Teodoro "Ted" DeLeon Jr. Obituary (1948 - 2019)

Mr. Teodoro Reyes Aremendariz De Leon, of Lansing, MI, passed away on Sunday April, 21, 2019 at the age of 71. Ted De Leon was born in Seguin, Texas and is one of fourteen children born to Ted Sr. (Lolo) and Augustina. Mr. De Leon is a former migrant worker who, at age seven, worked side by side with his parents in the onion and cotton fields of central and west Texas, continuing this honorable work in the pepper fields of New Mexico, and making the annual trek Al Norte to Ohio's tomato fields and Michigan's cherry orchards and cucumber fields. As a migrant worker, Mr. De Leon attended 18 different schools in these four states before he graduated from high school in 1966. With the constant encouragement of his parents, Mr. De Leon graduated from Southwest Texas State University (now known as Texas State University in San Marcus, TX.) with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology and from Michigan State University in 1973 with a master's degree in social work. He also attended the University of Wisconsin, Rutgers University, and Washington University for additional professional training. Mr. De Leon worked for the State of Michigan for over thirty years in the areas of juvenile justice, community action, substance abuse services, mental and public health concerns, persons with disability concerns, and workforce development as a state executive. Mr. De Leon has been an active member of the Chicano community and involved with many civic activities, including co-founder of C.I.R.C.L.E. (Circle of Indigenous Races for Community Leadership and Empowerment), program coordinator for the Mestizo Anishnabe Health Alliance, a tenure as the President of the Capitol Area Health Alliance, President of the Lansing Area Aids Network, Treasurer of the Greater Lansing Sister Cities Commission, Treasurer of the Retain Cesar Chavez Avenue Committee and was a member of the ACLU. His past membership also includes the Greater Lansing Legal Aid Bureau, President of El Renacimientol (a statewide Spanish speaking newspaper), Trabajadores Por La Raza, La Raza Alliance of Substance Abuse Services, and the Chicano Advisory Committee of the Lansing School District. In recognition of his tireless passion for the Chicano community, by invitation Mr. De Leon has also published various articles on drug abuse, police and community relations. Mr. De Leon is preceded in death by his father- Ted Sr., Mother- Augustina Aremendariz and four brothers - Gilbert De Leon, Jerry De Leon, Larry De Leon and Robert De Leon. He is survived by one brother- Arturo De Leon and his seven sisters - Rita Hernandez (Alex), Victoria Knoblauch, Betty Jean Herrara, Jesusa De Leon, Martina Richardson, Diana De Leon, Tina Marie Dahlman (Richard). He is also survived by his three children, Irma De Leon (Shawn Dolman), Teodoro Joaquin Campos-De Leon (Jessica Campos), and Gilberto Juarez Campos-De Leon (Synthia Britton), nine grandchildren, and one great grandchild. The family would like to also thank Mr. De Leon's special friend, Annette Riley.