Updated March 29, 2026

DEL RIO, Texas – FOI Foundation of Texas board member and past president Diana “DeeDee” Fuentes, who died unexpectedly after an accidental fall in Washington, D.C., was remembered at her Texas memorial service March 28 as an ardent advocate for a free press and open government and for her compassion for others.

“Each interaction mattered to her. You felt special in her presence,” said Josh Hinkle, president of Investigative Reporters & Editors Inc., where Fuentes was executive director. “She was this tiny giant in Texas journalism.”

Fuentes knew that journalists must proceed without fear in doing their jobs, Hinkle said, and she reminded her IRE colleagues across the country “we have a constitutionally protected right – and deep responsibility – to keep the people informed, and we will not stop.”

Her service in Del Rio featured remembrances from coworkers, friends and family members, who said Fuentes always made time for loved ones, colleagues, young journalists who were just embarking on their careers and even strangers and neglected animals.

State Sen. Judith Zaffirini, who knew Fuentes for 50 years, spoke of her “contagious optimism” and “oversized sense of joy.” Zaffirini recounted Fuentes’ time as her student, her communications aide and her friend and as someone she met with regularly as Fuentes advocated for freedom of the press and open government legislation at the Texas Capitol.

“When she spoke, people listened because her opinion mattered,” said Zaffirini, who noted that the word “failure” was not in Fuentes’ vocabulary. Zaffirini urged that others carry on fulfilling Fuentes’ mission of working for a free press and government transparency.

Fuentes, a longtime board member of  the FOI Foundation of Texas, served in the past as board president for three terms then continued on its executive committee. Hinkle also is a board member of the FOI Foundation.

A celebration of Fuentes’ life will also be held at 11 a.m. Sunday, April 12, in San Antonio. Details at https://www.facebook.com/events/1428107111860550/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D

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We are incredibly saddened by the news that beloved FOIFT board member and past president Diana “DeeDee” Fuentes died unexpectedly Friday, March 20.

Fuentes made a deep impact on open government in her many years with the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas and in the journalism field throughout her lengthy news career. She will be greatly missed. She was committed to a free and robust press and the people’s right to know. And, she was a kind, loving and fun person.

The San Antonio Express-News story on Fuentes’ death provides details about her many career accomplishments. Services are planned for Friday and Saturday, March 27-28, in Del Rio.

The statement below by FOIFT board member and IRE board president Josh Hinkle, written for IRE, where Fuentes served as executive director, also outlines her contributions to journalism and the free flow of information. Or read Hinkle’s IRE statement here.

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Dear IRE members and the broader journalism community,

I’m reaching out on behalf of IRE’s Board and staff with a heavy heart. I’m so sorry to share the news that our executive director, Diana R. Fuentes, died unexpectedly today in Washington, D.C. As we process this loss, I invite you to join me in reflecting on the incredible impact she had on all of us, and on IRE.

With over 35 years in journalism, including her role as deputy metro editor at the San Antonio Express-News, Diana brought a wealth of experience to our organization when she came on as executive director in April 2021. Her warmth created an inviting atmosphere at IRE, especially during crucial periods, like navigating the COVID-19 pandemic and preparing for our 50th anniversary last year.

Her knack for connecting with staff, Board members and our community was truly special. And she was a fierce advocate for diversity and inclusion, always striving to ensure that everyone felt heard and valued.

Diana was also dedicated to teaching, sharing her skills and knowledge as a professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia and Texas State University, where she recently earned her master’s degree. Her involvement and leadership with other journalism organizations like the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas and the San Antonio chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists further highlighted her passion for our field.

Whether she was representing IRE at events across the country or engaging with our international and student members, her dedication to our mission was clear. She worked tirelessly to make investigative training accessible and was also a passionate defender of press freedom and journalist safety. In light of the challenges we face today, she reminded us that “we have a constitutionally protected right — and deep responsibility — to keep the people informed, and we will not stop.” Those words from Diana — shared in a recent statement of support for journalists arrested for their protest coverage — resonate now more than ever.

A proud second-generation Texan and lifetime member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists — which inducted her into its Hall of Fame in 2022 — Diana loved her family, her cats and a good Vodka gimlet. She found joy in helping journalists fight for open records; she was in DC this week for a FOIA conference, where her last text to me was about an upcoming training session she was excited to attend.

In the coming days, the Board, staff and other stakeholders will gather to discuss honoring Diana’s legacy and our organization’s next steps. I’d love to hear your thoughts as we navigate this transition. As we remember Diana, let’s commit to upholding her values of diversity, inclusion and excellence in journalism. She believed in our mission wholeheartedly and would want us to keep moving forward together.

So, in Diana’s memory, I’ll close with her favorite sign-off: “A big abrazo for everybody!”