Tribute to Roger Gamez THURSDAY 10.02.25|| MARLINCHRONICLE.VWU.EDU
VIRGINIA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY
From those he worked closely with
From students whose lives he touched
“Roger had been my dishwasher partner ever since I first joined Sodexo in September 2024. I still remember how he always greeted me in Japanese, saying ‘Ohayo.’ It still doesn’t feel real that he is gone so suddenly. Having Roger at the workplace always gave me a sense of comfort and reassurance. I am filled with gratitude for the way he cared for me and made me feel safe. I pray that he is resting in peace.” —Yuna Matsuura “Something I always marveled at was his unique ability to connect with people. All of us. We come from different backgrounds and different places on this planet, but despite that language barrier, Roger was always able to communicate and connect with everyone in a positive way and with a wry sense of humor. “Roger showed us that communication is about much more than just words. It’s about empathy, respect and the intention to connect.” — Sodexo Dining Services General Manager Tim Lockett (from his speech at the Sept. 19 memorial service) “On days when there were ‘showcase,’ he would always say ‘Bala, showcase!’ because he knew I’d always get stressed out about it and it just became a funny joke for us. So it just became an endearing thing where every time he said that, he was really just being nice. I remember him smiling a lot, never complaining, and just did his job. He was a great, warm addition to the kitchen.” — Bala
“Recently we lost a dear husband, father, colleague and dear friend. A kind man that graced every room with his presence. I miss his gracious smile and his incredible work ethic. He made sure every student he encountered felt welcomed and I cherish every moment spent with him. May his soul rest in peace.” — Freshman Bailey Schottin “I knew him well. I know his wife, Mrs. Regina Gamez, and his daughter well, too. His wife works the fruit stand in the cafe often. Mr. Roger was a quiet, kind, funny and hardworking man. He loved baseball, especially the Yankees, and his family a ton. It was my pleasure to know him and call him my friend.” — Senior Jake Hofstetter
Lily Reslink|Marlin Chronicle
“Roger was a very good employee. Roger did anything you asked him to help you to do. I am going to truly miss him.” —Lena Rudolph “Roger was a hard working, clever man filled with so much joy and passion for his job with a lot of dedication. He was always kind. He greeted me every morning with a loving ‘hello.’” —Shenese Hicks “Roger was always smiling. He would help anyone. He especially enjoyed interacting with the students.” —Miss Nicole
“Roger was such a kind, gentle soul. I’m happy to have known him in the small capacity I did. He always made me smile when I entered the cafe, always offering a smile and a wave as he asked me how I was doing. Sometimes he’d come by the table where I was sitting and offer to take my dishes to the dish room, which I always appreciated greatly. All that knew him saw the quiet consideration he had for others. I wish I had gotten to see more of him while he was with us. My heart goes out to his family. May they find some small comfort in knowing he was cherished those that knew him through VWU.” — Senior Liese Hazelwood
“I will say that while I didn’t know him intimately, he was a true presence and his warm spirit will be missed. Throughout the bustling day he would never fail to say hello if he saw my face. His kindness has always stuck. He was and will always be a foundation of this community.” — Sophomore Loni Xavier
Vee en redes sociales en español e inglés:
See ROGER Page 3
Inside Look Enrollment increases despite national enrollment cliff
Self-checkouts change customer experience
Matthew Smith, Dining Services operations manager, says automatization has expanded store hours and added customization.
Heather Campbell, vice president of Enrollment and Student Success, said much of the institution’s expansion has been focused on non-traditional programs. -- Page 2
Counseling updates mental health first aid -- Page 4 Laila Jones|Marlin Chronicle
Women’s Flag Football coming to VWU in the spring -- Page 8
BY KAMI WHISENHUNT khwhisenhunt@vwu.edu
Sodexo, the company behind food services on campus, has transitioned from human cashiers to self-checkouts in the Coastal Market and Harbor
New café brings fusion Meena Lennon|Marlin Chronicle pastries close Grille. Matthew Smith, the “We’re getting with operations manager, said the times. We’re being to home the biggest factors behind implementing these new systems are the University’s push for innovation and student requests for longer operating hours.
innovative,” Matthew Smith said, adding that selfcheckouts have become the norm in common convenience stores such as Wawa.
See CHECKOUT Page 5
-- Page 10
Isaac Fick|Marlin Chronicle