Mario Guajardo

Mario was born the second of six children to Francisco and Ana on June 30, 1938, in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico. He attended La Universidad de Nuevo Leon, graduating from medical school and leaving his parents and siblings to move to the United States at the age of 21. He arrived in Schenectady, New York on December 28, 1959, for his medical internship at St. Claire’s Hospital. Three years later, Mario started his residency at the Medical College of Virginia and in 1964 met Fryda, the love of his life and they were married with her parents’ overwhelming approval, less than a year later. Leaving Virginia, Mario and Fryda moved to the March Air Force Base in Riverside, California where Mario, a member of the US Air Force, was stationed through 1969. By 1970, Mario and his family moved to Houston where he worked for the US Veterans Administration Hospital, Methodist Hospital and finally found his home at Memorial City General Hospital (now Memorial Hermann Memorial City) where he spent thirty-four years as a Pathologist until his retirement in 2004.

Mario continued to give of his time and talents on the board of a local hospital and was an active member and volunteer of St. John Vianney Church. A devout Catholic, Mario generously served on the board of directors for the Apostleship of the Cross, served for years on Pastoral Councils and as Minister of the Word. He and Fryda were guides of the Prayer & Life Workshops ministry (Talleres de Oración) and helped promote the Renew 2000 program.

Beyond medicine and his faith, Mario cherished and was inspired by nature—seeing the beauty of God's love in everything, and he reflected that admiration in the 70 paintings of flora and fauna, waterfalls and seas, mountains and vast landscapes. Mario’s other passions were many—playing tennis at Westside Tennis Club, traveling all over the world with friends and family, learning to play piano in his 60s, and in his 80s relishing weekly French lessons to perfect his third language. Also, among his talents, he had an earsplitting whistle that could stop screaming children mid tantrum. And by listening to a person’s accent, Mario habitually endeavored to pinpoint the town or state where they had grown up. Every meal was incomplete without dessert, and every meal at a restaurant concluded with a mini “The Price is Right” game where his children and grandchildren were prompted to guesstimate the bill’s total.

With Fryda, Mario delighted in attending dinners and parties regaling friends, family, and anyone who would listen with laughter-filled adventures filled with effortless recollection of details. Above all else, Mario adored his wife of 59 years. They were perfectly matched dance partners and model parents.

Mario was predeceased by his father, mother, brothers Gerardo, Fransisco, adored sister Carmela, daughters Ana Layda and Victoria and grand-daughter Cecilia Grace.

He is survived by his wife Fryda, brothers Cesar and Fernando, three children and their spouses: Rebeca Lee and Frieda Fromen, Alex and Lori Guajardo, Denise and Salim Khoury and grand-children Elizabeth Layda, Gabriel, Zeina and Katia who will continue to honor his legacy by living their lives to the fullest, grateful for his immeasurable influence in their lives.