Lino Mendiola Jr.

LINO MENDIOLA JR.

MCALLEN - Lino Mendiola, Jr. was born July 22, 1942 in Laredo, Texas. He passed into the loving arms of his Heavenly Father on November 5, 2024, in McAllen, Texas as a result of natural causes.

 Lino was born in Laredo to Lino Mendiola, Sr. and Mary Luisa Guerra Mendiola. Lino graduated from Central Catholic High School in San Antonio. It was during his high school years that he met and then eventually married the love of his life, Connie DiCarlo Mendiola, on July 3, 1963. 

In San Antonio, Lino was a respected and effective community organizer. Through connections he made in the San Antonio community, he was recruited to attend the University of Michigan. In 1973, he accepted a position at the University of Michigan and worked as the Chicano Student Advocate for the university. In this role, Lino had the opportunity to meet many of the Latino students enrolled at the University of Michigan and many of the community leaders in Ann Arbor and beyond. Through his mentorship, fellowship, and teaching, he helped many students transition from their home environments to campus life and into the community of Latinos in Ann Arbor. Lino became a community and political force at the university due to his efforts in facilitating the engagement of the Chicano community and outside members in national political movements. 

Lino was a man of many talents: at different points in his life, he was an accomplished business owner, a computer entrepreneur, a private investigator, and a teacher. Most importantly to him, he was a family man and a devoted husband and father.

 Lino is remembered as a strong, intelligent, and highly charismatic person who always sought to be around family. He loved to host large family gatherings as he barbecued his legendary beef short ribs in the backyard. He loved to read books and newspapers, but mostly he loved staying close to Connie and strongly supported her career as a healthcare professional.

He is predeceased in death by his first child, Laura Mendiola Stommen, who passed in 2000.

Lino is survived by Connie, his wife of 61 years; four children, Lino (Hesper) Mendiola III, Lisa Price, Lily (Jonathan) Bain; six grandchildren; three great- grandchildren; brother, Steve Mendiola; and sister, Mary Lou Lopez. 

Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. followed by a 12 noon funeral service, Saturday, November 9, 2024, at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 5601 N. 29th St., McAllen, Texas. 

Cremation will take place at Memorial Cremation Center in Edinburg. 

Funeral services are under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home in Edinburg.