Earl was a selfless and devoted father to Jeannine Rozas Cook, Darren Matthew Rozas, Christopher Brent Rozas and Alison Rozas Rodriguez. He is preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Elizabeth Chisum Rozas, his son Christopher Brent Rozas and his parents. Earl will be lovingly remembered by his 3 living children, their spouses Charles Cook, M.D., Laurie Lottinger Rozas and Ryan Rodriguez, his 7 grandchildren; Bane, Reed and Meredith Cook, Kai, Camille and Ellie Rozas, and Amelie Rodriguez, his brother and sister-in-law Glynn and Julie Rozas, along with nieces and nephews.
In 1951 Earl graduated from Chataignier High School where he played basketball and baseball, as well as being a trumpeter in the school band. He graduated from SLI (now the University of LA at Lafayette), served in the Medical Corps of the Army and was stationed in Germany in the late 1950’s. Following his active Army duty, he received a medical degree from LSU Medical School at New Orleans in 1964, completed an Orthopedic Surgery residency and co-founded the Bone and Joint Clinic in Marrero, LA in 1969. Earl continued to practice Orthopedics until 2014 when he retired after 45 years of dedication to his patients, employees and medical associates.
As Earl’s career blossomed, so did his involvement in the community and with LSU Medical Center. He was active in the Orton Society, Jefferson the Beautiful, Dollars for Scholars and was an original member of the Krewe of Bacchus. Earl made a lifelong commitment to LSU Medical Center when he became a founding member of the Committee of 100 in 1988 and held board positions with the Alumni Association and the Medical Center Foundation. He was honored by receiving the Louisiana Orthopedic Association Alldredge Award for Service and by his portrait investiture at the LSU Neuroscience Center of Excellence for his vision and dedication to medical science at LSU and in the community. The Earl and Kai Rozas Endowed Professorship in Physiology and the Dr. and Mrs. Earl J. Rozas Demonstration Laboratory in the LSU Student Learning Center were just a few of the contributions made by Earl and his family to the medical school.
Earl spent many hours involved in the lives of his children and grandchildren, was always ready for a family vacation and would spontaneously turn any time into a celebration. He was a loyal friend and mentor to many young physicians and truly felt medicine was a calling for life. Earl often expressed gratitude towards his family, friends and medical colleagues for their support and contribution to his very fulfilled life.
According to Earl’s wishes, a private funeral service will be held at Jesuit High School’s Chapel on a later date. In lieu of flowers and as a memorial, the family requests donations to the Earl and Kai Rozas Endowed Professorship in Physiology be sent to LSU Medical Alumni Affairs at 2020 Gravier St., Room 523, New Orleans, LA 70112.
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