Roland Rosales Chavez, 62, of Corpus Christi, Texas, passed away on Sunday, December 4, 2011, after an extended illness.Roland Rosales Chavez, 62, of Corpus Christi, Texas, passed away on Sunday, December 4, 2011, after an extended illness.
Roland was born March 19, 1949 in Corpus Christi to Ignacio and Brigida Chavez. He married his wife of 40 years, Mary Del Cantu, on December 16, 1971. Roland graduated from Roy Miller High School in 1967 and was a member of the Battlin' Buc Band from 1965 to 1967. He obtained his Associate's Degree from Del Mar College in 1969, and graduated from Texas A&I University-Kingsville with a Bachelor's of Music in Music Education in 1972. He earned his Master's of Science in Education at Corpus Christi State University in 1974.
Roland began teaching band in 1972 at Haas Middle School. In the course of a career that spanned 39 years, he taught thousands of students in some of South Texas' most prestigious band programs, including King High School, Premont High School, Robstown High School, Carroll High School, and Mathis High School. Roland was known for his patience, his love of music and teaching, and his willingness to work with any student regardless of experience or talent level. He was a supreme motivator and inspired his students to pursue musical careers past high school; some of his former students are themselves music teachers in high schools and colleges across Texas and the US. As a percussion specialist, he instructed many successful drumlines, percussion ensembles, and private students, but he was a friend and mentor to all the band students in his care.
He was most proud of his four children who all completed collegiate-level degrees. His oldest son, Roland II, followed in his footsteps and is the percussion director at the 2011 UIL State Champion Cedar Park Marching Band.
His legacy will live on in his family: wife Mary Del; children Rodell Yvette, Roland II (Emily Tannert), Rynette Marie, and Ryan Thomas (Shannon); siblings Roberto (Mary), Rudy, Raul, Ram (Janie), Rosie Lopez, Reynaldo (Gracie), Rosalva (Juan) Cardenas, and Roger (Angie), family pets Houston and Little One, and an abundance of extended families that loved him.
He is preceded in death by his parents, and sisters Ruby Torres, Rachel Amezquita, Reyna Reyes and Rosario Chavez.
The family wishes to express special appreciation to Santos and Mary Jane Ronje and his sister Rosalva Cardenas for their devoted loving care and compassion.
Visitation will be held at 5:00 P.M. on Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church with a Rosary to be recited at 6:30 pm that same evening.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated by Father Angel Montana at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 8, 2011, also at St. Joseph's Catholic Church.
Pallbearers will be Roger Chavez, Jr., Daniel Miles, Daniel Ronje, Santos Ronje, Joseph Rosales, Robert Vega, and Vivian Villanueva Cantu.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the Mary Carroll HS Band/Percussion Section (5301 Weber Rd, Corpus Christi, TX 78411 c/o Joseph Rosales) in Mr. Chavez' memory.