Dr. Rodolfo Rocha

Dr. Rodolfo Rocha died Sunday June, 26 in Pharr, Texas. He was 69. Rodolfo is survived by three children, Rodolfo (Kathryn) Rocha II, Rene (Emily) Rocha and San Juanita Galvan, a brother, Jorge Rocha, three sisters, Elida Pardo, Martina Rivera , Dora Torres, and his father, Sabas Rocha. He leaves behind four grandchildren: Graham Rocha, Alyson Rocha, James Rocha and Kate Rocha.

Raised in Brownsville, Texas, Dr. Rocha earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history from Pan American University before earning a doctorate in that same field from Texas Tech University in 1981. He served on the faculty of Pan American University, later called the University of Texas—Pan American (UTPA), from 1978 to 2005. He was curator of the Rio Grande Valley Historical Collection from 1982 to 1989. Dr. Rocha chaired the Department of History from 1993 to 1999, served as associate dean of the College of Arts and Humanities from 1997 to 1999, and held the title of dean from 1999 to 2005. In 2006, Dr. Rocha was appointed provost and vice president of academic affairs at the Metropolitan State University of Denver, a position he held until retiring for medical reasons in 2007. He became the UTPA’s first American Council on Education (ACE) fellow in 1998 and was later selected as a Kellogg MSI Leadership fellow. He served on the Texas Council for the Humanities from 2003 to 2005.

Dr. Rocha’s scholarly work includes editing the volume Mexican Americans in Texas History: Selected Essays. He dedicated his career to the betterment of academia and the advancement of Chicanos in higher education.

He valued education immensely and instilled that value in those around him. He was generous to both his children and students, and sometimes it was difficult to know if Rudy saw a distinction between the two. He is deeply missed.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 29th, 2016 from 1PM to 7PM at Funeraria del Angel Buena Vista, located at 125 McDavitt Blvd, Brownsville, TX. A Rosary service will take place at 7PM. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 30th, 2016 at 2PM followed by burial at Buena Vista Burial Park.

You may view the obituary of Rodolfo Rocha at www.MeM.com.