Lawyer and former UP Police commissioner, Romeo C. Cruz, passed away on Sept. 17. He was 77.
Cruz started working in UP in 1968 at the UP Law Center, where he met his wife, Zenaida. He later served as an administrative division head of the said unit.
He served UP in various capacities for 41 years. He was legal counsel of the UP Hotel and board member of the UP Community Chest. Cruz was also legal counsel and member of the UP Credit Cooperative board of directors. He retired in 2009 as a law education specialist.
Cruz also served the University in his private practice, as legal counsel and notary public. He was the former president of the Rotary Club of Metro San Francisco Del Monte, Quezon City, and a member of the Parish Pastoral Council of the Jesus Lord of Divine Mercy Parish.
Many will likely remember Cruz as the go-to-guy when documents needed to be notarized. Some of his constant clients were students processing their scholarship applications, job applicants finalizing their appointment papers, faculty members processing their employment papers, and retirees completing their clearance forms.
His son, Prof. Rainier Arthur P. Cruz of the UP College of Music, described him as “a friend to people from all walks of life; a person who loved to laugh, and tell his stories and jokes; a lawyer and notary public well-loved and respected by the UPD community; a very doting grandfather to his grandchildren; a generous man; and a loving father and provider to his family.”
In 2015, Cruz transferred his private law office from the Fonacier Hall (Alumni Center) on Magsaysay Ave. to its current location in the Kamagong Centennial Dorm on E. Jacinto Street.
“When he had a stroke in 2016, my wife, Atty. Tzeitel Christine DG. Cruz, continued my father’s service to the UPD community,” Rainier said in his email.
He is survived by his children and their families: Rosemarie Anne C. Salamat, her husband Derek, and children Jamie Ann and Jarod; Rio Angelo P. Cruz; and Rainier, his wife Christine, and daughter Raizelle Therese. Cruz’s wife Zenaida passed away in 2007.
The family expressed their heartfelt gratitude for all the prayers, words of sympathy, and generosity.
Source: https://upd.edu.ph/cruz-77/