January 1, Husband of Teacher Killed in Uvalde Shooting Dies of ‘Broken Heart’

Irma Garcia, a fourth-grade teacher at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, was one of the faculty members killed in last week’s deadly shooting. Her family believes that the tragic news also led to her husband’s passing just two days later.

Joe Garcia, Irma’s husband, has passed away after suffering a heart attack, according to a family member.

His nephew, John Martinez, said that his uncle had just arrived home from leaving flowers at his wife’s memorial when he “pretty much just fell over.”

Irma’s cousin, Debra Austin, wrote, “I truly believe Joe died of a broken heart. Losing the love of his life of more than 25 years was too much to bear.”

According to the American Heart Association, a person can die from grief after experiencing an emotionally stressful event, such as a death of a loved one, that causes a surge of stress hormones. This phenomenon is also known as broken heart syndrome.

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Irma Garcia was killed protecting her students. Her husband died two days later: “Joe died of a broken heart.”