VICTOR “VITICO” ALEJANDRO MENDIOLA, M. D.
1930-2018
passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at his home in Sugar Land, Texas on December 2, 2018 at the age of 88 after a 2 year battle with liver cancer. Dr. Mendiola was born in Cardenas, Matanzas, Cuba on September 30, 1930 to Martin Victor Mendiola and Ascension Juaristi de Mendiola. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Martin Bernardino Mendiola, sisters Herminia Antonia Mendiola de Alvarez and Ninfa Elisa Mendiola de Villa. Dr. Mendiola is survived by his wife of 56 years, Elsa Estela Mitchel de Mendiola, sister Pilar Elena Mendiola de Dueñas, sons Victor Octavio Mendiola, M. D. with wife Doris Garrido, M. D. and Alejandro Martin Mendiola with wife Carrie Lynn Wagner Mendiola, grandchildren Victor Ramon Mendiola, Anna Marie Mendiola, Sara Alejandra Mendiola, Alejandro Joseph Mendiola, Ignacio Martin Mendiola, Amy Teresa Mendiola, and Cecilia Catalina Mendiola. Dr. Mendiola graduated from Colegio Presbiteriano La Progresiva in 1951, then went on to medical school at the University of Havana in Cuba and graduated in 1960. He was involved with the student movement against Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista. Vitico married his lovely bride Elsa on April 6, 1962 in Havana, Cuba and was allowed to leave the island after a several year long prison sentence for political crimes against Fidel Castro’s regime. He was not afraid to stand up publically for his countrymen in the face of an oppressive Communist government. In 1967 as a favor from a general of whom he saved his life after an attack of appendicitis, they arrived in Miami, Florida with their then 1 year old son. Then, they relocated to Houston, Texas where Dr. Mendiola redid his training in general practice (as was required to practice in the United States), and opened up his office in 1970 at Parkway Hospital with his wife, Elsa. He worked as a family physician until his diagnosis of liver cancer in 2016. He saw thousands of patients from all walks of life and treated each one of them with compassion. During his work life, he served as president of the Harris County Chapter of the American Academy of Family Practice and Chief of Staff at Parkway Hospital. He loved to go to his beach house in Galveston, Texas and be on the water with his friends and family. He enjoyed hosting many parties at his homes and cooking for them alongside his wife, Elsa. He was a ham radio operator, an avid gardener, and an excellent chef. Most of all, he thrived being with his family, co-workers, and his patients, many of whom considered him as family. He will be missed by everyone he knew as he was a very charismatic and gregarious person who loved life and lived life to the fullest. The family wishes to thank his caregivers, including Adelaida, Rubi, and Leticia for all their efforts to keep Vitico comfortable, well fed, and happy over these past 2 years of his life while he valiantly and graciously fought liver cancer. Their constant care and beautiful smiles were a true blessing. Also, the family wishes to thank Dr. Janet Tu and Dr. Julio Peguero and their respective staff for the excellent medical care he received. Dr. Mendiola’s wake and Rosary will be held at The SettegastKopf Co. @ Sugar Creek, from 4-8 pm on Thursday, December 13, 2018. The funeral mass celebrating his life will be held at St. Laurence Catholic Church, 3100 Sweetwater Blvd., Sugar Land, Texas 77479 on Friday, December 14, 2018 at 10 am, with reception to follow in the Parish Hall. Interment will be at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery, 12800 Westheimer Blvd., Houston, Texas 77077 for immediate family. Dr. Mendiola said at the end of his high school a thought which held true for the moment back then and still rings true today: “Let us face life with God as our shield, knowledge as our armor, and we will triumph over all.”