Roger stands with his family, including his wife whom he worked with, and his son, who spoke at his memorial service.
Photo: Elba Regina Martinez | Courtesy
Community members honor the life of Roger Gamez, a loving husband, father and grandfather, who was known around campus as a member of the dining team and as a kindhearted friend. The university community came together with his loved ones for a memorial service on Sept. 19 in Monumental Chapel.
The service began with statements from President Scott Miller and Tim Lockett, Sodexo dining services general manager. Gamez’s son, Roger Gamez Jr., ended the service with a few words: “I want you to remember him by his kindness, his calm, his sense of humor — you have to speak Spanish to understand it most of the time,” he said.
“I think that’s how he endured life. He had a very tough life in Nicaragua, so kindness, empathy and humor is how he made it through,” Gamez Jr. said.
His wife, Elba Regina Martinez, worked alongside Gamez in the dining hall. The couple has had a significant imprint on those who know them.
John Roper, a colleague of four years, remembers Gamez as “amazing in every way.” Regarding Gamez’s passing on Sept. 10, Roper said, “I still can’t believe it. I’m in denial.” Roper said he admired Gamez’s helpfulness and positivity. “Such a nice person. Never had an attitude. Very humble. Decent,” Roper said. “Ask him to do anything, he’d gladly do it.”
Rhonda Josh, who often works at the same station as Martinez in the dining hall, spoke on the impact that she has had on her. “That’s my girl.” Josh said she looks after the staff like a mom. “I call her ‘mama.’”
“She takes care of us,” Josh said, referring to the staff, but she added how this extends to students. Many began to associate the faces of Martinez and Gamez with comfort and being taken care of.
Yuna Matsuura ‘24 formed a close connection with Gamez during her time working for Sodexo on campus, saying she feels like Gamez and Martinez think of her like a grandchild.
She fondly remembers moments where they bonded. “Taking out the trash right before our shift was something both of us disliked. Roger always would joke, ‘Let’s do it tomorrow,’ and I would reply, ‘Roger, NO! Trash out tomorrow, no! We have to do it today! Let’s do it together so that it can be done easier!’ That exchange is something I will never forget. We were joking around even though I moved from the dishwasher to a different position,” Matsuura said.
“After graduating from college, I moved into a marketing position this summer, but Mrs. Regina and Mr. Roger gave me a coffee cup as a graduation gift, which remains one of my most treasured possessions.”
“Even though we worked in different positions, he would always call out ‘HOLA! OHAYO!’ toward the office, give me a hug and treat me as if I were his grandchild,” Matsuura said.
According to his friends and colleagues, Gamez exemplified the importance of kindness over language in making meaningful personal connections.
Gamez Jr. said in his concluding statement at the memorial service, “If you have a loved one, if you have your parents still, just tell them you love them. Hug them. Call them.”
Martinez shared that her husband’s favorite color was purple, and one of his favorite things to do was go to the beach.
By: Lily Reslink
lbreslink@vwu.edu
