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Joseph Roy Kaiser A well-recognized community leader in San Antonio, Texas passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 26, 2023 at his home surrounded by his loving wife and family. Joseph was born on the 19th of June 1934, in San Antonio to Elisa Arciniega Beltran Ortiz being delivered by the mid-wife who had delivered Joseph’s five other siblings. Joseph’s original birth certificate names him as Roy B. Ortiz until corrections were made, resulting in Joseph taking his father’s surname “Kaiser” when he enlisted for military clearances in 1955. Despite having a surname like Kaiser, Joseph would later say he experienced the ills of his generation, stating; “I experienced discrimination being refused service in restaurants in New Braunfels and Uvalde, Texas.” Joseph’s mother passed away in 1936 of tuberculosis when he was two years old. She requested of her only brother, Jesus Arciniega Beltran, to raise Joseph. He fulfilled her request and raised Joseph until he graduated high school and joined the United States Air Force. He attended Burnet Elementary, Edgar Allen Poe Junior and Edgewood High School. He also attended military school completing his coursework’s at St. Phillips College, Incarnate Word University and Our Lady of the Lake University. He proudly served in the U.S. Air Force for twenty years from 1954 to 1974. His duties included assignments in Ashiya, Japan at Osan Air Base including two tours of war-time duty in Korea. During the Cuban Missile Crisis Joseph was attached to McDill AFB, Florida serving as a Spanish Linguist from 1962 to 1974, as well as an Airborne Mission Supervisor aboard a C-130 flying reconnaissance missions. He completed his career at the Headquarters of the USAF Security Services Command at Kelly AFB here in San Antonio, Texas. Joseph was also a highly trained Morse Code Intercept Operator. Between 1967-1973 Joseph served as a Staff Manager, supervising four airfield units including over 750 men, 19 aircraft, various additional ground crews, related equipment and facilities all at full operational combat readiness twenty-four hours. Joseph was involved with extensive coordination with Colonels and higher- ranking Officers at meetings and conferences for classified operational matters, including much traveling to Washington, England, Germany, Alaska, Okinawa, Japan, Hawaii, and Korea. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for outstanding non-combat service. In February 1974, Joseph, along with nationally recognized fellow organizer Ernest Cortez, began community organizing efforts to address improving the quality of neighborhoods within San Antonio. The first major meeting with City of San Antonio officials was held in May 1974 to address much needed development of District 3’s Six Mile Creek Drainage Project after the area’s floodwaters claimed the lives of a teacher and two school children. Over 200 citizens and all City Departmental Directors attended the meeting. Funding for the Six Mile Creek project was provided in a 1970 Bond Issue. However due to City Official’s delays, it wasn’t until demands led by Joseph and active members of the project, that construction was seen to begin in January 1975. This success encouraged Joseph to continue organizing efforts in the city neighborhoods. On July 18, 1974 the group’s first formal organization meeting took place at the Columbia Height sub-division of City Council District 4. The meeting brought together an array of community leaders from all regions of the San Antonio Community, giving birth to the organization with the acronym name of double meaning COPS (Citizens Organized for Public Service(s). With the unforgettable impact to furthering the city’s progression, growth, and quality of life for its citizens; COPS is still vitality active to date. Joseph served as Executive Vice Chairman as well as Founding Chairman of COPS until 1977 when Councilman Frank Wing, requested Joseph serve on the City’s Planning Commission. He served on the San Antonio Planning Commission for four two-year terms and its chairman from 1982 to 1986. In July 1977, Joseph was hired by the Archdiocese of San Antonio to serve as Executive Director of the Office for the Laity with a main objective of developing parish leadership to implement Vatican 12 new principles for the Catholic church. With a budget of $75,000 and a staff of 4, Joseph established and met various goals. His duties included leadership development for 130 parishes throughout the Archdiocese. He developed program curriculum and conducted 150 workshops. He was responsible for the concept and development of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council to serve as the primary advisory body to the Archbishop of San Antonio. In 1987 Joseph participated in the committee responsible for Pope John Paul II’s visit to San Antonio. His task was clearing and securing the site for the Pope’s mass for the over 2-million attendees. Joseph organized various groups to assist with the task of cleaning and picking-up debris. With the help of the Boy Scouts of America, area college students, and his own children, the clean-up took six weeks including weekends. Joseph was invited to the White House to attend the Pope’s visit to then President Ronald Reagan. From this experience, Joseph would state it was the most memorable mark in his lifetime, in having met two Saints: Saint John Paul II and Saint Sister Teresa of Calcutta. In 1990, Joseph R. Kaiser became the sole administrator for the City’s Adult Literacy Program. He developed and implemented the nationally recognized and successful Adult Literacy Program for the City of San Antonio. Joseph spearheaded the creation of the San Antonio Literacy Commission. Likewise, he founded the National Alliance of Urban Literacy that grew to 57 member cities across the country. He served on the Board of Directors from 1999 to 2004. He collaborated with the City of San Antonio and Our Lady of the Lake University in acquiring one-million dollars in grants to utilize social service students in supporting various needs of adult learners. He managed the construction of 7 Literacy Centers located in each City Council District of San Antonio to provide services for Adult Education, Literacy, Citizenship, GED preparation and support services such as childcare and pre-college development and employment. Joseph additionally coordinated major events in support of the Literacy goals and programs which included personally securing guest speakers such as: the First Lady Barbara Bush, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown, Assistant Secretary of the Interior Joseph Castillo, the First Lady of Texas Laura Bush, Los Angeles California’s famed teacher Jaime Escalante (whose life was depicted in the classic film “Stand and Deliver”) and one of the most celebrated singers and Hollywood film star, Mr. Frank Sinatra, who personally donated all his proceeds to the San Antonio Literacy Program from his performance at the Majestic Theater in San Antonio. Awards and Accomplishments Joseph received during his career include: 2003 – San Antonio City Council created the “Joseph Roy Kaiser G.E.D. Financial Assistance Fund” in his honor 1998 - Honoree for Community Service for Outstanding contribution toward Education and Literacy, presented by Ford Salute to Education 1995 – First Annual Leader in the Lifelong Learning Award from the San Antonio Commission on Literacy. 1994 – Literacy Partnership Award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 1993 – Technology Achievement Award from Public Technology Inc., presented at the National League of Cities Conference in Orlando Florida 1992 – Star of Texas Award from the Texas Association and the U.S. Commission on National and Community Service 1987 – Papal Visit Certificate of Merit for contributions during Pope John Paul II visit to San Antonio, presented by the Archdiocese of San Antonio 1960 – 1974 United States Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, two Air Force Commendation Medals and two Air Medals After his retirement from the City of San Antonio, Joseph continued to serve in the community at large and for St. Paul Catholic Church Parish, where he was a passionate participating member of the Spanish Choir. A Fourth-Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, Joseph served as Navigator for 2 years. He participated within the parish’s ACTS organization and served as Director for both English and Spanish retreats. As members of the Guadalupana Society, Joseph co-directed with his wife the design, development and construction of the Virgen de Guadalupe Meditation Garden and was instrumental in raising $75,000 for the project. He also served as one of a 4-member Steering Committee responsible for raising $2 million to design, develop and build a convent for the retired members of the Catholic Sisters Order, Hermanas Josefinas. He was married to Gloria Chapa in 1957 and together they had 5 children, divorced in 1993. Joseph is preceded in death by his mother, Elisa Arciniega Beltran, Uncle Jesus, who he considered his father and wife Aurora Beltran; siblings, Alex Beltran, Miguel Ortiz, Ernestina Ortiz, Anita Luna, Angelita Arciniega, Janie Vela and mother-in-law Josefina Duarte (Mamita) Joseph’s survivors include: beloved wife, Aurora Garza Kaiser; sibling, Armando Beltran (Mari); brother-in-law, Raymond Duarte; children, Laura Olivarri (William), Edwin Roy Kaiser (Gina+), Rebecca Pierro (Christopher), James Kaiser (Debra), and Matthew Xavier Kaiser (Melissa) and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and nieces and nephews. The Kaiser family thanks the Caring Hands staff Erica, Jose, Johnny and Martha Casares for the loving care and assistance provided to Joseph and the family during his illness. The family requests in lieu of flowers, that donations be made to the Hermanas Josefinas through the Mission Park Funeral Chapels and Cemeteries at Cherry Ridge. Arrangements include: April 17, 2023 - 5:00 pm - 8:00pm Viewing and Rosary St. Paul Catholic Church 350 Sutton Dr. SA, Tx April 18, 2023 11:00 am Viewing 11:30 am – 12:30 pm Mass 12:30pm Burial Procession to Fort Sam Houston 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm Celebration for Family and Friends St. Paul Community Center (corner of St. Cloud and Donaldson)

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Joseph Roy Kaiser

June 19, 1934 - March 26, 2023