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Sheriff Louis G. Rojas, Sr., age 89, of Los Alamos, died on the 16th of April. Born to Luis and Guadalupe Rojas, in East Texas, in l914, he was the eldest of six children raised in Beaumont, TX; He became one of the first Hispanic ironworkers in the United States. He married Patricia Mendiola, of Houston in 1942, in Oak Ridge, TN; where he worked on construction related to the Manhattan Project."Patsy" and Louis moved to New Mexico in 1947, where Louis began a long career as a rigger at the National Laboratory. Louis and Pat raised six children in Los Alamos; Louis became active in Democratic politics in the l950s, and held the office of County Sheriff for 34 years. He was particularly proud of being President John Kennedy's escort during his Los Alamos visit in l962. He was recently honored at state and national conventions for his 65 years of membership in the ironworkers union. In 2002 he was honored as one of Los Alamos Living Treasures. Louis was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Mendiola Rojas; his brother, Charlie Rojas; and his sister, Lucia Flores, of Texas. He is survived by his children, Luis Rojas, Jr., of Santa Fe, Ricardo Rojas and his wife, Mary, of Boulder, CO, Thomas Rojas, of Albuquerque, Christy Rojas-Foster and her husband, George, of Del Mar, CA; Consuelo Rojas, of Los Alamos; and Joseph Rojas, Santa Fe. He has three grandchildren, Enrique, Jess and Nell Rojas, of Boulder. His surviving siblings are Frank, Jess and Anthony Rojas, all of Beaumont. Louis and Patsy nurtured many friends, neighbors, compadres and God-children through their years in Northern New Mexico. Together they contributed greatly to the community life of Los Alamos, and always felt deeply privileged to have the opportunity to raise their family among such loving friends. Louis, like Patsy, will be very warmly remembered. Friends are encouraged to memorialize"The Sheriff" through contributions to the Louis and Patricia Rojas Scholarship Fund, at the University of New Mexico College of Education, Albuquerque, NM Scholarship awards will be for Los Alamos High School Graduates attending UNM. Visitation will begin on Thursday, April 24, 2003 at 6:00 p.m. where a Rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, April 25, 2003 at 1:00 p.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Los Alamos, NM. Interment will follow at Guaje Pines Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Berardinelli Family Funeral Service, 1399 Luisa Street, 984-8600.
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