Obituary of Rogelio Mendez

Rogelio “Roy” Manuel Mendez, 45, passed away October 4th, 2012 of respiratory failure. He was born in Tucson, AZ on April 16, 1967. He was proud to have been born in Arizona because it meant his parents now had an opportunity to move to the United States and give their children a better life. He was raised in Eloy, Arizona and graduated from Santa Cruz Valley Union High School. Roy was a member of the Arizona Army Reserve/National Guard since he was a junior in high school. He was a University of Arizona graduate studying Political Science and Bilingual Elementary Education. He was preceded in death by father Rogelio G. Mendez and his twin sons, Francisco and Xavier Gonzales-Mendez. Roy is survived by his wife, Kathy Gonzales and his children Maricruz and Rogelio Gonzales-Mendez; his mother Ana Lilia Mendez; sisters Maria Teresa (Rene) Celaya, Anna Bell (Edward) Sauceda, Alma (Jim) Alexander and 23 nieces, nephews and Godchildren. Roy became a teacher in the Sunnyside Unified School District, and was the assistant coach on the Sunnyside High School Varsity Football Championship team of 2001. Most recently, he became President of the revived Pinal (County) Cats chapter of the University of Arizona Alumni Association. Politics, football (high school and college), the University of Arizona and teaching were his passions. His children and wife were his life. Scholarship donations can be made in his honor. Information on how to donate will be provided at the visitation. Visitation will be held Wednesday October 10th, 2012 from 5 PM to 8 PM with a rosary at 7 PM at Bring’s Memorial Chapel. 236 S. Scott. Memorial donations will be used to award a scholarship in memory of Roy Mendez by the UA Pinal County Alumni Chapter. Please mark in the “For” section of the check - Memory of Roy Mendez. Checks are to be made payable to UA Alumni Association, please mail checks to- UA Alumni Association- Phoenix office 714 E. Van Buren Street Phoenix, AZ 85006