James Robertson Jr.

“As with many of the students at the Texas A&M Rangel College of Pharmacy, my interaction with Dr. Robertson began when applying to the college,” said Alex Patlovany, a fourth-year professional student pharmacist from Houston. “While waiting in the fishbowl upstairs before the interviews, my fellow applicants and I were all clearly nervous — an expected state in which to be. Enter Dr. Robertson, exuding what we’d later come to know as his constant confidence and class, joking that he was the scariest person we’d meet that day.” Robertson put the students at ease. “He made the interview process that much easier to get through, and it set the pulse for what I expected attending the Texas A&M Rangel College of Pharmacy would be like,” Patlovany said.

“He called me for my interview and we talked for 30 minutes,” said Carney, who is originally from Slidell, La., and moderated the candlelight vigil. “We were both from Louisiana so we talked about the food and area. He told me not to be nervous about the interview, but to act like I did on the phone with him and I’d just be fine. He changed my life forever.”

Students said Robertson always knew their name. “He made it a point to know each student. He had this way about him that I can’t explain,” Bosse said.

Robertson’s door remained open for students. Patel, who graduated with a bachelor’s in biology from the University of Houston, said she was experiencing personal problems before she made it to pharmacy school and Robertson shared the story of his journey to encourage and motivate her. “He would remember details about you,” Patel said. “Many students at other schools cannot plop down to talk to a dean. He wasn’t just a mentor; he was a counselor.”

Kanwar, a pharmacy manager, said Robertson would not give praise lightly. “When he said he was proud of me, I beamed. When I was in trouble, which was once or twice, he always ended on a positive. I felt bad if I disappointed him, not that I was in trouble,” Kanwar said.

Elaine Demps, Ph.D., director of instructional technology for the Texas A&M Rangel College of Pharmacy, said Robertson’s relationships were customized to each person he met. “He was so funny. He really lived, lived an adventurous life.”

“He was a man with a wealth of knowledge, kind heart, sense of humor, and impeccable taste and superior perfection.”

Demps recalled a time when Robertson shared an experience he had assisting an international student. A student athlete at the University of Louisiana at Monroe went home to South Korea and could not return to the U.S. because of her student visa issues. Robertson flew to South Korea to speak with government officials to persuade them to allow her to return to college.

Because of his vast experience, Robertson could make a quick decision in a rational way and had a terrific perspective on issues. He could read people well. “He had high expectations of people,” Demps said. “He wouldn’t hesitate to let them know when they did not perform up to par, but he was always generous with praise when they deserved it.”

Day in and day out, Robertson always made people smile. “He was a man with a wealth of knowledge, kind heart, sense of humor, and impeccable taste and superior perfection,” said his administrative assistant, Christie Knudsen. “He was a fair individual and always looked at both sides before making a decision. His love and devotion to his profession and the students were admirable.”

Robertson was highly respected and feared by students. “He was never judgmental,” said Mary Chavez, Pharm.D., professor and chair of pharmacy practice. “He challenged them. He was stern but fair and made them say how they were going to remedy themselves.”

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Palakurthi said Robertson was a meticulous planner, flawless executor and a true criticizer. “He did nothing for personal benefit. He was very fair on decision-making which talks about his integrity,” he said.

Robertson was willing to help or mentor faculty, staff and students. “He felt offended if people didn’t ask for help. He was very giving,” de León said.

“I will admit I was a little timid when I first began working for him but he mellowed out; or maybe I became more comfortable as I got to know him better,” said Knudsen, who worked with Robertson for six years. “Dr. Robertson made each day a ‘Want to Come to Work Day.’ ”

Robertson was influential in setting a standard of professional dress that not many colleges adhere to. Faculty, staff and students say the dress code established a sense of professionalism. On Thursdays everyone at the college is expected to suit up while other days are business casual.

“It changed my image,” said Sabawi, who received his Bachelor of Science in chemistry from the University of Texas. Sabawi said he never really thought about the importance of professional dress before. “He dressed really well and was a mentor to me.”

No blue jeans, flip-flops or T-shirts like most college campuses.

“There are few people in this world that command respect the way he did.”

“He taught me to always act like a professional, in email, phone calls, at all times, and respect everyone,” said Carney, who is also the 2012-2013 student council president. “I am thankful to have known him and learn from him. I was looking forward to working closer with him because he always knew the right thing to say. He cared.”

“He had such pride in our school that it was impossible not to feel the same when around him,” Patlovony said, who attended The University of Texas at Austin. “It will not tarnish, even with his passing.”

Chavez said Robertson cannot be replaced. “He’s one of a kind. It’s a deep loss to this school,” she said. “He was the go-to man at this college for faculty, staff and students because he listened. He helped me become a better leader.”

Palakurthi said it’s difficult to believe that Robertson is really gone and it’s left a vacuum in the college. “It’s a loss to the faculty and the college as a whole. He was so passionate about this college.”

He was a great friend and supporter at the college and beyond. He exemplified what Kristopher Virga, Ph.D., assistant professor in the department of pharmaceutical sciences from 2006 to 2011 at the Texas A&M Rangel College of Pharmacy, hopes to emulate as a student educator and mentor. Virga is now an associate professor pharmaceutical sciences at the School of Pharmacy at Presbyterian College in Clinton, S.C.

“There are few people in this world that command respect the way he did,” Virga said.

Friendship meant a lot to Robertson.

“James will also be remembered fondly for his sense of humor,” Talluto said. “We shared so many laughs together and with Dr. Chavez and our ongoing moments of ‘he likes you better’ conversations that lightened the stress and actually made you look forward to coming to work each day. Great fun and great memories will be cherished for a truly remarkable individual. I am honored to have known him and to have considered him not only a colleague but a dear friend.”

He nurtured friendships from all over the world. “He had a big impact on people. He had friends in Europe, Egypt, Washington state and Louisiana to name a few places,” Chavez said.

“It is indeed so sad that we lost our dear friend,” said Yavuz Ergin, a banking consultant from Turkey who met Robertson in 1981 at University of Louisiana at Monroe and spoke at Robertson’s memorial service. “We maintained our friendship and met many times since then in the U.S., Turkey and last time in Geneva, Switzerland. We all know that James made a significant difference in many of his students’, friends’ and relatives’ lives in sharing his valuable experience and thoughts, and assisted, guided and inspired us with much dedication, clear vision and honesty.”

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“It’s hard to express his loss. He meant so much to people. I could not believe the amount of admiration and respect that was expressed after he died,” Carney said. “People changed their profile pictures on Facebook and they shared paragraphs about how much he meant to them.”

David Matthews, Pharm.D., director of advanced pharmacy practice experiences, has known Robertson since their time at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. “No person here has cast a greater shadow of influence on everyone—including students, faculty, and staff—than my fellow professional, my personal confidant, my mentor and adviser, my friend, a respected professional and ultimately just a very, very great man,” Matthews said.

“Words truly can't describe the pain I felt when I learned of Dr. Robertson's passing,” Samadi said. “He made an impact on my life unlike anyone else I had known for a mere year and a half. He was dear to not only me, but to my family as well. His sincerity was contagious and it easily affected those around him. When I graduate, I hope to be half the professional Dr. Robertson was.”

In one phrase to describe Robertson, Palakurthi said: “He does what he believes and he believes what he does.”

Robertson was born June 15, 1953, to James Cornelius Robertson Sr. and Nancy Caves Robertson in New Orleans, La.

The oldest of six children, he was the family leader and adored his mother. “He took care of his family and spoke highly of them,” Chavez said.

His start in life helped him relate to student needs. “I always admired him because he came from humble beginnings,” de León said. “He was a self-made person. He struggled to get where he was. What he did was a clear indication that education can help people improve the quality of life.”

His mother died in 1992 when Robertson was 39. He met Eugenia Ritter while at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. She rented a garage apartment to him and they became close friends. She was a Southern aristocrat and introduced Robertson to elegance and grace that he bestowed on others. He kept a picture of her on his desk. Colleagues said she was like his surrogate mother. They traveled together to Europe and around town in his PT Cruiser. Eventually, in her later years, he was her caretaker.

“You’d think an associate dean would have a different car, rather than a PT Cruiser, but he was proud of that car,” Chavez said, who was a close friend to Robertson. “He had the camera ready when it was about to change to 200,000 miles. He was driving through Chapman Ranch and when he looked down, the odometer was 200,001. He missed it!”

Robertson had sentimental reasons for keeping the PT Cruiser with hundreds of thousands of miles on it. “He would tell me that this was the car that he drove Jean around in and a new car would separate him from her,” Chavez said.

Early in his career, Robertson worked as an administrator. He was the assistant director of admissions at the University of New Orleans at age 27. After a few months, he became the International Student Office director and Veterans Administration certifying official in the Office of Registrar at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. After about six years at Monroe, he went to college in Illinois to complete his doctorate. He returned to the University of Louisiana at Monroe as the director of admissions, university registrar and adjunct associate professor in health education.

“He does what he believes and he believes what he does.”

He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother Jimmy Robertson of Ponchatoula, La. Robertson is survived by Dr. Tim Van Frank, M.D., of Corpus Christi, Texas; his siblings: brother and sister-in-law, Gary and Lynn Robertson Sr. of Natalbany, La.; sister-in-law, Marion Robertson of Appleton, Wis.; sister and brother-in-law, Diane and Mark Martinez of Ponchatoula, La.; sister, Margie Robertson of LaPlace, La.; sister and brother-in-law, Mildred and Tommy Windom of Natalbany, La.; and 12 nieces and nephews.