The legacy of a good teacher is not measured only by the knowledge he transmits, but by the mark he leaves on his students. Javier García de Jalón, renowned engineer and university professor (Complutense University of Madrid and Tecnun, University of Navarra), not only taught about his specialty but turned his life into a lesson in faith, gratitude, and resilience.

His recent death has not only been a cause of sadness for those who knew him but also of deep gratitude. His example transcended the classroom, reminding us that greatness is not found in titles or awards, but in the way we face life and share with others.

Always with gratitude in the heart

“When someone leaves, it seems that everything is tinged with sadness. But some people have done so much good, that instead of tears, they leave us a smile of gratitude.”

This idea accompanied Javier throughout his life. His professional achievements were notable, with international awards and recognition, but he never used them as a reason for vanity. Instead, he preferred to celebrate them with small gestures of closeness, such as handing out sweets to his students.

He knew that what was truly important was not the awards, but rather the dedication and respect towards those who learned from him.

A disease assumed with courage

The diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) was an unexpected blow.

“I never imagined facing something like this. Sometimes I thought about the possibility of a heart attack, cancer… but never about ALS,” he admitted on one occasion.

Despite the harshness of the disease, he never doubted that his life had a purpose. For him, God was the “Scriptwriter” of his story, and he trusted that everything had a meaning, even in the most difficult moments.

Far from shutting himself away in despair, he turned his situation into an opportunity to raise awareness among his students and society about the importance of valuing life at all its stages. In his last class, the classroom was packed to the last corner. Students sat on the floor and at their desks, eager to hear his message.

He reminded them of a reflection that he considered essential:

“Suffering is a wake-up call in a world that is often too distracted to listen.”

Defender of life and dignity

Javier was concerned about how in some sectors of society euthanasia was promoted as a solution to suffering. He firmly believed that the real problem was not physical pain—which can be alleviated with palliative care—but loneliness and the lack of support for those facing serious illnesses.

“No one who feels truly loved wants to end their life. What we need is not euthanasia, but greater investment in assistance, in support and in resources that allow us to live with dignity until the end,” he said with conviction.

He believed that before approving laws that shorten life, there were more urgent issues to resolve, such as improving support systems for dependent people and their families.

A lesson that transcends the classroom

Despite the harshness of his illness, he never let sadness dominate his life. He believed that each day was a gift, and that happiness was contagious:

“If you learn to accept your life with gratitude, those around you will also find reasons to smile. Everything has a purpose, even that which we do not understand.”

Therefore, his farewell is not just a goodbye, but a reminder of everything he left us. Beyond his engineering lessons, he taught us that faith, gratitude and love can turn any circumstance into an opportunity to grow and help others.

His legacy lives on in every person who had the privilege of knowing him and learning from his example.