Jacinto Hernandez "Jay" Torres

1959 - 2016

Jacinto Hernandez Torres, 57, know by his friends and colleagues as "Jay" passed away Friday, June 10, 2016, in Garland. Funeral: 2 p.m. Saturday, June 18, at Arlington Chapel, 1221 E. Division St., Arlington 76011. Celebration of life: 4:30 p.m. Saturday at 1303 N. Center St., Arlington 76011. Memorials: Anyone wishing to send flowers should make sure they arrive before noon Saturday. The family would appreciate any colleagues and friends who can attend and would be willing to share a story, a photo, a memory, or anything about him. Torres was born May 3, 1959, in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. He was raised in Nuevo Laredo and moved to Dallas in 1979. He went to school at the Escuela Normal Urbana Cuauhtemoc in Mexico. He also took journalism courses at local community colleges and the University of Texas at Arlington. Torres spent more than 20 years as a reporter focusing on local news for Diario La Estrella, the Spanish paper of the Star-Telegram in Fort Worth. He had a passion for telling the untold stories in the Latino community. Through his reporting he was able to make life better for others and shine a light on issues that mattered. Torres was fearless in his search for the truth, and worked tirelessly to give a voice to those ignored by others. Torres was also an active member of the Hispanic Communicators DFW, the North Texas Chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. He focused on mentoring upcoming student journalists. Torres volunteered for numerous projects and helped raise thousands of dollars in scholarship funds for students majoring in journalism and communications. Throughout his career, Torres also won several awards for his outstanding journalism work, which includes awards from the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors. Torres loved to see the world. He was at home wherever he went, whether it was the pyramids in Egypt or a local cafe in Oak Cliff. And everywhere he went he took along his camera. He was a photographer who captured moments in news and travel. Torres believed in the spiritual and good teachings of Buddha. He believed in peace, love and that we are all connected. He spent much of his time doing yoga and enjoying life. Survivors: Parents, Carolina Torres and Juan Hernandez of Nuevo Laredo; wife, Martha Hernandez of Arlington; children, Aline "Sophia" Torres of Dallas and Gibran Torres of Mesquite; brothers, Gerardo Hernandez Torres of Laredo, Francisco Hernandez Torres of Nuevo Laredo, Orlando Hernandez Torres of Nuevo Laredo; sisters, Lucia Hernandez Torres of Nuevo Laredo and Teresa Hernandez Torres of Cancun, Mexico.