Roberto Gomez Jr.

Roberto Gomez Jr. of Austin, a lover of life who bemused and inspired students and colleagues and beloved family members time after time, ended his ferocious war with cancer this week at peace and at home.

Before moving to Austin with his family in 2013, Robert's dedication to the high school theater community of the Rio Grande Valley was beyond compare. Over 32 years as a drama/speech teacher, he energetically doubled up as a father figure, friend, life coach and mentor, all on top of serving as a director and contest manager and judge for the annual UIL one-act play contests.

There was no greater priority for Robert than his huge family of students. If the true measure of a teacher's success boils down to how many future educators he or she inspires, then one only has to look up and down the Valley’s middle and high schools to know that Robert greatly influenced whole next generations of teachers. The Valley will feel Robert’s open-hearted passion for years to come.

Robert, 54, outlived doctors’ original prognosis by more than a year. Filled with faith, the 1984 University of Texas graduate and former Marine took advantage of his remaining time by retiring from Austin’s James Bowie High School. Then, amid arduous treatments including MD Anderson drug trials, he continued to live his life as he had, in service to others through his church and celebrating every moment with those he held so dearly—his children, life-long friends and theatre family.

Robert is survived by his wife, Rachael (Canfield) Gomez; son Freddy Villanueva; and daughters, Lauren and Lucy; as well as his mother, Bertha; and sisters Gloria Ibarra of Wimberley and Luisa DeLeon of McAllen. He was predeceased by his father, Roberto Gomez Sr.

The Gomez family will host visitation in Austin from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home, 6300 West William Cannon Drive, followed by the Funeral Service at 4:00 P.M.. Services celebrating Robert’s many years in the Rio Grande Valley will take place in McAllen at St. John’s Episcopal Church on Sunday Oct. 9 with a visitation from 2-3 p.m. followed by the Service and Interment of Ashes at 3 p.m. A Celebration of Life will occur at PSJA Memorial H.S. Theater in Alamo, TX at 7:00 p.m. that evening.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the cancer research organization of your choice or a memorial fund being set up for Robert’s children through YouCaring.com.