Jairo Enrique Sanchez

1941 - 2024

Jairo Enrique Sánchez, age 82 of Washington, DC, formerly of Chiquinquirá, Colombia, passed away on Thursday, April 11, 2024. Born on December 21, 1941, Jairo was a devoted son to Ramón Sánchez (deceased) and Soledad (Méndez) de Sánchez (deceased), and brother to Óscar Ramon, Carlos Efraín (deceased), Mery Soledad (deceased), Daniel Alfonso, Martha Lucía, Álvaro Arturo (deceased), Clara Imelda, Cesar Guillermo, and Claudia Consuelo Sánchez.
Jairo had an endless curiosity and passion for learning that led him to the Universidad Nacional de Colombia where he earned his bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering and Universidad de Los Andes where he received a master's degree in Economics. He lived his life grounded in his core values of education and generosity. In his professional life, he flourished working his entire career at the Inter-American Development Bank. There he held various leadership roles which brought him to live across multiple Latin American Countries including México, Ecuador, and Perú before settling in Washington, DC.
Jairo was a loving husband to his wife of 50 years, Aura; and a devoted father to his late son Jairo Enrique Jr., and daughter Ana Maria. He is survived by his wife Aura; his daughter Ana Maria, son-in-law Mark Keller; and granddaughter Pia Sánchez Keller. Jairo's unstoppable energy, love of life, and love for people around him left a mark on all those who knew him. His open heart and mind will live on through his family and friends.
A memorial mass will be held at Church of the Little Flower in Bethesda, MD on Wednesday, April 24 at 12 noon.