By Louis Zylka
The 830 Times
A memorial for the late Jaime Ortiz was held at the Val Verde Regional Medical Center’s Anabelia Castillo Lopez Tranquility Garden Saturday, honoring Ortiz’s many contributions to the mental health community of Del
Rio.
Ortiz died on Oct. 21, 2024, and worked for over 20 years as a social worker in Del Rio. Family members and friends attended the memorial to pay tribute to Ortiz at the hospital’s tranquility
garden, where a plaque engraved with his name was installed.
Ortiz was known for being the second licensed social worker in Del Rio, the director of the heritage mental health program at
Verde Regional Medical Center’s tranquility garden. A plaque was set in the garden to
commemorate Ortiz and the legacy he left in helping persons struggling with mental health
challenges.
VVRMC, the chairman of the Community Health Improvement Coalition (CHIC) and the chairman of the mental health committee that was part of CHIC.
The hospital employees had chairs set up in the garden for the people who attended the memorial, and the Saturday morning was peaceful and quiet.
Claudia Falcon, chief financial officer at VVRMC, opened the memorial event by thanking the people who attended and asked them to honor Ortiz with a moment of silence. Falcon then
talked about her friendship with Ortiz and how genuine he was.
“Ortiz was a man who practiced and lived for what we are called to do: to show mercy to all and to be there for others,” Falcon said. “His work never ended . . . He continued to preserve and to
serve others outside his workplace.”
Falcon said Ortiz started his medical career in 2000, expressed how he had a passion to serve others and mentioned his dedication in helping his local community, including during the 2020 global pandemic.
“Jaime didn’t stop. He continued. He continued to advocate for everyone and for his passion for mental health,” Falcon said.
Henry Gomez, a retired bank officer and a parliamentarian of CHIC, spoke next and said he had lost a good friend when Gomez died. Gomez mentioned one of Ortiz’s accomplishments was in
helping start the first mental health convention at the Del Rio Civic Center in 2019.
Linda Bailes-Foltzenlogel, chair of the mental health committee branch under CHIC, shared some words and said Ortiz was a “great mentor.” She added Ortiz was passionate about mental
health and touched a lot of people.
“I am going to miss him. I could call him anytime, and he would answer. I am so very grateful to have met him,” Foltzenlogel said.
Nancy Masterson, treasurer of CHIC, spoke next and said Ortiz was a “gentle spirit.”
“(Ortiz) had a way of reaching out and knowing what people needed to hear, and giving comfort in very subtle ways. On the other hand, he had a will of steel. When Jaime said he was going to do something, he would do it. I always appreciated that about Jaime, and I am so happy to be here and share my thoughts about Jaime,” Masterson said.
Ortiz is survived by his family members, including his son, Marcos Ortiz; his daughter, Faith Nieto; his sister, Rosa Ortiz; and his brother, Jose Doroteo Ortiz. All four were in attendance at
the memorial to pay tribute to Jaime.
Marcos thanked the people who took their time to be at the memorial and spoke about how grateful he was for the hospital’s dedication to his father. “This little area will be here for a long
time. My wife and I like to plant Esperanza trees here, and we know they outlast anything. We know he is going to be here, and he is going to create a space that will be full of peace and full
of sunshine,” Marcos said.
Hospital board members Dr. Julio Otazo and Robin Palmer were also in attendance and shared
their thoughts about Jaime. Otazo said Jaime exceeded goodness” and will be missed. Palmer
said Jaime had a “calming spirit” and explained how he had a great way of communicating with his patients and team members.
Everyone who attended gathered together for another moment of silence while looking over the plaque honoring Ortiz.
