Paulo Rocha

Paulo Murillo Araujo da Rocha, 74, of Rio de Janeiro, Miami and West University Place, died October 2, 2013 in his home after a valiant 8-year battle with cancer.
He was born February 24, 1939 in Rio de Janeiro Brazil, the son of Nelson Freitas and Esther Araujo da Rocha. He graduated from Colegio Militar do Rio de Janeiro in 1957, Universidade do Brazil Escola Nacional de Engenharia with a B.S. in 1961, the University of Texas with an M.S. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering in 1966, and Wayne State University with an M.B.A in 1968. He was commissioned an Honorary Texas Citizen by Governor John Connally in 1964 and became a Naturalized Citizen of the U.S.A. in 1970.
Paulo was President and CEO of HRM International Inc. for 41 years, which he founded in 1972. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Sofisa Bank Florida as well as an active member the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce of Florida, having served two terms as President of the Board of Directors.
He is survived by his second wife Leanora (Verrigni), with whom he celebrated 25 years of marriage on May 15, 2013; his first wife Mary K. Hesson (Moore) and their daughter Mary E. Rocha, M.D; his son-in-law Commander Bryan J. Lethcoe, USN (ret.) and 2 grandchildren Bella and Zachary Lethcoe, all currently residing in West University Place. He is also survived by his stepchildren Rocco G. Levo Jr. and Gina M. Levo and their children Anthony Bracket-Levo, Izabella Levo, Devin Wicks, Darius Wicks, and Trevon Wicks, all of the Capitol District Area of NY.
A Memorial Mass will be held 10 am, Monday October 7, St. Anne Catholic Church, 2140 Westheimer Rd. Houston TX. In lieu of flowers, in memory donations should be sent to Houston Hospice or MD Anderson Cancer Center.