Roy F. Cajero

Roy F. Cajero 63, born in Tucson, Arizona on September 3, 1950, died on April 9, 2014 in Memphis, Tennessee. He was the third son of the late Nick M. and Josephine Cajero. He is survived by his three brothers, Paul Cajero of Los Angeles, Michael Cajero and Nick Cajero of Tucson; cousins, Olivia Cajero Bedford of Tucson, Monica Tardino of Ridgefield, Conn., Travis Bedford of Tucson, Tara Bedford Chipman of Washington, D.C. and nieces, Channa Cajero of Los Angeles and Shayla Cajero of Tucson. Of course, there is also his other very large Memphis family. Roy graduated from Tucson High in 1968 and received a BA in English from the University of Arizona in 1972. After graduation he traveled to Europe, most notably Northern Spain where his Mother's family had relatives. He completed a Master of Library Science from Indiana University in 1974. He moved to Memphis and was a librarian at the Memphis Public Library from 1975 until his retirement in 2004. He loved his work. He was active in senior citizen outreach, along with children's and young people's projects, and services with the library Bookmobile. Librarianship was his profession - photography was his passion. His photographs appeared at The Tucson Art Center and in The New Yorker, The Washington Post, SPIN, The Columbia Journalism Review, The Memphis Flyer, and the book, "Dear Dr. King: Letters from Today's Children to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." He donated over two hundred photos to the Memphis City Library, reflecting his Memphis world. His website: https://memphislibrary.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/landingpage/collection/p16108coll6 He was a generous and helpful friend, always available to offer a helping hand. In the recent harsh winter of 2013-14, Roy and a friend befriended a homeless man who had surgery one day and was released from the hospital the next day. Together, they paid for an apartment for the man to live in through the spring. Roy was also active in animal rescue, promoting adoption, spaying and neutering for homeless animals. He loved all music from Copland to the Blues. He played guitar and was happy to teach others to play, too. He will be remembered by his many friends and relatives in Tucson and Memphis for his immense empathy for the less fortunate, his love of music, his caring for animals, and his determination that through books and reading a better world can emerge. To quote a poet, "His like will not be seen again." In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Humane Society of Southern Arizona, 3450 N. Kelvin Blvd. (520) 881-0321 and any shelter of your choice for homeless people. A remembrance of his life will be held Sunday, May 18, 2014 at Holy Hope Cemetery Mausoleum, 3555 N. Oracle Rd., Tucson at 12:00 noon followed by an informal buffet reception at Club 21, 2920 N. Oracle Rd.