Alejandro (Alex) Cantú

Alejandro..... Fuiste mi mejor amigo, desde que teníamos 3 años..... aprendimos la vida juntos..
Formaste parte de mi mismo.....
Te extrañaré mucho....

Alejandro, pensar en ti es pensar en toda la vida, ver tu cara , sentir tu amistad sincera como tú. Ver tu seriedad, ver tu sonrisa plácida, recordar tú voz y tu risa. Siempre vivirás en nosotros como parte de nuestras vidas.
Te recordamos con cariño nosotros, nuestros hijos (Tío Tigre) nuestros 2 Nietos mayores...
En nosotros siempre tendrás tu casa

Despite hundreds and hundreds of hours and a million discussions on how to move Cuervo ahead in the international market, nothing will ever remind me as much about Alex as two separate nights out with him.

The first was in Amsterdam where we met to present to BOLS, a producer of flavored liqueurs the great opportunity it was for them to represent us in Holland as our distributor. We failed to convince them. To lessen our disappointment we went out and had a nice dinner, and afterward I suggested we go have a beer. So while we went for one, we wound up on a full night of beer drinking, talking about everything in the world except our work. We discussed all the beers we had consumed in many places around the world, Alex's efforts to learn the clarinet, and my love of jazz. We went from one brown pub to another, a beer at a time. I have no idea how many stops we made or how many beers we drank, but I found Alex, to my surprise, was a prodigious beer drinker and a super conversationalist.

The second was a night on the edge of the beach in Zihuatanejo, Mexico, where, by the faint light of the moon, an enthusiastic dance instructor was trying to teach us all the Macarena. Our whole group, about 25, started out, and after a number of clumsy attempts, most dropped out. But I can always remember Alex being one of the last two people there hypnotically dancing, with great grace and tranquility. He looked so happy and at peace with the world. It was great dancing by any standard whatsoever.

Alex, my old friend, I will always remember you on those two splendid nights.

We were so saddened to learn of Alex's passing while in Acapulco. We have many fond memories of Alex when he worked with us at Fischer & Wieser Specialty Foods, helping us formulate a five year plan and helping us become a better organization. We missed him terribly when he decided to retire and move to Austin to be closer to his children. God be with you all. Mark Wieser and all of the Fischer Family.

In the mid-1990s, I met Connie and Alex in a business setting. Alex impressed me as a thoughtful, sensitive, and inquisitive client who, though soft spoken, could ask questions that drilled right to the core of Connie's and his needs and my abilities to meet them. Gracious on the surface and intelligent to a fault, our business meetings soon turned into friendship meetings. These then evolved into frequent discussions about Estes Park culminating in a day spent at our cabin there. What memories! Much later, we learned of his artistic talents, yet another of his skills that had been beneath the surface.

We are all comforted in knowing that for all those years we were blessed to have known him. And we will miss him and his soft smile for years to come.

So So sad! Alex was a good boss, easy to talk to, always nodding his head when we speak but he will get his message across in his way giving his opinion and direction when needed. May God bless his soul and the Cantu Family. Miss him. Dennis Lim from Hong Kong

It is the sweet moments you remember. And Alex had a lot of sweetness, no meanness in anything he said or did. He was a brave man, facing CTE, displaying empathy to so many of the residents at Silverado when they were distressed.

We will miss Alex, our friend who was always the gentleman, caballero. We loved that twinkle in his eye and how he teased and played with the children--his own, our, his relatives and friends. Meg and Brian will always think of Alex at thanksgiving and Easter, as we shared those holidays for so many years. The famous "Alex" mushrooms (which Brian still makes) and the golden egg are sweet memories.

All the moments we have had with Alex are precious--birthdays with the kids; hiking in Colorado; the Boston to Montreal and back cruise; watching the World Soccer Cup games on board; Meg's wedding--that special dance--Connie and Al dancing and talking; Sofia's 15th birthday with Alex singing alongside he mariachi band; Alex holding the door for me and asking, "How is the family?" on our last visit at Silverado.

We are sorry you have had to say goodbye, a very long farewell. We are so lucky to have known this creative, capable and humble human being and to have had him as friend and family.

Alexandro was my Godfather, and family. I've known him my entire life, and every visit I ever had with him was filled with joy and laughter. I will always remember how kind and jovial he was with me, from my earliest memory to my last. My final memory was of him and Connie dancing at my wedding just a little over 5 years ago. The love between them was something incredibly rare and beautiful, and the love he always showed my family and me is unmeasurable. I will truly miss him, and my deepest sorrows for Connie, Lilli, and Tanya.

Alex Cantu was an important part of my teen years. I was a kid commuting from the country to town for school, work, and fun. Therefore, the Cantu house became my second home. Although he was often traveling, when he was home, all of us girls who loved sleepovers looked forward to his silly jokes and enjoyed his gentle nature. I knew I was always welcome and loved even in those sometimes awkward teen years. I paused by the Cholula sauce at Target the other night to admire those wooden caps and to think of him. All of my love to the whole family. You took the best care of him over the past years as his health declined. It is not easy to watch a loved one slip away but all we can hope for is someone to love us until the end, just as you did. All my love to you, Connie, Lili, and Tanya.❤

tears in my eyes and gratitude in my heart for meeting this man, although after his passing from this particular plane.

Dearest friends, we are so very sorry about the loss of dear Alex (Lito), he was a precious man who was always extremely kind. He was like a grandfather to our kids and we have so many wonderful memories of him playing playmobil with the kids, following along with them at Halloween in the neighborhood, or mischievously hiding the golden egg at Easter. I love the picture of him laughing with confetti in his hair! One of my favorite memories is of Sofia's birthday party at Silverado with the mariachi band. Alex and Connie were dancing and having the BEST time, all us Moms (me, Lili, Jodi) stood in the kitchen and just smiled at them enjoying each other and the music. Such good times!

Dear Connie, Tanya and Lili,

We are so sad hearing of Alejandro's passing. A good man, taken before his time, who touched the lives and hearts of everyone who was privileged to know him.

If I had to use one word to describe Alejandro, the word would be love. He applied love to every aspect of his life. A soft spoken man with deep thoughts about all things. Over the years that we have known him, we enjoyed wonderful conversations that were always sprinkled with the right balance of hilarious humor and quirkiness so as to remind us not to take ourselves too seriously. We loved that about him. His interests were vast but he loved all of you most of all and I believed that everything he did was centered around you, his family. The pictures are a testimony to this. We have many cherished Cantu family memories, more than we could ever write. We are fortunate and blessed to have those memories with us now and they will remain with us always.

Our heats reach out to each of you and we hope that as time passes you will find comfort in knowing that Alejandro was loved by so many people.

Sharon and Fito

We have so many wonderful memories of Alex. In college, we called him Alejandro or Al. As my freshman year dorm roommate, we had fun with our third roommate, Mark. Alex had a hard time pronouncing Mark so we started calling him Max. Alex liked to take an afternoon siesta when his classes permitted. He was annoyed at all the noise and conversation when he was trying to sleep. So he got even. One night, at about 2 am, he suddenly sat up in his bunk and yelled: I want to sing a song! He then treated us to a verse and a chorus of CuCurruCuCu Paloma. Once everyone was awake and crying for him to shut up, he lay down and went to sleep.

Alex learned English rapidly but we were sometimes able to get him to say something crude or uncouth by messing with his vocabulary. But he soon got on to us.

After going to see Doctor Zhivago at the theater on a warm spring day, Alex commented, You know, when I came out, I had snow in my shoes.
It was always hilarious when we got him to imitate Sean Connery saying Bond, James Bond. It still cracks me up. Alex had a wicked sense of humor but he was never mean or cruel. His gentle and kind personality made him popular. Susie and I are grateful that Alex and Connie have been like extended family to us for over 50 years.

I'm sorry for your loss. I loved reading the beautiful tribute to his life and adventures. Kind thoughts and wishes to your family.
Jeff Handcock's co-worker

Dear Connie and family Alex was always gracious, warm, and inviting. You always felt comfortable and welcomed. He was truly a unique gentleman. I feel Blessed to have known him.

Such a beautiful life. When I told Maya of his passing, she said "Oh, no! You mean the Easter Bunny?" So many fond memories of Easter with Alex and family. Hugs to you all.

It is with great sadness that I write this note, but we take solace in the knowledge that Alejandro's spirit will live in the people that he touched over the course of his life.

Alejandro was an amazing person, incredibly gifted, intelligent, compassionate and pragmatic. A serious person with a great sense of humor. A payaso who understood the gravity of any situation.

The Cantús have been lifelong friends to my parents and my family. It was an honor to know Mr. Cantu, and I will treasure his memory, his advice, and the way he lived his life.

Un abrazo y nuestro más sentido pésame a la familia Cantú

Kimberly and John Jagou

Though we lived within walking distance on either side of Mopac and their daughter Lili and I worked together at one time, I first met Alex and Connie when they drove me to my first day at UT OLLI; Connie was my mentor. We became fast friends. I remember Alex as being a gentle, kind soul with a lovely sense of humor.

These wonderful photos show a family centered around a deep love for each other and for life; and a love that shone on all the friends they made. I feel blessed to have known Alex for the short time I had the good fortune to have engaged with him.

Connie, Lili, and Tanya, I am so sorry for the pain you're feeling. Take solace in knowing that he will reside in your thoughts and hearts for the rest of your lives.