Alfonso Varela, 73, died September 16, 2021 in Houston.
He is survived by his wife Sandra Santa María Varela and son Marcos Varela of New York City, brother Claude (Sue) Varela, and sister Marguerite V. (Bill) Cunningham. He is also survived by numerous cousins and many close friends.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Delia Gutiérrez Varela; father Alfonso Varela; and maternal grandparents, Filiberto and María Benavides Gutiérrez. He is a descendant of the families that settled Guerrero Viejo, Mexico and San Ygnacio before Texas was a state.
He was born in Laredo on October 23, 1947, one of the 27 grandchildren that blessed Doña María’s home on Laredo Street with mischief and merriment.
Like many of his cousins, he learned from his Gutiérrez aunts and uncles to love the solace, tranquility, and raw natural beauty of the ranchlands.
Alfonso grew up and was educated in Laredo, but at a young age looked forward to weekends traversing the pastures and arroyos of Santa María Ranch near San Ygnacio on the beloved cow ponies, La Nicla and La Media Naranja. His mentors in land stewardship and the value of sunrise to sunset workdays were his uncles Romeo, Aurelio, Filiberto, and Oscar Gutiérrez.
On days that he accompanied his mother and grandmother to San Ygnacio to visit his great aunt and uncle, he brought his red Columbia Rambler bicycle to ride up and down the unpaved streets and to make his way to the banks of the Río Grande.
Alfonso attended St. Joseph’s Academy and graduated from Nixon High School in 1966. He studied at the University of the Americas in Mexico City and graduated with high honors in 1972 from the University of Texas-Austin with a degree in architecture.
He established Varela Inc. Architecture in 1983, and prior to that held lead design positions with Caudill Rowlett Scott, S.J. Morris, James Sink Associates, and 3D/International.
Over the half-century span of his career he designed over 20 million square feet of space with a construction value in excess of $2 billion. His designs are part of the landscape of many American cities as well as in Dubai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Monterrey, Mexico City, and Dhahran and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.
His architectural career resonated with pleasing, masterful designs tailored to the aesthetics and needs of his commercial, institutional, and residential clients.
His penchant for detail and organization was present in every aspect of his life, from his sock drawer to the care of his late mother’s 1981 Buick Regal and the vibrant, dapper presentation of himself.
Alfonso and Sandra were married in Oaxaca, Mexico on April 15, 1983.
He was a devoted husband and supportive father to Marcos, an accomplished jazz musician and composer.
A private memorial service is pending in San Ygnacio.
My Deepest condolences to The Family and Friends.
Rest In Pearce Poncho .
The Jackson brothers always enjoyed having you around, you were a Lane Street fun guy and always respected for your talent and opinions …rest now my friend
Alfonso was a student of mine at Nixon High School and we remained in contact over the years…Rest in Peace, Al, you will always be remembered…Condolences to the family.
Missing you and our email correspondence about life, politics and Frank Lloyd Wright. I was so looking forward to seeing you this week at the reunion in San Antonio. Rest In Peace, hasta entonces!