Dr. Porfirio Sergio Rodriguez

Dr. Porfirio Sergio Rodriguez passed away peacefully at his Rio Grande City home on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. He was born on July 29, 1952, in Hondo, Texas, to parents Porfirio Rodriguez and Emelia Elizondo Rodriguez. His family and friends are left stunned by this gentle giant’s sudden passing.

Left to mourn his passing are his wife of 49 years, Mary Nettie Szaroletta Rodriguez; son Dr. Raudel Szaroletta Rodriguez (Brittany Leigh Rodriguez) of San Antonio, Texas; daughter Mary Anastasia Rodriguez Perez (Orlando Joel Perez) of Mission, Texas; siblings Rogelio Rodriguez (Mindy Rodriguez), Dr. Bertha Laura Medina (Melecio Medina, II), Oscar Rodriguez (Becky Benavidez Rodriguez), and Andrew Alan Rodriguez (Yamilett Anders Rodriguez). Of all his titles, grandfather “Juju” was one of Sergio’s favorites, and he lovingly doted on each of his six grandsons: Lorenzo Raudel Perez (15), Orlando Benicio Perez (13), Phoenix Sylver Perez (12), Knox Alexander Rodriguez (8), Christian Sergio Rodriguez (6), and Elliot Zachary Rodriguez (5). Porfirio was preceded in death by his father in 1995, his mother in 2021, and his niece Dr. Analyssa Medina Orjuela in 2018.

During Sergio’s childhood in Alamo, Texas, he began the first five years of his formal education at St. Joseph’s Catholic School before transferring to Bowie and Edison elementary schools. He was introduced to the treasure of reading by his fifth grade teacher whose gifts of Zane Grey novels and a copy of “Thirty Seconds over Tokyo” opened doors of discovery, setting the stage for a lifetime devotion for reading. During these years, he developed keen interests in aviation and music, which led to building model airplanes and studying piano. At his father’s knee, he learned the elements of woodworking and household repairs. Summers were often spent with extended family in Mexico where he and his cousins received mathematics and Spanish language instruction from his great aunt in the mornings and explored the city of Linares, Nuevo Leon, in the afternoons.

A 1970 honor graduate of PSJA High School, Sergio continued his education at (then) Pan American University where he studied chemistry and mathematics in pursuit of his dream to attend medical school. During his third year of undergraduate studies, at the age of 19, he was accepted to and matriculated at Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine in Lansing, Michigan, from where he graduated in 1977. While there, he met a lively blonde who would become his wife of 49 years. Corpus Christi’s Memorial Medical Center’s Family Practice residency then provided another bedrock layer for his medical career that eventually spanned over four decades. He often shared what a privilege it was to care for people who were seeking answers and remedies to health concerns. His deep compassion for patients has been remembered and recalled in many circumstances over the years, giving further weight to his residency program faculty and colleagues bestowing the 1980 Jerry L. Spinks Award to Sergio for “demonstrating exceptional compassion, integrity, and enthusiasm for his patients and profession.”

In 1980, as residency training was ending and because he loved his country, he volunteered to join the US Navy, receiving a commission as Lieutenant in the Medical Corps. Enrolled in the six month long Naval Aeronotics Medical Institute course in Pensacola, Florida, he studied the health intricacies and strict requirements for pilots to navigate safely. He took flight instruction and soloed in a T-31C, but, ironically, the most grueling aspect of the program was passing the swimming qualification which required him to swim four laps across an olympic sized pool, in full aviator gear. Then serving the fleet as the Senior Medical Officer at the Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort, South Carolina, he participated in NATO maneuvers in Denmark, combat training missions across the United States, and as the backseat pilot in the F-4 Phantom Trans-Pac journey to Japan. His swift promotion to Lieutenant Commander opened the door to senior officer housing for his family which had expanded to include a one-year old son and infant daughter. Sergio and Mary embraced the opportunity of living on the Atlantic Ocean, bought a 26-foot sailboat, and enjoyed weekend sails to Hilton Head with their precious children and many friends.

In 1984, Sergio traded his flight suit and military uniform for medical scrubs as his career took another productive trajectory in Rio Grande City, Texas. He joined his lifelong friend, Dr. Antonio Falcon, at Family Health Center, a private rural practice where family medicine included treating patients in the office setting, emergency room, operating room, delivery room, and, sometimes, in the patient’s living room. That partnership flourished as it served the greater Rio Grande City area since 1980.

Sergio was a passionate person with a wide range of interests and hobbies. The sailboat moved with his family to Texas and provided many sea stories from adventures and misadventures while navigating the waters off Corpus Christi. He instructed a group of youngsters on sailing for Boy Scout merit badge qualifications, including his future Eagle Scout son Raudel. His love of aviation, that had turned into a vocation for a time, remained a strong avocation through designing and building radio-control aircraft. Building scale models of historic military vessels (aircraft and ships) was another relaxing hobby that he has passed onto his children and all six of his grandsons. His fine-motor expertise in depicting realistic details on models was also evident in the intricately embellished leather purses, coin pouches, belts, and wallets that he gifted all members of his family. Scale model trains caught Sergio’s attention early on in life and continued through the installation of a large train table in his family room, much to the delight of his grandsons. His fruitful ability to design and build with wood produced tables, benches, desks, clever mystery boxes with secret openings, and other household items.

Early piano lessons in elementary school became the groundwork and basis for Sergio’s lifetime love of music. To satisfy the Fine Arts requirement during his pre-med studies, he enrolled in a few semesters of piano with Dr. John Raimo who became a mentor and encouraged Sergio to polish his repertoire with the compositions of Chopin, Lizst, Schubert, and Scott Joplin. For decades, he tickled the ivories for the enjoyment of family and friends. Over the years, his children also became students of the piano and still continue to play as adults. Sergio was especially gratified that they have each encouraged their own children who have demonstrated acumen and interest in the piano and other musical instruments.

Sergio was the spiritual leader of his home. Joshua 24:15 “As for me and my home, we will serve the Lord.” His faithful relationship with God manifested itself in daily prayers, a sharp mind that was slow to anger, an uncanny ability to be the voice of reason, a natural sense of patriotism, and a desire to give of himself without reserve. He was a kind dispenser of advice, treated everyone with dignity, and emanated a deep strength. He was a North Star for his children and wife. His early years in St. Dominic’s Club ingrained in him the importance of Faith, Hope, and Charity in our lives and the way we live with others. How those attributes were integrated as part of his daily routine became important to him and defined him. He served the Emmaus Community and his home church in Rio Grande City in leadership positions over the years.

Sergio’s laser sharp intellect provided freedom from personal doubt while giving others confidence in his ability to counsel them. When he talked to someone, it was as though they were the only person in the room. As a parent, he was focused and loving. His keen sense of humor and near photographic memory were reflections of his genius mind. Yet, those outstanding characteristics combined to make him all the humbler and filled with deeper gratitude for the life he had lived and the blessings he had received.

There is rejoicing on Earth knowing that Sergio Rodriguez is in the heavenly presence of Our Lord and Saviour and celebrating with his family and friends who first made the journey to prepare a welcome for him. His absence has created a deep void in the world he inhabited for 74 years, and his family and friends are missing him dearly. There are some who bring light to the world so great that even after they have gone, the light remains. So it is with the life of servant Porfirio Sergio Rodriguez.

Serving as Pallbearers and Honorary Pallbearers are Eugenio Falcon, Jr.; Dr. Antonio Falcon; Dr. James Falcon; Melicio Medina, Jr.; Dr. Melicio Medina, III; Dr. Raymond Mussett; Lorenzo Raudel Perez; Orlando Benicio Perez; Orlando Joel Perez; Phoenix Sylver Perez; Andrew Alan Rodriguez; Christian Sergio Rodriguez; Elliot Zacary Rodriguez; Knox Alexander Rodriguez; Nathan Rodriguez; Oscar Horacio Rodriguez; Rogelio Rodriguez; Roy Gabriel Rodriguez; Howard Frank Szaroletta

On Friday, August 7, a visitation will be held at Sanchez Funeral Home, 301 East 2nd Street, Rio Grande City, Texas, 78582, from 1:00 - 8:00 PM with a veteran honor ceremony, celebration of life, and prayer service at 6:00 PM. On Saturday, a funeral service will be celebrated at First United Methodist Church at 4200 McColl Road in McAllen, Texas, from 10:00 AM followed by an 11:15 AM burial at Roselawn Cemetery at 1201 South Main Street, McAllen, Texas 78501.

Rio Grande City - Porfirio Sergio Rodriguez, age, 74, passed away at his Residence in Rio Grande City, TX, on Tuesday, August 04, 2026. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Sanchez Funeral Home in Rio Grande City, TX.