Carlomagno Encinas Lopez

Carlomagno Encinas Lopez 83, devoted husband, father, and educator passed away March 5, 2011. Carl was born in Tucson to Carlomagno Siqueiros Lopez and Luz Encinas on October 16, 1927. He was a fourth generation Tucsonan dating back to the birth in 1834 of his great-grandfather, Juan Sambrano Lopez. Carl attended Mission View, Government Heights, Wakefield and Tucson High School. In high school he excelled in baseball, where he was given the nickname "Scooter." In the summer of 1944, his American Legion team came in second place in the nation. Carl would have continued in the family profession of house painting but J.F. "Pop" McKale gave him an athletic scholarship to the University of Arizona where he lettered in baseball and majored in physical education. After graduating in 1950, he obtained his first teaching job at Roskruge, which was cut short when the Army drafted him. He enrolled in the Officer Candidate School and became a lieutenant. Lt. Lopez was a proud member of the 82nd Airborne, stationed in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. On March 29, 1952, he married Emma Regeser, his wife of 58 years (she passed away in August 2010). Together they raised seven children, Carl (Billie), Steven (Leticia), Denise Durazo (Ed), Dennis, Linda Mower (Donald), Albert (Tara) and Ana Lisa Blessing (Todd). Carl had a very successful 30-year career as an educator and administrator in TUSD. Upon his return from the military, Carl was employed at Wakefield Jr. High and then moved to the fifth grade classroom at Drachman. Carl was then promoted and served as Principal at Borton, Drachman and Safford, and as Assistant Principal at Tucson High School. Carl then moved to district-wide administration where he served as Director of Personnel before returning to a principal post at Carson from which he retired in 1983. Being a young retiree, he held many other positions over the years, among them principal at Academic Cotopaxi in Quito Ecuador, and the very first principal of La Luz Academy and Guerrero Middle School. Carl was most proud of his contribution as an educator as he touched the lives of many students and teachers. He also served as the President of the Pima County Hall of Fame and a member of the AARP Arizona Executive Council. With his wife, Emma, Scooter enjoyed a full social life with their many friends, including travel throughout the world. Carl passed away from cancer in his home under the care of his family and hospice. He is survived by his sisters, Artemisa Urias and Josephine Laos, his seven children, 15 grandchildren and one great-grandson. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the UA Hispanic Alumni Scholarship Program, in memory of Carl Lopez, P.O. Box 210109, Tucson, AZ 85721-0109. A Mass will be held in his honor at St. Odelia on Friday, March 18, 2011 at 9:00 a.m., followed by interment at Holy Hope Cemetery. Arrangements by CARRILLO'S TUCSON MORTUARY, INC.