Hank (Gonzalo) Torres, of Round Rock, joined his family of angels Feb. 11, 2022. He was born July 13, 1954, in Kansas City, Missouri to Gonzalo and Jane Esther Torres.
Hank was the seventh of 12 children. Raised in Coal Valley, Illinois most of his life, Hank was an avid pursuer of adventure and sports including boxing, wrestling, hang-gliding, fishing, motorcycles and fast cars. Being a lifelong Chicago Bears fan, he enjoyed cheering for them on Sundays.
He attended The University of Illinois and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. He moved to Austin and spent his entire working career at IBM.
After retirement he continued his love of computer science and engineering. By combining his technical knowledge and passion for advocating for individuals in wheelchairs like himself, he was awarded two US Patents. Those included one for “selfleveling seat for a wheelchair” (2000) and one for “therapeutic automatically controlled shifting wheelchair seat” (2009).
He is also a Guinness World Records record holder in “the fastest hands-free typing,” setting the record in 2011 at the Assistive Technology Industry Association Conference. Google It!!
Being wheelchair bound did not limit his adventurous life, nor did it limit him in guiding anyone to create, fix or build anything and everything.
Hank was the engineer, the architect, the inventor, but it was Irma who was his hands. They were a true team because it was Irma that he guided to bring his ideas and projects to life.
Hank and Irma’s love story began in 1985, when they met and fell in love instantly. Their marriage was a true example of the love described in 1 Corinthians 13, always showing each other patience, kindness and true devotion.
Hank’s favorite mode of travel was cruising to many destinations with his wife. His motto was “I am not handicapped, I am handi capable.”
He always graciously opened his home to family, neighbors and friends for any celebration no matter how big or small, whether he was there or not. Knowing that the people he loved were together in his home brought him so much joy. He could never get enough of family time, so he never wanted anyone to leave.
“Are you spending the night?” he would always ask. He even created an annual Christmas Camp for his nieces, nephews and neighbor kids for a week-long sleep over, which included activities such as woodwork, arts and crafts, campfires and famous movie nights. He proclaimed everyone his favorite and always loved you the most.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Gonzalo and Jane Torres; brother, Craig Torres; sister, Martita Torres; and mother and father-in-law Antonio and Amelia Perez.
He leaves behind his loving wife of 36 years, Irma (Perez); his daughter, Misty (Michael) Cosimeno; grandsons, Michael Anthony and Marco Giuseppe; brothers, George (Pat) Cummings, Charles Torres, Mark Anthony (Lorraine) Torres, Raoul Torres and Arturo (Jill) Torres; sisters, Maria McCoy, Lupita Torres, Juanita (Jeff) Zeglin and Josephine Torres. He is also survived by numerous sisters-in-laws, brothers-in-laws, nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and countless friends. Everyone who met Hank became his friend.
Hank never missed an opportunity to support his grandsons, nieces and nephews in their various sports and activities. For this reason, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your local youth sports organization.
Visitation will be held Sunday, Feb. 20, from 6 to 8 p.m. with the recitation of the holy rosary beginning at 7 p.m. at Providence Funeral Home, 807 Carlos Parker Blvd NW in Taylor.
Mass will celebrated Monday, Feb. 21, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Taylor.
Services are under the direction of the Providence Funeral Home in Taylor.
