In loving memory of Byron Eguiguren

Byron L. Eguiguren passed away on Friday, September 11, 2026, at the age of 94.

Byron was born in Loja, Ecuador on June 28, 1932, to Luis Emilio Eguiguren Burneo and Dolores Ordóñez Ordóñez. He was uniquely resilient, inspirational, honorable, and civic minded. A true student of life, a devout catholic, and a supportive friend to so many over the years.

Byron was proceeded in death by his beloved wife Jenny Eguiguren, whom he met at the University of Guayaquil and married on January 25, 1962. He was a loving father to José (Aída Sánchez) and Lolita Eguiguren, whom he and Jenny raised in Winnetka, IL, and he was a devoted grandfather to Enrique (Hunter Feeley), Luis, and Belén Eguiguren. He was proceeded in death by his siblings Dr. Agusto Ordóñez, Sr. Fabiola Eguiguren, and Sonia Guerra Eguiguren and is survived by the youngest, Dr. Vicente Eguiguren. He was a favorite uncle of many nieces and nephews, as well as a treasured cousin amongst his extended family.

Byron was the first blind person to receive a formal university education from the Loja province in Ecuador. At 19 years of age, he helped the Guayaquil Ecuador Lions Club establish Ecuador’s first school for the blind, where he served as director for 12 years. In 1955, he helped found the former Pan American Council for the Blind, a non-profit humanitarian agency that coordinated the flow of of teachers, materials, and expertise throughout the Americas. In 1956, he won a scholarship that took him to the New York Institute for the Education of the Blind, which then allowed him to study at Brooklyn College and University of Syracuse. After returning to Ecuador, Byron organized the Ecuador Council for the Blind and worked to help pass laws there to assist the blind in rehabilitation, health and employment.

After graduating from the University of Guayaquil, Byron won a scholarship that took him and Jenny to his graduate studies in Heidelberg and Marburg, Germany, and he was the first blind person to study at the Goethe Institute near Munich. They cherished their memories of Germany and held great affection for their time there late into their lives. By 1963, he was fluent in 7 languages which led him to his career as a linguist, counselor, and educator at Hadley School for the Blind in Winnetka, IL. He received the Medal of Civic Valor from the Ecuadorian Government naming him “Citizen of the Year” by presidential decree in 1968. Throughout his life Byron continued to work for the needs and education of the blind. He was a multi-time President of the Glencoe Rotary Club as an over 30 year member. He was named Educator of the Year in Winnetka in 1984. For years, he also was an active member of the Esperanto Institute.

Once retired, he remained involved in various organizations and pursued his many interests. Byron loved music and his various instruments, playing the guitar, piano, accordion, harmonica, and any other instrument he could get his hands on. He delighted in meeting new people, with his charm and curiosity always guiding him to make friends and learn about their cultures. He was an avid HAM (Amateur Radio) Operator, alway proudly announcing his WD9IAN call letters as “Whiskey Delta 9 Incredible American Nut”. He participated in a few local Ham clubs and was a founding member of the Associación Internaciónal de Radio Aficionados (AIRA) club.

A visitation will be held at 10:30am Friday, September 18, 2026, in Saints Joseph Francis Xavier Parish located at 524 9th Avenue, Wilmette IL, with a memorial mass service at 11:30am. Please RSVP to a family member if you plan to attend.

In memory of Byron and in lieu of flowers, donations in his honor can be made for Escuela De Educación Básica Especializada Byron Eguiguren via this via this GoFundMe link. The school in his hometown continues to honor his dream of providing the support to disabled youths that he had to fight for as a boy.