Remembering Victor Manuel Macias Castro: A Life Lost to Floodwaters, A Love That Endures

SAN ANTONIO, TX — In the early hours of a quiet San Antonio morning, tragedy struck when 28-year-old Victor Manuel Macias Castro lost his life after being swept away by powerful floodwaters on the city’s Northeast Side. Now, his family and loved ones are left holding onto memories of a man who worked hard, loved deeply, and lived each day with purpose.

Victor was on his way home from a long 12-hour shift when disaster unfolded. A devoted father, son, and partner, Victor’s last moments were spent doing what he always did—trying to make it home to the people he loved most. According to his longtime partner, Jacqlyn Rivera, Victor was exhausted but hopeful as he tried to navigate through the dangerous flood conditions. Tragically, he never made it back.

“He was a good man, you know?” Jacqlyn said through tears, reflecting on the man she had built her world around. For more than four years, Jacqlyn and Victor shared a bond that many spend a lifetime searching for. “We were planning to get married,” she said quietly. “I just wish we wouldn’t have waited.”

That morning, she received one final call from Victor—a moment forever etched in her heart.

“I don’t know if I’m going to make it. I’m going to try, I’m going to totally try and get back to you,” she recalled him saying. “My car won’t work, my windows won’t go down… I’m going to try to make it to the back so I can break the window. I love you, Jacqy. I love you.” Then came the haunting sound of him pounding on the window, and the silence that followed.

Victor’s passing has left a gaping hole in the hearts of his family. His mother, Rosalva Castro, remembers him as deeply affectionate—a son who never hesitated to express his love through hugs and kisses, who carried a heart full of tenderness. “He was just so loving. He always hugged me, kissed me. That’s how he said goodbye and how he said hello,” she said.

For Victor’s father, Eduardo Macias, the grief is compounded by the knowledge that his son was lost while trying to provide for his family. “It’s been very difficult,” Eduardo shared. “He worked all night, got out at five in the morning, and we were waiting for him to come home—like he always did—and wake us up.”

Victor worked tirelessly to care for his children and ensure his family had everything they needed. He was a man of integrity and sacrifice—never complaining, always moving forward, even when he was tired or overwhelmed. He was the kind of person who showed up, no matter what.

His tragic passing has shaken not only his family but also the greater San Antonio community. Victor’s story is a sobering reminder of how fragile life can be and how natural disasters can devastate even the most ordinary moments—like driving home from work.

But Victor’s legacy is not one of tragedy. It is a legacy of love—fierce, enduring, and selfless love. From the way he loved Jacqlyn to the way he cared for his children and cherished his parents, Victor left behind a blueprint for how to live with heart.

His memory now lives on in those he touched—with every embrace Jacqlyn wishes she could give him, every quiet moment his parents spend longing for his voice, and every smile that flickers across his children’s faces, unknowingly echoing their father’s own.

As the community mourns and rallies around the Macias family, we ask everyone to hold them close in thought and spirit. In a time like this, compassion matters. A shared moment of silence. A warm embrace. A helping hand.

Victor Manuel Macias Castro may be gone, but his love remains, burning bright in the hearts he left behind. May we all remember him not for the tragedy of that rainy morning, but for the beauty, strength, and devotion he gave so freely every day of his life.

Rest in peace, Victor. Your journey home came too soon, but your love will never fade.