David Aaron Lozano, 51, died Tuesday, July 13, 2021 in his McKinney home surrounded by family, after a two-year battle with that heartless villain cancer.
He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on December 17, 1969, the son of Eloy Lozano of Laredo, Texas, and Mirta Lozano of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. Even before graduating from WT White High School in Dallas, David had already begun a career in the restaurant industry, later becoming a highly skilled and sought-after bartender. After a brief “geographical cure” in Austin, David returned to Dallas and found sobriety in 1997.
After a varied career sampling from pagers to working “skips,” he found success with education technology, working for Study Island, TeacherWeb, and Macmillan New Ventures. As a treasured employee of Education Galaxy, David helped build the business from the ground up, eventually becoming Regional Vice President of Sales, reaching over 500 Texas school districts and 15 states. He was a champion of virtual learning that long predated the COVID pandemic that made such platforms essential.
In 2010, David married his long-time partner and best friend, Stephanie (née Layton), of Amarillo. They lived together with David’s daughter, Meridith, from a previous relationship (he had been her chief custodian since 2004), until she struck out on her own.
David took his sobriety seriously, yet with good humor, and shared his hilarious adventures with others along with gentle guidance and a strong example. He served as a sponsor to many and as inspiration to many more, and gave generously of his time and warmth. Before his death, David proudly received his 24-year chip, with the assurance that deathbed sedations do not count.
He was a self-described Sci-Fi nerd, a passionate music fan, and a dedicated gourmand. Throughout his travels for work, David sought out and sampled the best in fine dining, from roadhouses to diners, and never met a brisket or taco he wasn’t willing to give a shot at the title. We need not speak of his love for bomb pops, which goes without saying.
David was a dedicated father, who loved his daughter, Meridith, unconditionally, and took her uncanny similarity to him with—as always—good humor. He was a doting grandfather and loving husband to his wife, Stephanie.
Professionally, David said, “I have a simple philosophy, take care of the customer, make friends.” That was not just idle chitchat. David’s willingness to make friends wherever, whenever, was a ruling concept of his life. He saw joy in everything, he had friends across all boundaries and could share a laugh with anyone. David was popular with the nurses and techs he met through his chemo treatments, who took to parking him next to “difficult” patients knowing that David would help thaw them out. To David, we are all in recovery, and always on the road to betterment.
After his diagnosis, he picked up a refrain his father used to say: “Death is only a drag for the living.” Ain’t it the truth.
David is preceded in death by his father, Eloy Lozano; mother, Mirta Lozano; and sister, Laura Lemmon.
He is survived by his wife, Stephanie; daughter, Meridith Barrow; son-in-law Jonathan Barrow; granddaughters, Mia and Millie; brother, Raymond Lozano; sister, Diana Lozano; as well as brother- and sisters-in-law; many nieces and nephews; and more friends than a pink elephant could count. David will be sorely missed.
A memorial service will be held at a later date to be updated shortly.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to The 24 Hour Club in Dallas, Texas (www.dallas24hourclub.org). David would also recommend that you try their pancakes.