- Date Of Birth: November 12, 1960
- Date Of Death: August 10, 2020
- State: Texas
David Ortega, 59, of New Orleans passed away August 10, 2020 in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
David was born on November 12, 1960 in Pasadena, Texas to Clemente Lopez Ortega and Otilia Rendon Ortega. He graduated from O. Perry Walker High School in New Orleans in 1979. David was a kind and courageous soul whose family and friends were the center point of his life. He was the family historian, retelling family stories and cataloging family pictures. He had a great talent for the arts, and enjoyed photography and creating drawings and paintings for family and friends. Although he was a diehard Dallas Cowboys fan, he still managed to tolerate the just as diehard Saints fans in the circle of his many friends and family. He enjoyed hanging out with his friends’ band, Chicken on the Bone. Although David’s life took on a difficult path due to Fabry Disease; he always looked to the best in his life, with a glass half full mentality, always feeling that he was the lucky one compared to others.
David was part of a Tulane University trial study for the development of Enzyme Replacement Therapy for Fabry Disease. Due to his contributions, many Fabry patients are now receiving this important treatment thereby slowing the progression of this debilitating disease. David was often invited to speak to Tulane students and faculty on his lifelong experiences of dealing with Fabry Disease. His ability to speak so freely about these experiences provided the students and faculty a more personal prospective, greater insight and therefore a better understanding of what the Fabry patient goes through. Although tasked with carrying a heavy load in his own life, the fact that he still found ways to help others with carrying their loads speaks volumes about this man, David Ortega.
David is survived by his brother, Daniel Ortega (Lisa); his sister, Julia Berniard (Mark); his nephews Jason, David, Daniel, Christian, and Luke; his niece, Amanda; and his uncles, aunts, and many cousins.
David was preceded in death by his father Clemente (Clem) Ortega and mother Otilia (Tillie) Ortega.
The family would like to express their gratitude to the many doctors and nurses who took care of David throughout his life. They would like to express a special thank you to Dr. Hans Anderson and Chris Dvorak of Tulane University Medical Center for their great interest and care of David even after his passing.
National Fabry Disease Foundation to honor David’s memory.
