Roxas was born on September 28, 1940, in the barrio of Labuan, in San Quintin, Pangasinan, Philippines, to Cenon and Petronila Acosta. The fourth of six children, Roxas excelled in academics and was accelerated twice during grade school. He was active in athletics as he competed in his high school volleyball and track teams. As a teen, Roxas enjoyed singing in a local band with a group of his friends in Barrio Labuan.
At the age of 24 in March 1966, Roxas joined the United States Navy. He served six years of sea duty on the USS Constellation aircraft carrier, including deployment in the Vietnam War, then rose to the rank of Chief Petty Officer throughout numerous shore duty assignments with the Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department, including NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii; NAS Agana, Guam; NAS Cubi Point, Philippines; Kadena AFB, Okinawa, Japan; and NAS Lemoore, California. Early in his military career, Roxas also competed on Navy volleyball teams in Hawaii and Guam and was proud to serve as a Police Officer with the Guam Police Department. He was known as a strong leader with a tough work ethic that helped to improve the capabilities and readiness of his teams and fellow servicemembers.
On January 5, 1972, Roxas married Luisa (“Betty”) Gamboa. Together they raised two sons, Reginald and Roxas JR, and one daughter, Roxanne; and cared for their two granddaughters, Rylie and Stella. With his adventurous spirit, Roxas enjoyed traveling with his wife and family, and experiencing new environments and cultures, from America’s national parks to faraway countries. At home he was exceptionally handy, with a solution for every problem and the aptitude to do the job right. Roxas had a natural “green thumb” and revelled in seeing his gardens bloom and bear fruit.
After 24 years of honorable military service, Roxas retired from military duty in 1989 and moved with his family to San Diego, California. He pursued various entrepreneurial ventures, building on the leadership qualities developed during his time in the Navy. From real estate broker, insurance agent, and marketing director of financial services to administrator and owner of a senior care home with his wife Luisa, Roxas had an eye for opportunity, the determination to push through challenges and the ability to bring out the best in everyone he worked with.
Roxas was preceded in death by his mother, Petronila; his father, Cenon; and his sisters Alejandra Gallego and Silvestra Mendoza. He is survived by his wife Luisa; son Reginald and wife Lovisa Kjerrgren; daughter Roxanne Belauskas and husband Joseph; son Roxas JR; granddaughters Rylie and Stella Belauskas; brothers Pedro and wife Magdelena, Alfonso and wife Cynthia, and Ernesto and wife Francisca; and many nieces and nephews. Roxas will be forever remembered by his large extended family and dear friends.
Visitation services will be held on Saturday, February 29, and Sunday, March 1, 2020, at 5 o’clock p.m., and a Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, March 1, 2020, at 7 o’clock p.m., with both events at the Funeraria del Angel on 753 Broadway in Chula Vista.
A funeral mass will be held on Monday, March 2, 2020, at 11 o’clock a.m., at Mater Dei Catholic Church on 1571 Magdalena Avenue in Chula Vista.
A committal service with military funeral honors will be held, following the funeral mass, at 2 o’clock p.m. at Miramar National Cemetery on 5795 Nobel Drive in San Diego.
