06/03/2026
Visitation: Thursday, June 4, 2026, 5:00PM - 8:00PM. Kerr Brothers Funeral Home, 436 East Main Street, Lexington, Kentucky, 40507.
Raúl F Lagos, 81 years young, passed away peacefully on May 31, 2026 after a long and wonderful life. He had a great love of his family and a life long passion for education, language and tennis.
His death was preceded by his father Manual Lagos Ramos and his mother Mercedes Del Carmen Espinoza.
Raúl is survived by his wife, Regina Marcinek, and two stepsons, Michael B. Soto with wife Caitlin and David J. Soto with wife Elizabeth. He also leaves behind his brother Manual Lagos Espinoza and sister Ximenia Lagos Espinoza with their families in Concepción, Chile.
As a 10-year old in his native city of Concepción, Chile, Raúl was introduced to the English Language through his American and British friends. This early experience ignited his passion for language and learning.
While attending high school in Chile, Raúl had the opportunity to travel to the U.S., an experience that would have a lasting impact on his life Although the cost was beyond what his family could afford, members of the American community in Concepción came forward to make his journey possible. Through their generosity and support, he was able to travel to the U.S. as a foreign exchange student. In 1962, he attended Lakeview High School in Sandy, Pennsylvania, as part of the American Field Service (AFS) program.
Raúl then returned to Chile and attended La Universidad de Concepción, where he participated in track and field, basketball, rowing and soccer. He especially enjoyed sprinting, an event in which he excelled. In 1969, he graduated from La Universidad de Concepción with a degree in languages, specializing in English and Spanish. While in college in Chile, he also worked as an interpreter. He had the opportunity to interpret for Senator Robert Kennedy, Ella Fritzgerald and Louis Armstrong. He also interpreted for the U.S. Economic Mission to Chile and for other American officials, businessmen, professionals and individuals on official and professional missions to Chile.
In 1969, Raúl embraced another opportunity that would bring him back to the United States. Through the Cordell Hull Foundation for International Education, he was selected to teach at Johnson Central High School in Paintsville, Kentucky as a visiting teacher. He taught Spanish there for 4 years. While teaching, he completed Master’s graduate studies in English (Linguistics) at Morehead State University.
In 1974, Raúl moved to Lexington, Ky to work on a graduate degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology at the University of Kentucky. While there, he worked as a graduate research assistant in the Special Education Department. He earned an M.A. degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology in 1975. He taught at Leestown Middle School until he was presented with the opportunity to join the Foreign Language Department at Henry Clay High School (HCHS), where he taught Spanish and during the summer taught English as a Second Language.
In 1978, Raúl went into end stage renal failure. He underwent four kidney transplants (1978,1980, 1982 and 1984). Even with this major medical health issue, he continued to teach at HCHS. He received The White House Commission of Presidential Scholars Certificate of Excellence in teaching and conscientious contributions to education in 1988. He continued with his educational endeavors and completed his Ed D in Administration and Supervision in Education and post-doctoral fellowship with the Department of Special Education in computer assistive technology. He also received the University of Kentucky’s Honoring Our Linage Award in 2007.
From 1997 to 2005 he was Associate Principal at Henry Clay High School. He was infamous for asking the students for their hallpasses. Even after retirement, when he would encounter HCHS students, they would always mention whether he caught them with or without the hallpass.
Once retired from the Public Schools, Raúl became a Spanish and Medical Spanish instructor at the University of Kentucky. He also worked as a medical interpreter, serving the Latino community across various hospitals and medical facilities.
Raúl considered himself very fortunate and certainly most blessed. Life was always precious to him and he made a conscious effort to savor each day. He found joy in both the rain and sunshine and never took a single day for granted. He enjoyed playing tennis for decades as it kept him young and fit. He enjoyed teaching tennis to his sons and later watching them play competitively.
Due to his transplants, he had been unwavering in his support to explain and promote organ donation. He spoke to multiple organizations regarding his personal journey of his four transplants. He served as a board member of the National Kidney Foundation, Kentucky Organ Donors Affiliates, and United Network for Organ Sharing. He participated in the United States Transplant Olympics playing tennis for multiple years and was thrilled to bring home Gold and Silver Medals for the state.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to Kidney Health Alliance of Kentucky at https://www.khaky.org or Trust for Life at https://www.donatelifeky.org
View Dr. Raúl Fernando Lagos Epinoza's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.
