Raúl Augusto Montaño

Raúl Augusto Montaño passed peacefully at his Tucson home on January 3, 2026, beneath the first full moon of the year, surrounded by the love of his family. He was 92. Raúl shared 60 devoted years of marriage with his beloved wife, Rebecca Rico Montaño. Together they built a life grounded in love, hard work, and deep commitment to family.

Together, Raúl and Rebecca raised three daughters: Julianne (Justin) Eastman, Candice Montaño, and Wendy (Edmund) Marquez. His greatest pride and joy were his grandchildren, Diego and Alyssa Marquez. Raúl Augusto Montaño was born on December 5, 1933, in Cananea, Sonora, México, to Adela Noriega Montaño and Raúl Ricardo Montaño. The eldest of eight children, Raúl learned responsibility early and carried it with him throughout his life.

He graduated from Tucson High School in 1954, and proudly served four years in the U.S. Air Force. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Arizona—all while working full time at the U.S. Post Office. Providing for and caring for his family was always his highest priority. After 42 years of dedicated service, Raúl retired from the U.S. Postal Service, leaving behind a legacy of diligence and reliability. Raúl was deeply engaged with the world around him. A voracious reader and lifelong student of history, he followed local, national, and global events closely, continuing to order and read books well into his final years. He found joy in mariachi music, vintage cars, and gardening.

Industrious and resourceful, Raul had a talent for repairing nearly anything and approached every task with patience and determination. He had a lifelong passion for photography and film, carefully documenting the lives and memories of those he loved. He loved following sports, especially football, golf, and basketball, and was a devoted supporter of the UA Wildcats.

Raúl cherished his lifelong friendships and enjoyed traveling to visit family in Louisiana, Maryland, and California. One of his favorite memories was traveling through Europe with Rebecca. Gifted with an extraordinary memory, he could recall vivid details from as early as three years old, delighting family and friends with his stories.

Raúl will be remembered for his strength of character, his honesty, loyalty, humility, responsibility, and unwavering dedication to his family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Raúl R. and Adela Montaño, and siblings Alvaro Montaño, Beatriz Profitt, and Efrain Montaño. He is survived by his siblings Elvia Crothers, Louis Montaño, Yolanda Carroll, and Hector Montaño, along with many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends who loved him dearly.

Thank you to all of his caregivers for their incredible love, kindness, and compassion during his last year.