Guillermo Grajales Vanegas

On Saturday July 22nd, 2023, Guillermo Grajales passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family.  He was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Dora (née Barrera), his parents Guillermo Grajales and Lucila Vanegas de Grajales, and his brother Jaime Grajales.

Guillermo is survived by his son Diego Grajales (Karen), his daughter Dinora Dillhoff (Keith), his granddaughters Julia, Sofia and Isabella Dillhoff, his sisters Sonia Grajales and Maria Ester Restrepo, brothers Oscar and Rodrigo Grajales, his uncle Arnobio Vanegas, cousins, nieces and nephews and his dedicated caregiver Elva Salazar.

Guillermo was born in Calarca, Colombia.  Through his hard work and belief in the importance of education he became an economics professor at La Universidad Nacional de Colombia where he met his wife.  He worked as an economist at the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) at the Organization of American States (OAS) for 40 years.  Throughout his career, Guillermo and his family lived in 8 countries. While in Panama, he became a member of the Rotary Club.  He continued at the Rotary Club of Washington DC and was a proud member for over 30 years. 

Guillermo will always be remembered for his dedication and love to his wife and family, generosity, sense of humor, and love for the University of Notre Dame.

Visitation will begin at 10am on Tuesday, August 1, 2023 at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, 6900 River Road, Bethesda, MD 20817.  The Funeral Mass will begin at 11am.  Interment to follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Silver Spring, MD.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Guillermo’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.