JESUS “Jesse” RENE BENITEZ JR., MD, FACP
Jesus “Jesse” Rene Benitez Jr., MD, FACP, of Amarillo, Texas passed away on October 19, 2022. Public viewing, mass and Inurnment took place last week in his home town of Amarillo, Texas. Rene is originally from Pharr Texas and a PSJA alumni graduating with the class of 1978.
Jesse was born on October 18, 1959 in Mercedes, Texas to Jesus Rene Sr. and Maria Elva (Elizondo) Benitez. He attended elementary and middle school in Weslaco, Texas, and graduated from Pharr-San JuanAlamo High School in 1978. During high school, Rene worked at the family business, El Capitan Theater in Pharr, Texas. He worked the box office, concession stand, and was a projectionist.
A few credits short of completing his bachelor’s degree at the University of Texas, Jesse was accepted into the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas. Upon graduation in 1986 he matched with the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Internal Medicine residency program in Amarillo. He served as Chief resident from 1988-1989. During these years, a young nurse from South Dakota caught his eye on the 5th floor of what was then called High Plains Baptist Hospital (currently BSA). Jesse and Judy (Dawson) were married on April 1, 1989, at St. Hyacinth Catholic Church.
Dr. Benitez was a staff physician at the J.O. Wyatt Community Health Center from 1997 – 2003. During that time, he also “moonlighted” in the emergency room at the Thomas E. Creek VA Medical Center. He decided that caring for our nation’s veterans was his true calling and decided to join the VAfull time. He served as Chief of Primary Care for many years, all the while acting as clinical instructor for Texas Tech Department of Internal Medicine. Jesse loved to teach the medical students and residents. He was a true life-long learner. He spent countless hours studying his MKSAP books, and proudly became board certified in Internal Medicine in 1998 and recertified in 2016. Perhaps one of his proudest achievements was becoming a fellow of the American College of Physicians in 2021. ACP Fellows are distinguished doctors dedicated to Internal Medicine.
In March of 2011, Jesse was struck with a catastrophic illness known as sepsis, and he also battled a blood clotting disorder known as DIC. After over 100 days in the hospital and several surgeries, he came home ready to lead a full and meaningful life. Despite losing his hands, his feet and his kidneys, he was determined to go back to work. After two years of home dialysis, he was blessed with the gift of a kidney transplant. He learned how to drive again, and even passed the parallel parking part of the driving test! His spirit was truly indomitable.
Dr. Benitez was a member of St. Hyacinth Catholic Church, and often served as a Lector. He was a 1st degree member of the Knights of Columbus, council 16205. He enjoyed being the Cubmaster of Pack 21 St. Mary’s from 2007-2011. He then became the troop physician for Boy Scout troop 1221, and always enjoyed going to summer camp.
Grateful for having shared his remarkable life are his wife of 33 years, Judy, and his sons Javier and Joseph all of Amarillo; his mother, Elva Benitez of Pharr, Texas; his brother Oscar Benitez of Austin, Texas, his brother Rolando (Sandy) Benitez of Mission, Texas; his sister Monica Benitez of San Antonio, Texas; as well as one niece and four nephews. Jesse was preceded in death by his father in 2005 and his brother Omar in 2019.
Jesse was passionate about sharing ways he devised to become more independent. During Covid, he did a Zoom presentation entitled “No Hands, No Feet, No Problem” to a group in Japan.
There will be a mass for local friends and family on Saturday, November 5th at St. Anne Catholic Church (801 E. Juarez Ave.) in Pharr at 6 p.m.