Editor’s Note: The following essay was written by Tencha Avila, sister of Leno Avila, in celebration of his 80th birthday on September 7, 2025. In this heartfelt piece, Tencha lovingly recounts the day her brother was born, their childhood memories in a small farmworker community in southeastern Colorado, and the qualities that defined him throughout his life.
Today, we share her words as a tribute to Leno Avila, who has since passed away. Written a year before his death, this story captures the love, admiration, and deep family bonds that surrounded him, while offering readers a glimpse into the life of a man whose kindness, compassion, and commitment to others left a lasting impact on all who knew him.
We are honored to publish this personal remembrance as both a celebration of Leno’s life and a testament to the enduring power of family, memory, and love.
Rest in peace, Leno Avila. Your legacy lives on in the hearts of those who loved you and in the stories that keep your memory alive.
Perla Lara
«¡Es un niño! ¡Un niño! ¡Carmen ha dado a luz a un hijo!»
It was astonishing and exciting news. After five beautiful daughters, ranging in age from nine years to just eighteen months, Carmen and Marcos Ávila had finally welcomed their first son.
He instantly became the center of attention in the little colony.
My three aunts and their friends rushed out of their homes, laughing, dancing, and twirling one another around. They even swept my sister and me into the celebration. Maria was nine and I was five. We hugged, kissed, and spun around with excitement. It must have been a Sunday because our uncles were home from work. They came outside and let out a loud cheer. Even Grandma stood in her doorway to breathe in the joy of the moment.
Everyone was happy.
Dad was so overwhelmed with emotion that he stayed inside until Uncle Maggie came over and convinced him to celebrate a little too enthusiastically.
Mom was plenty angry about that when she returned home the next day. But with the entire colony buzzing over the handsome eleven-pound baby boy, she soon found herself caught up in the festive spirit shared by the Mexican farmworker families who surrounded us.
Neighbors arrived carrying food: beans, rice, and warm tortillas. My aunts and their friends lined up for a turn to hold the baby. He was so big and beautiful that they formed a circle right outside our front door, passing him from arm to arm while cooing, laughing, and dancing with delight.
Maria and I joined the circle too, although my new baby brother was a little too heavy for me to hold for long.
The women eagerly volunteered to change his diapers, burp him, bathe him, and carry him wherever he wanted to go. Everyone fussed over him so much that I thought he might never learn to walk or talk on his own.
But he did.
And despite all that attention, he grew into a sweet-natured boy who always wore a smile and was eager to help others. He had large, soulful brown eyes and a head full of soft, wavy hair. After his baths, I loved combing it in different styles, and he would patiently let me experiment. Sometimes I parted it right down the middle just to make him laugh. He would look at himself in the mirror and laugh right along with me.
Even at six years old, he was nearly as tall as I was at eleven.
By the time he turned ten, he had already grown taller than me. One afternoon, he disappeared from our home on 124 Second Street. He missed lunch, and by nearly three o’clock he still had not returned. I was sick with worry. Mom would be home soon. What was I going to tell her?
I left Chelo in charge and went looking for him.
There he was, casually walking home from around the corner near Mr. Ringer’s gas station, across from Thaxton’s.
«Where have you been?» I shouted. «I’ve been worried sick!»
«At the river,» he answered.
«The river? What river?»
«The Arkansas River.»
My heart nearly stopped.
«You can’t even swim!»
My fear quickly turned into anger. He was lucky he hadn’t drowned or gotten trapped in the quicksand. He was alive, thank goodness, but he was still going to hear about it. I grabbed hold of his left ear and marched him the two blocks back home, scolding him every step of the way for putting me through such worry.
Even so, he grew into an intelligent, compassionate man with a deep love for humanity. Throughout his life, in his own unique way, he has worked to bring peace, kindness, and healing to the world around him.
Happy Birthday, Leno!
