Dr. Roberto Clemente Mendoza

MENDOZA Dr. Roberto Clemente Mendoza, MD, 70, died Sunday of natural causes at East Jefferson General Hospital. Dr. Mendoza, a resident of Kenner, spent his life building a legacy of love that was demonstrated in his strong love and commitment to his family and his outstanding care for his patients. Dr. Mendoza is survived by his wife, Mirna, and his four children, Minny, Peggy, Robert, and Ricky. He is also survived by his grandchildren; Christopher Mendoza, Beau Cass, Gabrielle Lavelle, Celeste Lavelle, Alessandro Reyes, Ana-Patrick Mendoza, and Cassidy Mendoza. Throughout the hospital delivery units in the city, his grandchildren were affectionately known as "the Dr. Mendoza's babies" because of their strong resemblance to their grandfather. Dr. Mendoza also leaves to mourn, his sons-in-law and daughters-in-law, Timothy Lavelle, Rene Reyes, Stacy Mendoza, Whitney Mendoza, his sister Edith, a brother-in-law Antonio Flores and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends and colleagues throughout the United States and Honduras. Dr. Roberto Clemente Mendoza was born in San Lorenzo, Valle, Honduras on March 30, 1940 to the late Enriqueta Valdez de Mendoza and the late Clemente Mendoza Mejia. Dr. Mendoza was the youngest of three children, the late Reina Mendoza de Flores, and sister Edith Esther Mendoza Valdez of Honduras. Roberto was always a studious child, and his passion for learning led him to medical school. While attending high school, he met the love of his life, Mirna Lagos, and on May 30, 1964 they were married in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. In 1965 Dr. Mendoza graduated from Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Honduras. In that same year, Dr. and Mrs. Mendoza became the proud parents of their first child, Minny. A dedicated husband and father and a very gifted pediatrician, Dr. Mendoza accepted a residency at Columbus Hospital in New York City, New York. Later he became Chief Resident in Pediatrics at the Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center in the City of New York. While in New York, the Mendoza family continued to grow, and Dr. and Mrs. Mendoza became the proud parents of two additional children, a daughter, Peggy Annabelle in 1968, and a son, Robert in 1971. Dr. Mendoza accepted a position as Chief of Pediatrics at the Southern Baptist Hospital in New Orleans; becoming the only Board Certified Hispanic Pediatrician in New Orleans at the time. In 1976, Dr. Mendoza opened a private pediatric practice in New Orleans, LA and later an additional office in Kenner, LA. In 1977 Dr. and Mrs. Mendoza gave birth to the final addition to the family, a son, Ricky. Dr. Mendoza was a devout catholic, a huge soccer and New Orleans Saints fan. Viewing will be held at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home on Friday, April 1, 2011 from 5pm to 8pm, and Saturday, April 2, 2011 from 10am to Noon. Mass and Services will be held Saturday at Noon. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Honduran American Emergency Fund, an organization that Dr. and Mrs. Mendoza helped establish, at Capital One account # 7620011368. We encourage visitors to the service to bring pictures of Dr. Mendoza's patients to the visitation and service. Please notate name, date of birth and condolences on the back or you may visit Dr. Roberto Clemente Mendoza - Medical Center on Facebook to post pictures, stories and condolences. His pediatric clinic in Kenner continues to operate under the direction of his dedicated staff. To view and sign the Family Guest Book, go to www.lakelawnmetairie.com.