Dr. Rolando Juarez

As was his wish, Dr. Rolando J. Juarez, 80, passed away peacefully at home while surrounded by his family and loved ones on January 2, 2024. Born in Chinandega, Nicaragua on January 8, 1943, he grew up during what he once called the peaceful, happy days of the late 1950s and early 60s, times when he always knew he was going to be a doctor. Following boarding school studies, he attended and graduated from the Autonomous University of Guadalajara School of Medicine in 1968. His parents later sent him to United States where he could learn English and pass his medical boards. His passion for taking care of patients landed him as a general surgery resident at Nazareth Hospital in Philadelphia. At that time, he found himself working in all parts of the hospital, such as surgery, theintensive care unit, and the emergency room.Ultimately, he found his calling as an emergency room physician, which matched his talents of being a quick thinker, clinically prepared to care for whatever came through the door. He learned at a young age the meaning of hard work while watching his father run a lumber factory in Nicaragua. Dr. Juarez carried with him that same level of work ethic, and continued his calling, working at various hospitals in and around the Philadelphia area including Nazareth Hospital, Holy Redeemer Hospital, Temple Episcopal Hospital, Temple Northeastern Hospital, Temple University Hospital and Lower Bucks Hospital. 

Dr. Juarez was adored by all his coworkers in the emergency room. His calm and kind presence waswelcoming, while he cared for patients during what might have been one of their worst times. He treated patients and coworkers with compassion; whether you were a doctor, nurse, technician, orderly, security guard or sick patient he had the ability to see you as an individual first.

He is remembered as a quiet, witty individual with a dry sense of humor sprinkled with a touch of sarcasm.Although reserved, he was always listening and quickto provide a humorous response. He enjoyed laughing and making light of situations that others may have been stressed about. For example, he was the neighborhood doctor who all the kids would go to for bumps and bruises and with words would make them feel better. He was also known to take a few to the emergency room to stitch them up if needed. His goal was to build up those around him. When he saw his kids and grandkids looking sharp, he would say “sanamano,” with his Nicaraguan accent in a singsong way that made everybody smile. He passed along hissolid work ethic; and even with challenges, all of his children were successful. He told them to make sure they love what they do because they’ll spend a lot of time doing it. He was encouraging when there were mess-ups and would say: “come on, you can do better.” 

Interviewed on Father’s Day by his son a few years ago, he said that gaining his children’s love was his favorite part of being a father. That love is carried on by memories like every birthday morning, when he would give his kids, no matter how old or heavy the child, a piggyback ride from their bed, all the while singing the traditional Spanish birthday song “Las Mañanitas.” On paper, six children grew up in the Juarez household but tales of everyday life on Radburn Road in Huntingdon Valley and later, Boxwood Road in Jenkintown, told a different story. The doors were never locked, and everybody — friends and lots and lots of cousins — was invited to watch television, eat, play, or slumber. Some stayed for days. Entire summers, it seemed. As one of his nephews said recently, “he was everybody’s dad,” and family was everyone, and everything. There was room at the table for everyone, as he was a father figure who greeted everyone with a smile and hug. He was a man who “you never knew how tired he was,” his daughter said, that is, “until he fell asleep in church.” Everyone, it seems, has some funny, endearing, or inspiring storyabout Dr. Juarez. The family grew to include grandchildren who called him “Papito,” and his first great grandchild, on the way. He had loving and silly nicknames for many of them, and all had special relationships. As one of his granddaughters said, he was one of the most selfless people she had ever met — and he made her want to work in an emergency room. She wanted to be just like him. 

While work and family were close to his heart, so were a long list of hobbies. Dr. Juarez enjoyed golf, sudoku puzzles, reading novels and mysteries, the longer and more complicated, the better, playing dominoes, bowling, and watching all the Philadelphia sportsteams, and the game show Jeopardy, which he would play along with his kids and win every time, his children recalled. 

A winner in life and in the hearts of many, his greatest achievement, his children say, was the love between him and his wife of 55 years, Maria Angeles Juarez. As he recalled in his Father’s Day interview, “I loved her right from the beginning” when he met her in Chinandega, Nicaragua. Marrying in the couple’s small hometown on December 15, 1968 following his graduation from medical school. Maria became a homemaker, raising their children, by his side for a lifetime.  Maria set the example of unconditional loveand never left his side for the three weeks after beingplaced on hospice care. Those weeks, surrounded by family and friends, were a brilliant example and testament to the life both Dr. Juarez and his wife lived. The couple shared one more anniversary, one more Christmas, and one last New Year. Their love story lives on in the hearts of all who knew them, and spent time in their home and life, where everyone was invited. 

The family would like to thank the compassionate care of Davita Dialysis, The University of Pennsylvania Heart and Vascular Center, Bayada Home Hospice, and the many other healthcare workers who treated and took great care of Dr. Juarez during this time.  

Dr. Juarez is preceded in death by his parents Alfonso Juarez and Nena Juarez, siblings Leonel Juarez and Almita Juarez, and sons Carlos N. Juarez and Carlos Rolando Juarez. He is survived by his wife Maria Angeles Juarez, his brother Poncho, and children Luis Alfonso Juarez (Maria Dolores Juarez), Nena Juarez, Rolando Juarez (Sherry Marshall), Eduardo Juarez (Amy Juarez), Santiago Juarez (Lisa Juarez), and Miriam Enriquez McDivitt (Rob McDivitt). He is also survived by his grandchildren: Christina Perchetti (Gage Perchetti), Maria Juarez, Jack Juarez, Andrew Juarez, James Juarez, David Juarez, Isabella Juarez,Itzel Juarez, Mila McDivitt, Luis Eugenio Juarez, Ana McDivitt, and Ela McDivitt. He was a beloved in-law and cherished uncle to many, of whom called him “Papi” or just simply, “Pop.” 

A day that would have coincided with this 81st birthday, relatives and friends are invited to his viewing on Monday, January 8, 2024 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 am, with his funeral mass following at 11 a.m., at St. Hilary of Poitiers Church, 920 Susquehanna Rd, Rydal, Pa. Burial will follow at Hillside Cemetery, 2556 Susquehanna Rd, Roslyn, Pa. In lieu of flowersthe family is requesting that donations be made in his honor to the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association atwww.cmtausa.org.