years go by. Your wisdom and discernment is truly missed!!!

Shirley Gonzales

November 1, 2021

I miss your smile and all the wisdom you gave me. Praying for your family.

Shirley Gonzales

November 1, 2020

Thoughts of Leonel from his early days throughout his life. Started working with Leonel at Neighborhood Centers. A wonderful coworker and friend. My thoughts of him throughout his community and national endeavors. My thoughts join his family.

Evangeline Soto-Chairez

Coworker

November 1, 2020

Evelyn I can't believe I did not hear about Lone's passing. In part it was because my family and I were still grieving my father's death that same year in July. I do hope Lone did not suffer. I have always held the both of you in my heart inspite of the distance in years and miles. As a brand new naturalized citizen it was my priveledge and great fortune to have met you when he came back from Washington to run for mayor. I learned so very much from both of y'all about the political process and the greatness of the USA. But mostly I was blessed with the friendship both of you gifted me with .
I am back in Shreveport,LA.
Your most respectfully and gratefully
Marta Elena PINEDA

Marta Elema Pineda

April 22, 2016

I met Mr. Castillo in 1969 when I was a 1st year teacher at Lamar Elementary on Gentry Street. He was a teacher's advocate and a humanitarian. He was a man of principal and had a special way of making you feel that he took in all of your verbal concerns and acted on the ones that he could to help make life better for all who lived in Houston.
My prayers go out to the Castillo family.
Joyce Tate, retired educator.

Joyce Tate

August 8, 2014

My sincere condolences to Mr. Castillo's family, I am sorry for your loss. I learned of his passing today just by coincidence really. I met Mr. Castillo only once while attending HIU, we struck up a brief conversation and he made me feel right at home there despite the fact I was new to the city and new to the college at the time. He was a very nice and personable man, and from what I have learned of his legacy after the fact, Houston has certainly lost a great man, and I am happy to have known him.

Stephen Mull

July 21, 2014

My condolences to the family of Lone Castillo. I was a high school classmate.I remember Lone mostly for his calm demeanor.

Don Rieke

December 2, 2013

My condolences to the family of Lone Castillo. We were classmates in high school.I remember Lone for his calm and caring personality.

Don Rieke

November 28, 2013

I first met Leonel at the Interfaith Hunger Coalition in 1988 where he had recently finished an effort to focus religious congregations on social justice and poverty alleviation. As President of the Board of our host agency, Interfaith Ministries, he asked me about the community gardening project we were doing. I told him that the food pantry network the Hunger Coalition had organized was taxed to the max. During the historic economic collapse of 1986, it supplied a million requests for emergency food. I explained that my mentor County Agent Arnold Brown and I thought that both inner city market gardening and consumption gardening were good ways to alleviate poverty, hunger, and poor diet. He loved the idea and said we should form a committee. He then suggested we meet at 7am every Friday at a Denny's. “7am is one way to find out if people are serious,” he said! We met for over a year.
That was one of many times he taught me something significant about community organizing. Essentially if you want to get something done, find people who will do what they agree to, get a committee together around food, meet a lot, set homework assignments, and monitor their progress every meeting. The project we worked on--a $2 million dollar grant to put demonstration market gardening training projects in each Council District-- never materialized, but the conversations were invaluable, the goals became clear, and were among the first things we worked on when we started Urban Harvest six years later.
When it finally became obvious that we needed to separate from Interfaith Ministries, Leonel joined Suzy Fischer, Mark Cotham, Terry Hershey, and Ellen Mitchell as the original board. Together they guided Wendy Kelsey, George McAfee Jr., and myself as staff in the new adventure we named Urban Harvest at Suzy's office one hot July day in 1994.
Over the next decade, Leonel worked as Assistant for Education to Mayors Lanier, Brown, and White. He advocated at HISD for school gardening and with Councilman Fraga spoke at the dedication in 1997 of the Browning Elementary Garden that helped jumpstart the Urban Harvest program. And for a time, he tried to create a High School for the Green Professions.
Leonel also became head of Urban Harvest's Latino Services Committee. Along with several others, he created a Fiesta en Primavera. We had Spanish language gardening booths, Spanish radio, mariachis and a bayou flotilla of canoes from Memorial Park to Guadalupe Plaza.
He was also our featured speaker at Urban Harvest's 10th anniversary harvest celebration in 2004. There I gave him a Founder's Award and he spoke to us about the remarkable fact that unlike most startup charities, Urban Harvest had survived 10 years. He also discussed the importance of providing good food and good food advice to the huge numbers of people in our area before they get ill from dietary causes such as stroke and diabetes.
Like Leonel, Nancy and I were in the Peace Corps and as well I lived a while in the Philippines doing research. So we connected as movement siblings on the same road. He was a wonderful inspiration.

Bob Randall, Ph.D.

November 25, 2013

My sincere condolences to Mr. Castillo's family. I met Mr. Castillo the first year I started working at the City of Houston, in 1998. He started up a conversation with me but spoke to me as if he were speaking to a member of his family. He was very sincere, thoughtful and caring. He was offering advice to me about my new career, moving to a new city, etc. only having just met me. Through my years working at the City of Houston I would see him now and again and his positive, caring attitude had not changed. He is missed and I will always cherish the knowledge that he imparted to me.

Renissa Garza Montalvo

November 20, 2013

I met Lone when he was a volunteer leader for my group (#III Philippines) in 1962. He had a reassuring presence and a great smile. He knew just how to do a job invented only months earlier. He lived at the Chapman family boarding house in Tacloban City where volunteers always seemed welcome. Fortunately that connection continued as he married one of the daughters, Evelyn.

His subsequent career in political life and public service was no surprise. I saw him again at a Peace Corps reunion in Washington. He offered some immigration advice for my husband's Irish relatives, still with that great smile. It was a privilege to know him.

Kathy Hannan Rohan

November 19, 2013

Lone was a valued friend from our Peace Corps days in the Philippines. A wonderful smile, always a helping hand and a wonderful intellect was our dear Lone. We especially enjoyed being with him when he was in Washington during the Carter Administration.

We'll miss you, Lone. Rest in Peace.

Love, Margo and Pera Daniels

Margo & Pera Daniels

November 18, 2013

My condolences to Evelyn and family. I was lucky to be one of his interns in the 70's and getting my master's in social work. In my opinion, he was the ultimate social worker. I have tried to follow his standards in my life work. I enjoyed a few emails with him in these last few years and cherish those conversations. Word cannot address how I feel about his loss but know that he is now organizing in Heaven. May he rest in peace. Susie Ruiz

November 15, 2013

My condolences to all of the Castillo family. I know most if not all of you don't know who I am. I'm Juan E. Moreno, Jr. the youngest son of Juan Moreno, Anita's brother. The youngest of the first generation I guess you could say. As a young child in the 70s I remember my father staying up late to watch Leonel speak on a small black and white tv that we had. My father was very proud of his nephew as he was of all of his family. God Bless all of you and may he rest in peace.

Juan Moreno

November 15, 2013

I met Leo at Penn state and enjoyed his good nature. He was more serious than I was, but he enjoyed the pranks a few of us engaged in. He was always good humored and fun to be with.
The world will miss you Lon.

Dolores Ducommun

November 13, 2013

Thanks for letting me intern with you in 2002. You taught me that all people deserve respect from all walks of life.

Morgan Howard

November 12, 2013

Lone was my Peace Corps supervisor 1963-1965. He was a good human being. May his
soul rest in peace.

Peter Cannon

November 12, 2013

The world and especially Houston has lost a great man. No one ever met him and went away unimpressed.

Kenneth Carrizal

November 11, 2013

Lone was always a part of my family and always a positive, kind, funny and good influence on my childhood years. He was one of the adults in my life I most wanted to be like when I grew up. Sitting at his Rosary on Friday night, I was struck by the dynamic mix of people. I was also impressed with the fact that all recollections of Lone were consistent regardless of who spoke. Lone was a man for others and a true revolutionary in the very best sense of the word.

Christopher Garcia

November 11, 2013

Leonel was a character with a lot of character! I enjoyed poking him and calling him Lee, giving him a Yankee name. He would quickly correct me and say, Leonel, then we would laugh! His visions for personal achievement in himself and others and organizations and his zest in accomplishing them was special and heartfelt.

My husband and I send our deepest sympathy to his wife, kids, and grandkids, family, and huge circle of friends. Leonel was unique and lived a quality life not only for himself, but contributed to lives who will never have the privilege of knowing him personally. May his memory be eternal..... It already is....

Dr Barbara and John Manousso

November 11, 2013

I like many others was deeply impacted by the direction and guidance that Leonel provided to one and all. My family and I extend our most sincere condolences and prayers to the Castillo family at this difficult time. Leonel was a great mentor and friend to me,who I will always remember.

Charles Andy Vazquez

November 11, 2013

I met Mr. Castillo in the 90's, he always told me to go back too school. And I had the opportunity to go back. Now I know why he always encouraged his people to learn. Mr. Castillo was a blessing too the world and will be truly missed. His spirit will live forever in my heart.

Shirley Ann Gonzales

November 10, 2013

Leonel was a good friend and a great citizen. I had a reception in my home for him in 1970's when he ran for Houston Controller. Have been going to his birthday parties hosted by Gigi during recent years. Will miss Leonel.

Jimmy Dunne

November 10, 2013

My deepest sympathies for your loss. I will always remember Leonel for his kindness, professionalism, and care given to his community and friends. Peace to your family and all his relations.

A. Rose Hernandez

November 9, 2013

Leonel was intelligent, kind, witty, sincere and the upmost example of service to the community. He made us laugh and he always had a story or historical lesson to tell us, particularly about Latino history and always smiled when he would say, You know Tu Gente, Tu Gente (Your People). Evelyn and all the family, Te acompano en tus sentimientos and he will always be remembered in a very special way. We can honor him by embracing his love of community and service.

yolanda black navarro

November 9, 2013

I extend my deepest sympathy to Mrs. Castillo and to the Castillo family. Mr. Castillo was such a kind, considerate, and intelligent man. I was so proud of him when he was elected as City Controller and then when he was appointed as head of the INS by President Carter. I finally met him when he came back to work for the City in the early nineties. I also work for the City of Houston and also for Houston Community College. Whenever he attended a meeting at our Northline Campus, he would stop by the information desk and joke around with us. How I looked forward to those times and his great sense of humor. This great man will be missed by all. Rest in peace Mr. Castillo.

Florencio Briones

November 8, 2013

My sympathy for the family of Lone Castillo. I knew Lone in the Philippines when we were in the Peace Corps. He was one of the few, if only, people, who mastered Tagalog.

Melinda Hunter

November 8, 2013

Leonel was a kind, thoughtful and generous man. There are too few like him in this world. A tireless worker for all oppressed and underprivileged people, he was also just a good guy who loved people and good conversation. We love you, Leonel. Rest in peace.

November 8, 2013

Evelyn family and friends,

My deepest sympathy on the loss of your husband, A great Nation and especially Houston will forever be grateful for the public service Leonel Castillo gave our community. We thank you and your family for sharing his life in making Houston and the Nation a better place to live. We will miss his humble and brilliance leadership. Our prayers are with you and your family.

Johnny N. Mata
A friend

November 8, 2013

No single individual shaped my commitment to social justice than did "Lone". While Commissioner of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, Mr. Castillo allowed me, a naive social work graduate student, to work under his direction, an experience which would forever open my eyes to the needs, dreams and contributions of immigrants and refugees in the U.S. Mr. Castillo likewise introduced me to the societal injustices that befall newcomers to the U.S. , a lesson which has driven my personal and professional life ever since. In the words of the Jesuits, I feel “ruined for life” (and very grateful for it) because of Mr. Castillo's influence in my life.

November 8, 2013

To an Awesome cousin, a man of great Honor, who will truly be missed! Gods blessing to the family!.

Sophie Castillo

November 7, 2013

I met Lionel when he was education liaison for Mayor White. He worked very diligent to improve schools for all students, especially Hispanics. Mr Castillo also worked to I bring all ethnic groups together in Houston. RIP.

Doris Robins

November 7, 2013

To the Castillo family,
Please know that Father God needed His dear son, Leonel, whom blessed many people with his integrity, brilliant mind, and caring heart. I recall calling him for a political town hall meeting, and he cleared his schedule to make time for me and my students at our private high school in the Memorial area. One very solid character trait that few people ever discerned was his genuine humility. Father God bless the Castillo family with your peace and comfort them during this time of grief.

Leonel's friend,
Edward F. Flores, (M.Ed.)

Edward Flores

November 7, 2013

I met Leonel Castillo in the early 90's while working in Houston. He always gracious with his time, always sharing great words of insight and wisdom. Thank you for your service and leadership to the community. My deepest condolences to the Castillo family. He was a blessing to all who knew him and to all he mentored.

Abby Chavarrilla

November 7, 2013

My deepest sympathy to Mrs. Castillo and to your family. I was looking forward to seeing Leonel this Saturday, if only to just tap his hand as he greeted all the people who share a connection with him. I can't begin to say how much he taught me, with his words and example. I was blessed to know him and will never forget him.

Patricia Cabrera

November 7, 2013

To Evelyn, I am sorry for the loss of your husband Leonel. May you rely on God for strength during this difficult time and know that he truly cares for you. (Psalms 46:1; 1 Peter 5:6-7)

Lorri

November 7, 2013

In loving memory of a wonderful person. We will love you and miss you always.

Bertha Brown

November 7, 2013

Sorry to hear of Mr. Castillo's passing. My condolences to the family. I did not know him personally but remember him well while I was employed by the City of Houston (retired-hpd). I thank him for his services.

Roger Burkhalter

November 7, 2013

My condolences to the Castillo family.
Leonel was a great friend of mine I met him in 1968 when I came to Houston
after getting out of the service. I came to Houston to look for a job and
I had two job offers and he advise me to
try to get in Texas employment Commission because there were very few Hispanics hired. I stayed there 33yrs. Leonel later joined our
LULAC Council 688, and was housed later with the Hispanic International University at Latino Learning Center premises.
We continue worked in the community and I always felt he was an icon, a leader and an example to our Hispanic
community. No matter how high a position he held in Washington, D.C., He would always come back to his community and share our tacos with us, just the way we did the first day I met him. I'm going to miss you Lone.

John Aleman

November 7, 2013

Like my parents, Mr. Castillo will always have a special place in my heart. I'm who I am professionally because of him. It is a great loss for me and the many whose life he impacted.

Hector de Leon

November 7, 2013

You truly were a great man and my aunt Mary loved you very much.I wished I had the opportunity to meet you in person the stories I've heard of you are amazing!

Jorge & Theresa Ortega

November 7, 2013

There are so many great things you can say about this man. The impact he had on Houston and our country are immeasurable. My sincere condolences to his family.

Bill Teer

November 7, 2013

We are saddened to learn of the passing of Leonel, but very grateful to him for his service to our country in the Peace Corps.

Our condolences,

The National Peace Corps Association

November 7, 2013

Mr. Castillo was the keynote speaker at my 1972 high school graduation. He was compelling and his words have stuck with me for decades. I was fortunate to meet him when my son and his granddaughter graduated from the 8th grade. He was kind, very approachable and humorous. We exchanged contact information and he invited me to his home on a few occasions...such a joy to talk to him and his lovely wife. I regret that I was not able to visit more often and spend more time with such a gifted gentleman. I pray for the entire Castillo Family and wish that you will be comforted by the fact that he lived a full, fruitful life and had a positive impact on countless people within his very large circle.

David Verdun

November 7, 2013

I met Leonel when I was mentoring students at SER in the early 80's. He was a great role model for anyone. He also taught me how to play tennis at
Denver Harbor Park. I know he is up there teaching others as was always his gracious way. God bless his family in their hour of need.

Mary Ann Prado (Matamoros)

November 7, 2013

Our blessings to Leonel's family. Leonel embraced our family as many others. He truly worked with a sincere commitment to make life better for many.
Vangie Soto-Chairez, Leggio, Puente, Ramos Families

Vangie Soto-Chairez

November 7, 2013

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

Shirley Gonzales

November 7, 2013

My prayers and thoughts are with the family of Lone. He was a wonderful person and did so much for others. I went to high school with his sister Anita at Dominican and Lone at Kirwin in Galveston. I am still friends with Anita.

Haydee Waters

November 6, 2013

Mr. Castillo was the best boss I ever had. He hired me in 1973 as his Clerk Typist at City Hall. I learned so much from him that it would take a whole book just to put it in writing. I will certainly miss him and will remember him forever. God Bless his family and everybody that knew him and what a wonderful person he was.

Margie Vasquez

November 6, 2013

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