Narciso L. Aleman, 1946–2025

Narciso L. Aleman JD’83, age 78, died Sunday evening, March 16, 2025, at Froedtert Hospital (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) following a series of illnesses and complications resulting from diabetes and heart disease. Born November 25, 1946, in Edcouch, Texas, Narciso was one of nine children born to Alfredo and Teresa Aleman.

Raised as a migrant farmworker, Narciso came of age during the Chicano Movement that activated many U.S.-born Mexicans and their allies. Over the course of his life, he was involved with the social justice movement across the country, participating in the work of the Crusade for Justice in Denver, Colorado, the National La Raza Unida Party, the Texas Farmworker’s Union, the Student Non-Violent Organizing Committee, United Bronx Parents, the Latin American Union for Civil Rights and Esperanza Unida, both in Milwaukee, the Wisconsin Migrant Council, and the National Council of La Raza.

Narciso was an activist and a scholar dedicated to lifelong learning. He helped form and was the president of the first Chicano college in the nation, Colegio Jacinto Trevino in Mercedes, Texas. He received a master’s degree in education from Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, where Professor Thomas J. Porter mentored him. He went on to earn a law degree (1983) from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and a PhD (1994) in educational policy and administration from the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities, with combined studies at the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs.

Dedicated to both law and education, Narciso was actively engaged in both disciplines throughout his adult life. In private practice he focused on issues from redistricting and voting rights, to civil rights complaints, and immigration. He and attorney Richard “Rick” Congdon of Waukesha filed the 1984 redistricting case Vincent K. Knox, Juan Mireles, et. al v. Milwaukee County Board of Elections Commissioners, representing the plaintiffs who challenged the county’s redrawn voting maps on the grounds they severely limited the opportunity for representation by African Americans and Latinos on the Milwaukee County Board. As a result of the lawsuit, the county redrew the maps.

Later he would serve Milwaukee County as an assistant district attorney, and he eventually established his own immigration law practice.

After becoming engaged in restorative justice theory and practice, Narciso served as a mediator for the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction through Marquette University, handling special education mediations, under the direction of Professor Eva Soika. He also served as a mediator in clergy abuse cases between the victims of priest abuse and Milwaukee Archdiocese, as part of the Marquette University Restorative Justice Program.

As an educator, Narciso worked with countless numbers of students across the country, teaching at the University of Utah–Salt Lake City, the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities, Arizona State University–Tempe, and the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. While living in the D.C. area and working with the Arnulfo Chapa Immigration Law Office, he taught at the Montgomery County Vocational College, and the Virginia Technical College.
Narciso retired from legal practice in 2018 as the senior attorney for Casa Las Americas Immigration Solutions in Pharr, Texas, which he operated with assistance from Tila Luna, his immensely talented office manager.

Narciso was preceded in death by his parents, Alfredo and Teresa Aleman, and his siblings Francisco, Jonadab, Loida, and Adam.

Narciso will be deeply missed by his companera de vida, Rita Hagen Aleman; his beloved daughter, Guadalupe Aleman; his sons Estanislado Gonzalez and Narciso Salas; and his cherished grandson, Marcos Ayala, who he considered his greatest legacy. Ever grateful for his family, Narciso expressed constant appreciation for the affection and support of his brother Tito Aleman of Denver, Colorado; his sisters Eva Mendoza, Eduvina Banda, and Ruth L. Aleman, who reside in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas; his sisters-in-law Isha, Anita, Anna, and Nellie; his nephews, Abdiel Aleman and Tito Aleman, Jr., with whom he maintained weekly contact; and his many other nieces and nephews who provided prayers and support during his life.

Narciso expressed gratitude and love for his “adopted family members,” Stacy Connolly of Boston, Massachusetts; Joe Conzo and Eric Kane of New York; the Maynard Hagen family originally of Sparta, Wisconsin, especially Yvonne Hagen Smith, Patricia, Nick, John (Tracy), David, and Joanne Hagen; his devoted and beloved niece, Melinda Smith, who provided care and comfort throughout the past six years; her siblings Vincent and Amanda Smith; his nephew Sam Hagen; his compadre of more than 40 years, David Robles, of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin; and his caregivers Althea Glenn and Joe D’Amato, both in the Milwaukee area.

At Narciso’s request his celebration of life will be private.