Vergel Victa Cruz

Vergel Victa Cruz, MD, 86, entered into eternal rest on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, in Houston, Texas. The third of twelve children, Vergel was born on May 4, 1937, in Pateros, Rizal, Commonwealth of the Philippines, to Francisco Tuazon Cruz and Julia Famy Victa Cruz. In his childhood, he was a first-hand witness to the ravages of World War II and the liberation of the Philippines by American and Allied forces.

In 1953, Vergel graduated from Araullo High School in Manila. He then pursued pre-medical studies and graduated from the University of Santo Tomas in Manila with an MD in 1960. In 1961, Dr. Cruz served as an adjunct resident at Rizal Provincial Hospital in Pasig. In 1962, he served as a rotating intern at the former Misericordia Hospital in The Bronx, New York. He realized he was naturally suited to warmer climes and soon made his way to Houston, Texas. From 1963 to 1967, Dr. Cruz was a preceptee, resident, and then chief resident in General Surgery at St. Joseph Hospital. He spent the last year of his surgical residency at the University of Texas MD Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute at Houston (now MD Anderson Cancer Center).

While at St. Joseph, Vergel met Lilia Aurora Barrera of Rio Grande City, Texas, who was training as a medical technologist. They married on June 10, 1967. Vergel was licensed to practice in Texas in January 1969. In October 1969, Vergel joined the United States Army Medical Corps, and in November 1969, he became a United States citizen.

Vergel was first posted at Dugway Proving Ground in Utah, where he and Lilia quickly made enduring friendships. As the Vietnam War raged on, from June to November 1970, Vergel served at the 12th Evacuation Hospital in Cu Chi, South Vietnam. From November 1970 to May 1971, he served at the 3rd Surgical Hospital in Binh Thuy, South Vietnam, including as commanding officer of the Unit. After returning stateside, Vergel served as the Chief of the Department of Surgery at Darnall Hospital in Fort Hood (now Fort Cavazos), Texas. In October 1971, he was honorably discharged as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Vergel and Lilia returned to Houston, where Dr. Cruz started a private general practice and opened his office in the Heights, and where Lilia worked at his side. The building had a joint waiting room; Vergel’s fellow doctors and their spouses and staff also became treasured friends. Dr. Cruz had surgical privileges at the former Medical Arts Hospital, the former Heights Hospital, and St. Joseph.

Vergel and Lilia settled in the Oak Forest area of Houston, where they raised their daughter and son. Vergel and Lilia were active parishioners, first at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church and then at St. Ambrose Catholic Church. Vergel was a loving, dutiful father, who missed nary a competition, game, or performance. His was a Christian life of service to others. Always unpretentious, Dr. Cruz never let any of his patients’ inability to pay affect his compassionate care or treatment of them as friends and neighbors. He also provided sports physicals and “sideline” treatment at his children’s schools.

Dr. Cruz adored his extended Barrera family in Texas. “Beyo” also cherished his visits with his close-knit family and his medical school classmates in the Philippines. One of his proudest moments as a Filipino, American, and Texan was in 1999 when he was inaugurated and served as the President of the Texas Association of Philippine Physicians. After Dr. Cruz formally retired in 2005, he kept his license active for many years and continued to make house calls. He remained devoted to his wife until her passing last year, in August 2022.

While an exceedingly kind and gentle father, Vergel somehow was even kinder and gentler with his three grandchildren, who called him “Lolo” (grandfather in Tagalog). He shared with them his love of photography, history (especially military), classical music, calligraphy, sketching, painting, chess, and perhaps most importantly, his fondness for drinking cokes and for eating seafood (especially fried) and ice cream. Without fail, he encouraged and supported his children and grandchildren in everything they did. And on several occasions, he even “sewed up” minor wounds on his grandsons, as well as on his beloved son-in-law.

Vergel is preceded in death by his parents; brothers Manuel (Leonarda) Cruz and Roberto (Gina) Cruz; and sisters Flordeliza Cruz (Ricardo) Sexon and Aurora Cruz (Gil) Alimangohan. He is survived by his brothers Leodegario (Josephine) Cruz, Reynaldo (Lourdes) Cruz, Augusto (Tessie) Cruz, and Ferdinand (Carmelita) Cruz; sisters Alicia Cruz (Rolando) Salapong, Purificacion Cruz (Robert Wesley) Heacock, and Azucena Cruz (Jessie) Bugayong; children Marisa Cruz (Gavin) Hurd and Vergel Barrera Cruz; and grandchildren Dominic, Julian, and Celeste Hurd.

A visitation for Vergel will take place at noon on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, with a rosary to follow at 1:00 p.m., and the funeral Mass to follow at 2:00 p.m. at All Saints Catholic Church, 215 E. 10th St., Houston, Texas 77008. Interment will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Vergel may be made to St. Pius X High School in Houston, Texas.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for the Cruz family may be shared at www.heightsfuneralhome.com.