Hugo Antonio Rocha

Hugo Antonio Rocha, 68, born on May 7, 1943, in Bogotá, Colombia, passed away April 25, 2012, after a hard-fought battle with cholangiocarcinoma. Always a private man, he was reluctant to speak of his illness, preferring that everyone continue to see the person and not the cancer. He shouldn't have worried -- his exuberant personality was always the first thing that shone through. Whether you met him in passing or were a life-long friend, Hugo had a knack for leaving an indelible impact on everyone he interacted with.

Always one to take any opportunity to travel, talk to people, and learn their stories, Hugo worked in radio and television in Colombia. He moved to the United States in 1964 with the intention of eventually continuing in the field. He was drafted to the United States Army in 1967, however, and was soon sent to Vietnam. He completed his service in 1969 and was Honorably Discharged in 1973. Always proud of having served for the United States, he returned both a patriot and a strong advocate for all Veterans, and in 1978, became a naturalized citizen of the country that became his second home.

One of Hugo's most defining characteristics was his love of learning and steadfast promotion of higher education. He received his Associate of Arts degree from Los Angeles City College in 1972, and went on to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in Economics and Sociology from UCLA in 1975. The following year, he began a long career in public service for the State of California, first with the Employment Development Department and then the Department of Rehabilitation. During that time, Hugo assisted countless adults and high-school students in receiving vocational training; always one to promote his clients' strengths, he never missed an opportunity to educate others in the contributions people with disabilities have made to society.

In 2001, taking to heart the very lessons he promoted, Hugo graduated from California State University San Bernardino with a Master's Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. He retired from the California Department of Rehabilitation in 2008 only to continue the work he so enjoyed as a counselor at the Office for Students with Disabilities at Antelope Valley College. He received his tenure earlier this year and continued to meet with his students until two weeks before his passing.

The only thing that could possibly eclipse Hugo's dedication to his work was his fierce devotion to his family. In 1977, after a 7 year courtship, he married Carmen Gonzalez. They had three daughters, Monica, Lourdes and Melissa, all of whom made them both inordinately proud by following in their father's footsteps and obtaining graduate degrees. Always a unit, the five would routinely travel together, shuttling between Florida, Colombia, and various other countries in between.

Diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma -- bile duct cancer -- in 2011, Hugo turned his attention to learning everything possible about the disease and its impact on individuals and their families. Although it is a relatively rare cancer whose incidence was often simply attributed as "bad luck" by doctors, Hugo and his family felt strongly that, due to an increasing prevalence among other Vietnam Veterans, there was a connection between his time in East Asia and the development of the disease.

A devout Roman Catholic, Hugo's faith helped carry him through some of the hardest times. It even provided him the opportunity for many conversations with the various nurses he met. Never one to shy away from friendly debate -- not to mention, a notoriously curious individual -- he routinely went out of his way to learn about other faiths and the similarities and differences across cultures. All the while, he encouraged mutual respect by also sharing his beliefs and cheerfully agreeing to disagree.

A faithful and loving husband and father and fiercely loyal friend, Hugo touched many lives and will sorely be missed by all who knew him.

Determined to continue to raise awareness, help find better treatments and an eventual cure, his family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Hugo's memory to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation.