In the 30 years she knew Diana “DeeDee” Fuentes, Terry Bertling, associate professor of practice, said Fuentes taught her to emulate her generosity and kindness toward others.
Whether it was carrying food for stray cats, cash for homeless people or advice for aspiring journalists, Fuentes, lecturer in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC), had endless support for others and knew them by name.
“I love those stories,” Bertling said. “I never saw her [give stray cats food and water], but when I read that in Scott [Huddleston]’s obituary, I thought, ‘That is so DeeDee, just helping always in every way.'”
Fuentes died on March 20 from injuries following an accidental fall after attending a freedom of information conference in Washington, D.C. Her passion, mentorship and influence toward professional journalism spanned about 50 years.
Fuentes reported and edited for more than 35 years. She started at the Laredo News during the late 1970s and worked in many different newsrooms, such as the Beaumont Enterprise and the San Antonio Light.
Nora Lopez, executive editor at the San Antonio Express-News, met Fuentes after Fuentes’ transfer to the Express-News in the late 1980s. She said Fuentes was an amazing reporter who knew how to maintain sources because of her genuine interest in people.
“She was just so smart, and she just showed so much empathy whenever you talked to her,” Lopez said. “She was always in that moment with you, so you really felt seen, you felt understood, you felt validated when you were talking to her. That was one of her best qualities.”
While they worked at the Express-News, Bertling said she recalled a time when Fuentes was the night metro editor and Kym Fox, professor of practice, was the day metro editor. Fox died of cancer last July. She and Fuentes would nurture many of the younger journalists, who referred to them as the “newsroom moms” of different shifts.
“I think she remembered being a young journalist trying to get a break in the business, too, and wanted to help pull people up the way others helped pull her up to help her get her start,” Bertling said.
Fuentes also reached those outside the newsroom. Dino Chiecchi, associate professor of practice, said she always tried to be helpful. She was part of several organizations, including the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, the Texas Managing Editors, the San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists and Investigative Reporters & Editors Inc.
Chiecchi said leaders within these organizations aimed to make them better and stronger, and Fuentes contributed in every way.
“She was especially involved in freedom of information issues,” Chiecchi said. “She cared deeply about the craft and access to information that the government had and access to public officials. She worked in making sure that newsroom representation was equal to the communities [that] newsrooms were serving.”
Chiecchi said he agreed with Lopez calling Fuentes “born to serve.” Lopez said she believed Fuentes was involved with many journalism groups due to her deep commitment to the field and to mentoring the next generation.
“I think all of these groups have mechanisms in place to raise money for students wanting to pursue a career in journalism,” Lopez said. “I feel like that’s why she was a member of all these groups, because it furthered her core belief in freedom of the press.”
Even after Fuentes retired from the Express-News in 2021 and pursued a master’s degree while teaching at Texas State the following year, she would keep in contact with those she knew.
Lopez said they became even better friends as they served on the SPJ San Antonio Pro Chapter’s board and helped produce its annual Gridiron show. Bertling said Fuentes would drive from San Antonio just for SJMC’s monthly faculty meetings in Old Main, even when she was not teaching. Chiecchi said people regarded her highly, which may have led her to continue teaching at Texas State.
Fuentes’ influence also reaches those she taught. Kobe Arriaga, journalism alumnus, transferred to Texas State in August 2022. Fuentes was one of his first professors, and he said he easily grasped journalism basics in her media writing class due to how she simplified it.
One day in 2023, Arriaga’s bus was delayed, and he considered walking home when Fuentes offered to give him a ride. They had a deeper conversation in that 15-minute car ride, and he found out she was from the same town as him and had other similarities.
Arriaga said from that point on, he and Fuentes would always keep in touch. After Fuentes’ passing, Arriaga said thinking of her inspires him to continue his work in journalism.
“It’s shocking, it’s heartbreaking, it’s like something that you could have never imagined,” Arriaga said. “But at the same time, I know that I’m still going to carry her presence with me and her legacy. And I’m just going to try to help make her as proud as I can. I think that’s the best thing that I could do.”
The School of Journalism and Mass Communication established the Diana “DeeDee” Fuentes Endowed Scholarship to provide funding for students pursuing a degree within the school. For more information, visit https://sjmc.txst.edu/donate-faculty-legacy/deedee-fuentes-scholarship.html.
