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2008
Ramon Rocha 5K Run/Walk
> Ramon Rocha Biography
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Dr. Ramon M.
Rocha |
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Our race is named in memory of Dr. Ramon M.
Rocha, a beloved educator, mentor,
volunteer, and family man who passionately
believed in the possibilities of life — and has
been an endless source of inspiration for people
of all ages and abilities.
Ramon Rocha was born July 25, 1937, in West Des
Moines, IA, where he graduated from Valley High
School in May, 1955.
He received his Bachelor’s degree at Parsons
College, Fairfield, IA, in 1959. His first job
upon graduation was at St. Anthony’s Catholic
School in Des Moines, where he taught fifth
grade. He then went on to teach in the Ames, IA,
Community School District, where he taught
children with special needs.
After teaching in Ames, Dr. Rocha went to
Munich, Germany, where he taught the children of
US military personnel who were stationed there.
He was in Munich for nine years.
Dr. Rocha and his wife Doris met while
teaching for the Department of Defense school
system in 1963. They were married in Munich in
1966.
"Ramon was a very caring individual, always
fighting for those less fortunate," Doris says.
"Volunteerism was his hobby. He was an avid
reader and had a love for travel. Ramon was very
optimistic, and people were his priority."
Dr. Rocha earned his Master’s degree at Drake
University, Des Moines. Upon his return to the
US, he began work on his doctorate at the
University of Iowa, and received his degree of
Doctor of Philosophy in the College of Education
in the Graduate College in May, 1973. His thesis
was a follow-up study of 48 children who
attended Head Start and their use of special
education services in grades 1 through 3.
In 1973, Dr. Rocha accepted a position at SUNY
Geneseo teaching students who were studying to
become teachers in the special education field.
Long-time friend and colleague Lyle Lehman
recalls the years that followed as a period of
major development for the special education
department.
“Ramon was a good ambassador for the college,”
Dr. Lehman says. “His positivity and confidence
were helpful in recruiting staff. The department
flourished as one of the top undergrad programs
in the state and the country.”
Dr. Rocha taught for most of his career at SUNY
Geneseo, except for a period when he worked in
administration as a vice- president. Teaching
was Dr. Rocha’s passion, and he returned to the
classroom, where he taught until health problems
arose in late 1995.
"Ramon often told us he was a ‘damned good
teacher’," his aunt, Lena Rocha, recalls.
"We visited the family in Lakeville annually and
often toured the SUNY Geneseo campus. We noted
how the students so often greeted him in
passing."
Dr. Rocha was a loving father and amazing dad to
three children, Andrea, Pete, and
Carlos.
Throughout his life, Dr. Rocha was a driving
force for several community and charitable
organizations. He took the lead in establishing
Teresa House, a comfort care home for those who
have a terminal illness. He served on the Board
of Directors for the Arc of Livingston-Wyoming,
the two-county region’s largest not-for-profit
organization providing services to
developmentally disabled individuals. He was
president of Geneseo Kiwanis, and worked
diligently on many fundraising endeavors,
including the annual antique sale and the air
show.
Dr. Rocha attended every International Council
for Exceptional Children (CEC) conference from
1972 to 1995, and was a presenter at several
conferences. At the 1975 CEC conference, he
helped organize the Hispanic Caucus, whose
purpose was to find opportunities for Hispanic
professionals to come together at the
conferences to exchange ideas and establish
positions on issues pertinent to them.
Dr. Rocha founded the SUNY Geneseo Ella Shear
School of Education’s Xerox Center for
Multicultural Teacher Education with financial
aid and in-kind support of Xerox Foundation and
SUNY Geneseo. The Mission of the Xerox Center is
to promote the academic success of students from
all ethnic and cultural communities, especially
those who have been historically less
well-served by schools. In 2006 the Center
celebrated a decade of service to multicultural
teacher education.
It is with honor that we walk — and run — in the
footsteps of Dr. Ramon M. Rocha.
Questions? Contact
Jeff Thomas, Public Relations Director.
The Ramon Rocha 5K Run/Walk is
organized with generous volunteer assistance
from
Geneseo Kiwanis.
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