Dr. Alfonso Rojo
1921-2017
ROJO LUCIO, Dr. Alfonso – age
96, son of the late Eustasio Rojo and María de la
Concepción Lucio, passed away peacefully in his home in
Halifax on Tuesday, August 15th,
2017.
Dr. Rojo was born on January 22, 1921, in Burgos,
Spain, living just down the street from the great gothic Cathedral of
Burgos of which he was so proud. At a young age, he demonstrated a
magnificent mind and attended the La Salle Brothers Monastery boarding
school in Bujedo, near Burgos. At the age of 17, he was ordained a
monk and became a teacher in the same monastery school, where he
taught Math, Physics, Latin, and Spanish. Before the age of 20, he
obtained a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of
Valladolid. In his mid-twenties, he attended the University
Complutense of Madrid, and graduated with a Master of Science Degree.
This is also where he met his future wife, Enriqueta. At 32, he left
the Order and went to work for the Spanish government as the Biologist
on board Spanish fishing vessels. A few years later, he began working
for the Canadian government in the Fisheries Department. He fell in
love with this land, so he brought his new wife from Spain to start
their new life together in Canada. They lived in St. John’s
for almost two years where their son, Alfonso Eric, was born; then
moved to London, Ontario, where Enrique José was born. He
decided to return to his original profession of teaching and accepted
a position of Associate Professor in Biology at Saint Mary’s
University. There he founded the Biology Department and was
instrumental in establishing the Faculty Union. His wife became the
first woman professor at Saint Mary’s where they worked
across the hall from each other for the next 27 years. During two of
those years he was on Sabbatical working on a special project with the
Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations in Mar del
Plata, Argentina. This is where their third and only daughter,
Mónica, was born. Upon his retirement, he was named
Professor Emeritus, maintaining an office at the University and
continuing his investigative research and to publish into his
90’s. His retirement years were spent studying Russian,
Greek, Italian, Arabic, Slovak, Creative Writing, researching with the
Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History, writing and publishing his
memoirs, contributing to Spanish language textbooks, and spending time
with his family. He especially enjoyed his time spent with and
mentoring his grandchildren. He taught his children and grandchildren
to work hard, do their best, and to be curious about everything the
world has to offer. His philosophy was ‘everything in
moderation’ and ‘never hurry while you are doing
but never stop doing.’ A lover of languages, history,
sciences, art, music, writing, travelling, a good joke, and much more
– he was always an inspiration to those who had the
privilege of a one-on-one conversation with him. He was truly a
Renaissance Man.
He is survived by his wife, Dr. Enriqueta Unturbe Rojo; sons,
Alfonso Eric Rojo and Enrique José Rojo; daughter,
Mónica Maria-Isabel Rojo; grandchildren, Patrick, Daniela,
Eric, Christopher, Juan Carlos, and Elena. In keeping with
Alfonso’s wishes, there will be no
visitation.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, August 21 at 10 am at
St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 1725 Oxford Street, with a reception to
follow in the Church Hall.
Click here to View Condolences
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Dr Alfonso Rojo – 1921-2017.source
Décès pour la Ville: Halifax, Province: Nova Scotia
avis deces Dr Alfonso Rojo – 1921-2017- avis mortuaire Dr Alfonso Rojo – 1921-2017