On the Passing of Beloved Board Member JuanRaymon Rubio
It is with profound sadness that we share the heartbreaking passing of our board member and vice president, JuanRaymon Rubio.
JuanRaymon joined our board of directors in 2022. He had everything – technical expertise as a preservation architect, a righteous commitment to advocacy, and boundless capacity for giving back to his community. His good nature and humor infused our work with so much happiness. He was a dear friend and collaborator who was beloved by our staff and board.
JuanRaymon fiercely believed in giving historic places a voice, especially in communities of color. In addition to our board, he represented District 2 on Austin’s Historic Landmark Commission, recognizing the importance of representing and serving the Mexican American community in that role. This year alone he guided Mexican American legacy business Green and White Grocery to historic landmark status; fought a valiant battle trying to save the former University Junior High on the University of Texas at Austin campus; and was a leading advocate for successfully saving East Austin’s historic Eisenbeiser Building at 1500 E. 12th Street. JuanRaymon’s impassioned testimony before City Council on December 12, just a few days before his passing, tipped the scales for their vote to protect that building from demolition, despite the greatest of odds.
His potential was endless.
Words cannot fully capture the depth of JuanRaymon's impact on Preservation Austin. His dedication, his creativity, and his commitment to justice and equity shaped so much of what we aspire to achieve. His energy and spirit will forever remain a guiding force, empowering us to continue the work he held so dear.
Please hold JuanRaymon’s loved ones in your thoughts, including his family, friends, and colleagues at Architexas, where he was an Associate. Preservation Austin’s staff and board are grateful for our time with him, and for the opportunity to learn from his brilliance. We miss him desperately.
You may find more details on JuanRaymon’s incredible life, and details on services, here.
With much love,
Preservation Austin
