David Emmanuel Cordova

11/14/1958 – 9/7/2023

David Emmanuel Cordova, 64, a loving husband, brother, uncle, and friend, passed away peacefully September 7 at a San Antonio hospital after a valiant fight with a short illness.

David was preceded in death by his parents, David B. and Mary A. Cordova. He grew up in Laredo, Texas, as the youngest child (and only boy) in the Cordova family. He graduated in 1977 from J.W. Nixon High School, where he played tennis and participated in the Civil Air Patrol.

He went on to study physics at the University of Texas at Austin before joining Motorola Semiconductor in Austin, where he spent 20 years in advanced manufacturing, team facilitation, and sustainability initiatives. He moved to San Antonio in 2002 and worked for several manufacturing companies, ending his career several years ago as a quality assurance engineer with Johnson Controls. He was a member of the San Antonio Manufacturers Association.

Having attended Unity churches while in Austin, David joined Unity Church of San Antonio (UCSA) shortly after moving to the Alamo City and became a very active member. He started by joining the core values committee, where he met his future wife, Ann Stevens, whom he married in 2005.  He went on to serve as a prayer chaplain for nine years and more recently as a member of the Board of Trustees.

David's interest in spiritual ecology led him to establish the UCSA EarthCare team.  He also served on the EarthCare steering committee for Unity Worldwide Ministries, facilitating monthly mentoring calls, manning EarthCare tables at two Unity conferences, and participating in local interfaith sustainability events.

David was known as a deep thinker, good listener, and a kind, compassionate person who saw the best in everyone and went out of his way to help them. He especially enjoyed mentoring young men in their careers and spirituality. He was also an animal lover, including elephants, big cats, and a neighborhood calico who "adopted" him and became his adored feline companion, Cali.

In addition to nature, David loved astronomy, science fiction, cooking, rock music, playing the drums, listening to NPR, working out, lifting weights, and watching concerts. One of his special memories was sitting near the front row at a Carlos Santana concert at the Tobin Center. He was also a devoted fan of the San Antonio Spurs (especially Manu Ginobili), Dallas Cowboys (Go Dak!), and Houston Astros (Jose Altuve).

He is survived by his loving wife, Ann; his sisters, Helen Leal (Jule Freeman) of Albuquerque, NM; Josephine Stevens of San Antonio; and Evelyn Perez (Clem) of Albuquerque, NM; nieces Claire Haney (Brandon) of San Antonio, and Samantha Stevens of Houston; nephew Andrew Stevens of San Antonio; great-niece Lexi Stevens and great-nephew Alan Stevens, both of San Antonio; in addition to numerous cousins in San Antonio and South Central Texas, and in-laws from his wife's side of the family.

The family has chosen to return David's body to Mother Earth via cremation with arrangements being handled by Olinger-Saenz Mortuary. A Celebration of Life memorial service is being planned in October with details to be announced soon. Those who would like to share fond memories or stories of David are invited to take part. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Unity Church of San Antonio, or a charity of your choice.

"Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust"