Agapito Mendoza Obituary

Agapito Mendoza "Augie," 56, of Prairie Village, KS, passed away on January 21, 2003, at his home with his family. Memorial service and celebration will be 7 p.m. Tuesday, February 4, at St. Francis Xavier Church, 5200 Troost Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri. Visitation will family and friends will be from 6 p.m-7 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made towards a Memorial Scholarship UMKC is establishing in Augie's name or to St. Vincent de Paul Society of Kansas City. For those wishing to contribute to the Scholarship Fund checks may be made payable to "UMKC-Agapito Mendoza Scholarhip Fund" and sent in care of the Development Office, Room 203, Administrative Center, 5115 Oak Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64112. Augie was born September 20, 1946 in El Paso, Texas, to Cosme and Tomasa Mendoza. He was the youngest of eight children. Augie served in the U.S. Air Force for four years in order to pay for his education. After graduating from the University of Texas he taught middle school while working towards his Masters Degree and then went on to earn his Ph.D. in Business Administration at the University of Oklahoma. He served as the Assistant Director of Student Services and Director of the Latino Cultural House at the University of Illinois. Augie served as Vice Provost for Academic Affairs from 1986 until 2002, when his health finally prevented him from working. During that time frame he established many of UMKC's policies and procedures surrounding Affirmative Action and academic hiring and was an active voice in local Latino issues. In that regard, he obtained his position at UMKC at a time when few Hispanics held major leadership positions in higher education. Augie was preceded in death by his parents, Cosme and Tomasa Mendoza and his brother, Felipe Mendoza. He is survived by his wife, Irene Mendoza; son, Gabriel Antonio Mendoza and wife, Patrice of Prairie Village, KS; son, Xavier Gonzalo Mendoza of Kansas City, MO; grandson, Cruz Antonio Mendoza; granddaughter, Lilianna Lana' Mendoza; sisters, Blasa Marquez of El Paso, TX, Teresa Jones of El Paso, TX, Petra Pilhoefer of El Paso, TX, and Luisa Fierro of El Paso, TX; brothers, George Mendoza of El Paso, TX and Cruz Mendoza of Monterey Park, CA.

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Published by Kansas City Star on Jan. 30, 2003.

Memories and Condolences
for Agapito Mendoza

6 Entries

Graciela Millan

February 26, 2003

Agapito, was a great mentor, I used to be so facinated on how much knowledge he aquired on latino and the native cultures.

Thank you Agapito for your insights, until we meet again

Rita & Ed Wagner

February 15, 2003

We were saddened to learn of the death of Agapito, which we became aware of only this week through the UMKC newsletter our son Paul receives as a student there. Be assured of our prayers and thoughts for Agapito and your family.

Alicia J Melgoza-Caudillo

February 3, 2003

Gracias Agapito,

He was a great role model for me and my family. It was always a pleasure to hear him share his passion about Mexican History. We will miss you, but thank you for paving the way for Latinos and making us proud of who we are. Que Dios te Bendiga a ti y a tu familia!

Colin Gage

January 31, 2003

If there has been anyone during my tenure at UMKC that I could have a truly open and understanding talk with, it was Augie. His warmth, honesty and compassion were not reserved for a few but were shared with all those whose paths crossed his. He did not tolerate hypocrisy but he was always ready to give the benefit of the doubt to those whose moral compass did not read quite so true as his own. He was truly an educator, in the best sense of the word, and I miss him.

Laura Gage

January 31, 2003

Augi was much loved and had the respect of everyone who came in contact with him. He is already sorely missed by many. My husband Colin & I both loved him very much.

May the Peace of Memories Fill Your Hearts. ~Laura Gage

Mary Lou Kaltenbach

January 30, 2003

I worked near Augie for a number of years at UMKC. I really admired and respected him (and his sense of humor). He and I also had the same political views. We had great discussions about politics. I truly miss Augie and will always hold him dear in my heart.

Blessings,

Mary Lou

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