Roland. K. "Doc" Sanchez

October 28, 1948 - October 30, 2020

Roland K. “Doc” Sanchez M.D. was born at home in Pueblitos, New Mexico, to Adolfo and Nancy Sanchez. He was their firstborn son, a red headed boy who came from humble beginnings with no running water in his home. Dr. Roland was raised in a farming community and was influenced by his grandparents, relatives, and neighbors who brought him up in the old ways of New Mexico that stretched back to his old Spanish traditions of strong Catholic faith in Christ, family, and community. Roland served as an altar server, sacristan, and lector for Our Lady of Belen Church. Roland was a little guy with a big heart and a hard work ethic. As a young man, he was hired to hoe chile in Jarales and would work as day labor for the local farmers baling hay and digging trenches along with his siblings, Joan, Adolph and Fred. He and his older sister, Joan, would carry water from their grandparents’ home every day, as they had no running water. He challenged conventional thinking, as well as his schoolteachers in their knowledge and had a unique gift for making friends with all types of people. He coached little league and was elected to Student Body President of Belen High School. In high school, he participated in football, wrestling, academics, National Honor Society, Boy’s State, and 4-H. He was an alternate to the Navel and Air Force Academy. Roland always tried to make a difference in his community. He latter borrowed a suit for an interview at New Mexico State University, where he was accepted in the College of Engineering. He then continued hitch-hiking back home to help with his family farm, where he would leave his mark on New Mexico history. In college, Roland was instrumental in helping other New Mexicans successfully bridge the gap from poverty through hard work and education and go on to obtain degrees and pursue great careers. He hungered for knowledge and wisdom and overcame numerous barriers along the way. Roland walked on to the Varsity Wrestling Team at NMSU and he established Chicano Studies. He graduated from NMSU as a Civil Engineer and was a member of Blue Key. However, he desired to better serve his community which lead him to attend medical school at the University of New Mexico. Roland worked hard and was one of the first groups of Hispanics to complete Medical School at UNM. His drive was not only for himself but to also open doors for other Hispanics and New Mexicans to be given a fair opportunity to enter medical and law school. During medical school, he met his wife Elia Padilla from his hometown of Belen. From that moment forward, their lives moved at a fast pace. The two dated briefly and were soon married. They moved to Fort Worth, Texas, where he completed his Residency at John Peter Smith Family Practice Program. Dr. Roland would transform into a great physician in his Residency Program. He was always eager to learn and work long hours caring for his patients. Dr. Roland and Elia were then blessed to have their first child Jessica while in Texas. He graduated as a Board-Certified Family Physician, and despite many job opportunities to stay in Texas, he and Elia chose to move back home to Belen. On February 2, 1979, he established his private practice despite the near 20 percent interest rate at the bank’s reluctance to loan the couple money to build their clinic. Roland trusted in God and soon he served as Chief of Staff at the Belen Hospital until its closure in May 1990. He delivered several babies and saved and served several lives while the hospital was opened. Roland remained after the hospital’s closure and retooled his practice to remain viable during the physician buyouts on the 1990s. He along with his wife Elia continued to grow their practice and family over the years. The practice continues to serve the community as well as patients throughout the state. They had six children including Jessica who proceeded Roland in death on September 5, 2020; Alicia, Dr. Adolfo, wife Christina; Dr. Roland II, wife Valerie; Dr. Florian, wife Stephanie; and Emilio, wife Ronda; who all continue serving their community as a physician, dentist, veterinarian, insurance principal, and farm/rancher manager. He loved and enjoyed his nine grandchildren (Lucia, Roland III, Emilio II, Viviana, Celia, Elsie Jane, Inez, Elena and Catarina) who he went by as “Papa”. Dr. Roland Sanchez was a multidimensional man, upon his return to New Mexico, he and Elia started farming and raising Santa Gertrudis cattle. He had seen the beautiful red cattle when he was a young man at the New Mexico State Fair and later in a magazine while in Fort Worth. He had a desire for a sustainable farm and ranch and was a pioneer in Valencia county working with experts to pioneer rotational grazing, laser leveling and modern cattle genetic practices for beef cattle in the area. He and Elia developed Red Doc Farm which was named for Doc’s famous red hair that matched the Santa Gertrudis cattle. Red Doc Farm is now an internationally known source for top quality genetics and the highest average seedstock producer in New Mexico. Doc and Elia along with their six children and now grandchildren run Red Doc Farm headquartered in Bosque. Red Doc Farm, under Doc’s guidance, has grown into a modern sustainable farming and ranching operation including vegetables and Red Doc’s flood irrigated Pinto Beans. Doc loved being on the farm, ranch and practicing medicine and always found time for everything. He met many, many people in his years of service as a physician and in business as a cattleman. He loved spending time with his family and friends. He loved people most of all and made lifelong friends in serving his patients and through all who passed through his life on the ranching side of his business. Faith in God and family is what he believed in most. Roland was a man of vision a man who followed his convictions, unapologetic, a soldier for Christ and made a difference in this world. He enjoyed life and dancing with Elia in his arms. He enjoyed attending Mass, keeping the old traditions alive within his family, the Spanish language, the Catholic faith, Matanzas, Novenas, his history, hard work ethic and the American Dream of hard work success and religious freedom. He and his wife Elia were proud member of the Knight of the Holy Sepulcher. Doc supported several organizations including the local 4-H, FFA, National Santa Gertrudis Junior Association, Saint Mary’s Catholic School in Belen, NMSU, UNM School of Medicine, New Mexico Hispanic Medical Association along with several other organizations. Many people lives were touched by Doc. He was a mentor to many young men and women in the community. He took care of those in most need and always worked to accommodate his patients. He lived every day with joy, peace, and happiness, always knowing that everything will work out if you trust in God. Roland was the cornerstone of his family who leaves behind a legacy of love, hard work, sacrifice, old world traditions, compassion and dedication to God and family. He will be greatly missed, but never forgotten. Funeral arrangements for Doc and Jessica are scheduled for Saturday, November 28, 2020, at Our Lady of Belen Parking Lot, beginning with a Viewing from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM, AM, Rosary at 11:00 AM, Eulogy at 11:30 AM, and Funeral Mass at 12:00 PM. Pallbearers are Dr. Adolfo V. Sanchez, Dr. Roland K. Sanchez II, Senator Joshua A. Sanchez, Adolph Sanchez, Fred Sanchez, Bill Buckley, Wilfred Chavez and Joe Ramirez. Honorary Pallbearers are Joan S. Romero, Esther Sanchez, John Keck, Gilbert Sanchez, and Tim Ott. The Sanchez family would like to thank the community for all their love and support during his lifetime. They are beyond grateful for the outpouring of love from people bringing food, sending cards and flowers, gifts, and heartfelt phone calls and prayers during this very difficult time. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Jessica Sanchez Enlighten Your Life Foundation, which sponsors scholarships at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Belen, where the family attended school. Donations can be mailed to: Jessica Sanchez Enlighten Your Life Foundation P.O. Box 657 Bosque, NM 87006 Please sign Roland’s online tribute at www.romerofuneralhomenm.com Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen, NM