Obituary of Ernesto Luis Maldonado
Ernesto Luis Maldonado, 69, left us in the early morning of August 13, 2024 with his wife by his side at their home in Houston, Texas. Ernesto was born on July 31, 1955 in Port Lavaca, Texas, the 5th of 11 children born to Tomas Maldonado and Martha Barthel Maldonado. He was raised in Houston and attended St Vincent de Paul Catholic School and Strake Jesuit High School. He attended Rice University for two years as an undergraduate, then completed his B.A. in Art history at the University of Houston where he was a member of the first Honors College class. He then completed his M.A. in Architecture at Rice University.
In 1996, Ernesto and Carrie Glassman Shoemake formed GSMA Architects which is owned today by three members of Ernesto’s team. In 1999, Ernesto and Carrie joined with Cindi Strauss, The Sarah and Bill Morgan Curator of Decorative Arts. Craft, and Design at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, and the Houston Chapter of the American Institute of Architects to establish “150 Years of Design: The AIA Houston Collection” of Architect designed object. This is the only collaboration of its kind in the United States. Two of the firms outstanding projects are the renovation of the Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research, and New Hope Center at Brays Crossing which won an Urban Land Institute Development of Distinction Award and a ULI Award for Excellence. Ernesto and GSMA have worked with New Hope Housing to develop affordable housing in Houston for 30 years. He also worked with Rothko Chapel on the building committee and served on the Chapel Board.
Ernesto leaves behind his wife of 45 years, Mary Louise Welch, late brother Tom’s wife Jannie and their two children, sister Martha Garcia and husband Hector and their three children, brother Fred and wife Julia and their two sons, his sister Marguerite Moreno and husband Abraham and their three sons, brother Rick and wife Terri and Rick’s two children, brother Ed and wife Mattia and their three sons, sister Mary Roder and husband David, brother Bob and wife Gina, sister Marcella Anghilante and husband Mark and their two sons, and his late sister Madeline’s three children. He also leaves behind James Welch and partner Bonnie Wilson, and Sean Welch and wife Laura and their two children, as well as many nieces and nephews.
The family thanks Dr. Jay-Jiguang Zhu and the Neuroscience team at Memorial Herman Hospital for helping Ernesto live three and a half years longer than expected. We also thank the workers from Homewatch Caregivers of Houston for their caring and attentive help.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and a celebration of Ernest’s life at New Hope Housing at Harrisburg. In lieu of flowers, please support New Hope Housing or Rothko Chapel.