Henry J. (Enrique) Avila

Henry J. (Enrique) Avila, died December 1, 2024, four months after his 80th birthday, at Midland Hospice in Topeka, Kansas surrounded by family. 

Born in Garden City, Kansas, July 15, 1944, the son of Jess and Jesse (Robles) Avila, Henry was an avid student of literature, the arts, philosophy, theology, jazz, classical music, and he was an accomplished classical pianist. 

His childhood friends in the Garden City, community, understood he had distinctive interests and thus, nicknamed him “Neech” (after the German philosopher Nietzsche). 

He was a gifted observer, communicator, and listener. He treated everyone with the same level of interest, respect and compassion, no matter what their station in life. 

At an early age, he would frequent the public library and check out classical music and jazz albums. He was a skilled pianist and began taking piano lessons from Mrs. Martha Sherman, a renowned piano teacher in Garden City, Kansas. She held him to high expectations, and he held her in high esteem. He also played in the school band. His father and uncle’s side of the family were all jazz musicians so music was infused in his every aspect of life. His early love and his leaning toward the arts was palpable.

Henry attended college at Saint Mary of the Plains College and studied music, Spanish, and language arts. He taught piano to put himself through college. He then taught at Fowler elementary school in Fowler, KS. prior to the military draft. 

He was drafted in the US Navy where he was stationed (during the Vietnam war) in Panama. There he made a number of lifelong friends.

Upon ending his military career, he taught children in the Kansas migrant education program. There, he helped them overcome educational disruption and language barriers, which was the effect of repeated moves. 

He later attended graduate school programs at the University of Kansas, in the area of political science, public administration, in conjunction with Law. While at KU, he reunited and roomed with his lifelong childhood friend Ernie Garcia, as well as his cousin, Jerri Salinas. There he met his first wife, Cynthia Vance. They had a child in 1975, Alicia Avila. 

He worked for the city manager‘s office in Winfield, and also taught in Greensburg, Kansas for a period of time. He continually demonstrated enthusiasm for the socio-political climate, and he went on to campaign for Dr. Bill Roy, along with Dr Roy, his family, and like minded friends. He and Dr. Roy, former US democratic member of Congress and physician, were quite good friends and he delivered Henry’s youngest daughter, Aimee. 

In 1983 Henry was married to Stephanie (Darrah) Avila. They had two children, Ashley Avila and Aimee Avila. 

Henry worked for legislative research in Topeka, Kansas for close to 30 years until he retired. He established bonds with many of the legislators who he staffed committees within the House and Senate. 

In his spare time, and after he retired, he taught piano lessons at Hume music. He especially loved teaching children and adults that were new to piano. Henry also taught religious education for 17 years at St. Matthews church and thoroughly enjoyed doing so. He was similarly committed to a continuing intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm with respect to the origins of the Mexican American community where he was raised, Garden City, Kansas. He worked on writing a book for nearly 20 years. Yet to be published, “To Garden City from Michoacán”. His writings covered a scope of time from his grandparents arrival during the extended sequences of the Mexican revolution from 1910 to 1917, to present day, community, culture, and families. His literary output focused on the migration to the United States by many immigrants, as well as, the vibrant communities and the labor force that was created. To have grown up in the barrio with its strong, Hispanic cultural presence in Garden City was captured in his writings. 

 His strong sense of family, especially focused on his children, and grandchildren, and is perhaps his greatest of accomplishments. 

They were the true joy of his life. He had many long conversations with them and influenced them greatly. He observed the gifts each of them possessed and would check out books at the library for them weekly, especially when he discovered an interest they had. 

Henry was preceded in death by his parents, Jess and Jesse Avila, his twin brother, John, his sister’s Lydia, Bonnie and Cecilia, and his daughter Alicia Avila Solis. 

He is survived by his brothers, Jerry (Norma) Avila, West Richland, Washington, and Steve Avila, Garden City, Kansas, his Aunt Susan Mujica, his former spouse, Stephanie Avila and his children Ashley Avila, Topeka, Kansas, Aimee (George) Avila-Bruno, Topeka Kansas. He has a large extended family and five adoring grandchildren, Audrina Bruno, Cruz Dilone, Aila Holiday, Elena Solis, and Elia Solis. 

A Rosary will be prayed Tuesday, December 10, at 10:00am, at St. Matthew Catholic Church, 2700 S.E. Virginia, Topeka, KS 66605, with a Memorial Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 10:30am. Inurnment will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, 801 SW Westchester Rd., Topeka, KS 66606.

Donations can be made to “Unbound”, an international nonprofit based charity in Kansas City, Kansas founded by Catholics to meet the needs of marginalized children around the world. One Elmwood Avenue, Kansas City, KS. 66103.

https://unboundphilanthropy.org/