Juan Manuel Bazan's Obituary
Juan Manuel Bazan of Garland, TX died August 23, 2017, after a 6 year battle with prostate cancer. He was born to Inez and Lucio Bazan in Beeville, TX on July 27, 1949. He graduated from Victoria High and went on to get his Bachelor’s degree of Science in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. Despite his humble beginnings, through dedication and hard work, he achieved his well-deserved success. He leaves behind wife Kathy Bazan of 32 years, daughters’ Kathleen Lee and Angela Brown, son Charles Lopez, and son-in-law Troy Brown. He had 4 grandchildren, Douglas, Dylan, Hailey, Garrett, and one great-grandchild, Emma. He had 3 sisters, Mary Guadalupe De La Garza (Deceased), Angelina Bazan Davis, Leticia Bazan Garza, and 2 brothers, Lucio Bazan Jr and Louis Bazan. He worked at Texas Instruments/Raytheon for 40 years. Before retiring, Juan worked as a Quality Director for Raytheon’s Space and Airborne Systems business area Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Systems and then served as the Quality Director for Raytheon’s business area Advanced Products and Components. While at Raytheon, Juan was also the Campus Manager for the University of Texas – Pan American. Juan was involved in extensive work in the Rio Grande Valley as a recruiter for Raytheon. From 1999- 2011 Juan worked to recruit highly skilled engineering students at The University of Texas Pan American. Juan did such a phenomenal job in his recruitment efforts that he was dubbed “The Match Maker” having recruited students in pairs or more. Juan was an active member of the Engineering College Advisory Council at The University of Texas Pan American and worked with the college in mentoring capacities. Juan was actively involved in outreach programs like HESTEC and presented to students year after year. Juan gained many friendships through his efforts in the Rio Grande Valley and was always that familiar face on the campus several times a year. Juan’s legacy is that he enriched the lives of numerous students by sharing his experiences and helping them start their professional careers in engineering. Juan also served/volunteered on many Committees including the GISD Multi-Ethnic Committee for 10 to 12 years, the GISD Hispanic Advisory Board for 8 years, as an officer of Garland Association for Hispanic Affairs, and President of Garland Habitat for Humanity, at which time he helped open the first Habitat ReStore in Garland. Even as he was an active member of the community, he always made his family his first priority. He touched many lives and was dearly loved and will be missed by many.
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