Sergio Antonio De Los Santos Morales, 70, passed in the arms of his Savior on Saturday, August 17, 2024. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. Honesty, dedication, integrity, faith, love, righteousness and joy were the core of his life.
Sergio was born in Lerdo, Durango, Mexico on March 17, 1954 to Graciela Morales and Ciudadano Hector De Los Santos. He spent his early childhood and school years in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico, together with his four siblings, Maria del Socorro (Coco) (diseased), Hector (Tito), Irma Leticia (Lety) and Estela. He graduated from Escuela de Bachilleres Ateneo Fuente in Saltillo. Parallel to his studies Sergio served the mandatory year of military service at the time. An avid guitarist and musician, he was accepted into Army’s special parade unit, “Banda de Guerra”, where he held the position of lead trumpeter.
Sergio’s big dream and passion was architecture. He enrolled in Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon in Monterrey, Mexico. After his graduation in 1979, he married Lisa Engel in the spring of 1980. Lisa, Sergio and their newborn daughter, Alicia, moved to Erie, PA in the US. Short after the birth of their second daughter, Ana, the family moved to Denton, TX where Sergio found new opportunities in the design field.
He dreamed for big projects and followed the dream through hard work, honor and integrity. He was fortunate in joining one of the best design firms in Dallas, HKS, Inc., where he grew as a professional for more than a decade. Sergio opened his own architectural firm, SDS Architecture, in 1996. Through impressive professionalism, perfectionism, respect, honor and responsibility, along with staying on top of technological and professional development, Sergio built a remarkable design team. Sergio and his group were invited to a number of signature projects in the US and abroad. They were unsurpassed in quality of construction documents for large and complex projects. Sergio served as Associate Architect team member for the American Airlines Center, Victory Plaza projects (Dallas, TX), Associate Architect for the new Texas Rangers Ballpark Stadium (Arlington, TX), team member for Globe Life Field (Arlington, TX); 400-bed Children’s Hospital “Dr. Roberto Gilbert E.” in, (Guayaquil, Equador), The City Centre, MGM Mirage (Las Vegas, NV), the home stadium of Santos Laguna of Liga MX, Estadio Corona ( Torreón, Coahuila, México), Hall Arts Hotel and Residence (Dallas, TX), and many more projects for school and college districts and DFW International Airport. He was passionate for sharing his talent, knowledge and experience with young design professionals and has trained and supported growth in their design careers. Sergio was a licensed architect in Mexico and Bulgaria, and member of the architectural chambers in the US, Mexico and Bulgaria. In 2002 Sergio married his second love, Martina, and moved to Farmers Branch, TX. They welcomed two more children, Irina and Victor. Farmers Branch community will remember him as a member of Farmers Branch Chamber of Commerce, member of the Zoning Board of Adjustments & Building Code Board of Appeals, three terms member of Planning and Zoning Commission and its Vice Chair in his last term, Citizens on Patrol volunteer, a donor and supporter for the Firehouse Theater.
Sergio was a keen golfer, and frequented the Brookhaven Club in Farmers Branch, TX. He is also known for his lifelong love and consistency in the body building culture. He loved travelling and exploring. His second marriage to a Bulgarian, introduced him to the Bulgarian community in Dallas. He became one of the founder members and longtime sponsor of the BACC “Bulgare’. The Bulgarians in Dallas will always remember the Mexican, dancing Bulgarian folk dances and playing guitar on the stages of multiple Bulgarian events, Worldfest in Addison, Texas Fair, and numerous international cultural events.
Sergio is survived by his daughters, Alicia, Ana, Irina, his son, Victor, and six grandchildren. He will be missed and remembered by his family, many lifelong friends, colleagues, and neighbors.
The celebration honoring his life and legacy was held on Thursday, August 29, 2024 from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm at, 1842 Venue, in the meadow of Farmers Branch Historical Park, located at 2540 Farmers Branch Ln, Farmers Branch, TX 75234.
