Cruz Mendizábal, 93, passed away peacefully on the feast of St. Joseph, March 19, 2025. He was foremost a devoted, loving husband to Rocio, his wife of sixty-five years, and father extraordinaire to Ignacio, Rocio, Juan Cruz, and Maite. Family was his passion. And as the family grew with daughters-in-law Ana and Stephani, and sons-in-law Tim and Dan, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren added to his joy.
Cruz was born in Bergara, Spain. A proud Basque, he was the youngest of ten children of Benito Mendizabal and Eusebia Ostolaza. A fierce intellect, he was an outstanding student, earning degrees in biology, chemistry and a doctorate in humanities from Pontificia Universidad Catolica, Javeriana in Bogotá, Colombia.
In 1959, he married the great love of his life, Rocio Herrero. Together they moved from Spain to Seattle, Washington where he taught Spanish Literature at Seattle University. He went on to teach at Providence College before accepting a position as professor of Spanish at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. While at IUP he distinguished himself among his colleagues, initiating the yearly Hispanic Literature Conference, founding the national magazine Basque Studies, and presiding as president of the ALDEEU, an association that promotes topics related to Spain and the Hispanic world in general. In addition, he was a published author of both academic and creative pieces, and was the director of the student exchange program to Valladolid, Spain that over many years, hundreds of IUP students took advantage of to further their education and enjoy the culture. The most fulfilling part of his teaching career without a doubt was the connections that he made with myriads of students who have kept their friendship over the decades.
He retired from IUP in 1999, and was granted the title of Professor Emeritus for his illustrious career. From then he had years to hone his hobbies of photography, woodworking, writing, and reading. He brought a smile to everyone he crossed paths with. His kindness, gentleness, patience, and humour will be his legacy and what will be sorely missed by his loving family both here and in Spain.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, March 24th at 10:00 AM at St. Thomas More University Parish, Indiana. Capuchin Father Paul Dressler, Celebrant. Inurnment will follow at the St. Bernard Cemetery Mausoleum. Service arrangements are with Rairigh-Bence Funeral Home & Crematory of Indiana.
Online condolences may be made by visiting: rbfh.net .
Adelante, siempre adelante
