Roger Hugh Mendelson

A loving son, devoted physician, and adoring husband and father.

Dr. Roger Hugh Mendelson, born January 6th, 1951 in Knoxville, TN, passed away on January 28th, 2015 at the age of 64 following a long fight with pancreatic cancer.

Dr. Mendelson spent his early years in Knoxville and then moved to Austin in 1957 at the age of six, where he spent the rest of his life. After growing up in Tarrytown and graduating from Austin High School, Roger attended UT and received a degree in biology before earning his medical degree at UT Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. He then returned to Austin to begin a solo practice as an Obstetrician and Gynecologist and delivered thousands of central Texas babies and performed thousands more surgeries throughout his career.

Though he was a gynecologist by trade, he always had a soft place in his heart for those with mental illness. In addition to his solo practice, he worked at the Austin State Hospital and cared for its patients from 1982 until 2014, when his cancer would no longer permit it.

Dr. Mendelson was an avid lover of antique cars, and enjoyed going on tours with the Capitol City A's Model A Ford Club, an organization in which he served as president. He was often found in the garage with friends tinkering with his 1930 Model A and his 1948 Packard.

He was also heavily involved in Boy Scout Troop 3 in Austin and spent several years as an adult leader of the troop attending campouts on a monthly basis where he enjoyed teaching young men outdoor skills and life lessons. He also loved backpacking and fishing in New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming with his friends.

He was a member of Congregation Beth Israel in Austin for over 50 years and served several terms on its board of trustees.

In 1990, he married Shirley Ann Young, whom he first met while attending medical school. They have one child, Benjamin Wallace Mendelson.

Dr. Mendelson was the son of UT professor Wallace Mendelson and Margery Mendelson. He is survived by his wife, Shirley, their son, Ben, his mother, Margery, and his brother, Wallace Brand Mendelson, along with numerous cousins.

During his battle with pancreatic cancer, Roger and Shirley created the Mendelson-Young Endowment for Cancer Therapeutics at UT Southwestern Medical Center, which will be used to support translational and clinical research in cancer therapeutics. For those wishing to make a memorial gift, please consider a donation to this fund. Checks should be payable to: "UT Southwestern Medical Center" – note that the gift is in memory of Dr. Mendelson — and mailed to: UT Southwestern Medical Center, Development Office, P.O. Box 910888, Dallas, TX 75391.

Funeral Services will be held at Congregation Beth Israel, located at 3901 Shoal Creek Blvd., on Sunday, February 1st at 2:30. Following the service, all are welcome to attend the internment at Congregation Beth Israel Cemetery #3 in Pflugerville.