Francisco Romero Pérez, Jr., 86, passed away on September 13, 2025. Born in Mexico City on September 25, 1938 to the late Frank and Mary Pérez, Frank grew up in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico and El Paso, Texas. He attended Texas Western College and the University of Texas at Austin.

A huge Longhorn fan, Frank was a Life Member of Texas Exes and loved all things burnt orange. He was proud of the academic achievements of the school and enjoyed watching the football games. It was at UT Austin where he met his wife Molly and later received his PhD there.

He relished the academic challenges of writing and presenting papers at conferences where he enjoyed meeting up with colleagues. A teacher/professor for most of his life, he began teaching while he was still in high school. Although known to be a demanding professor, he remained in contact with former students for decades who appreciated what they learned--enjoying the Pacos Tacos booth at school festivals, putting on plays in Spanish, eating home-cooked Mexican food in Maine, and studying abroad in Spain and Mexico.

Frank loved all kinds of music, but opera was his favorite. He loved to travel and visited many famous opera venues around the world including the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, La Scala in Italy, and Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires.

Frank was a man of faith who found a community he loved at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Denton, Texas. He was so proud of his granddaughters both for their accomplishments and the special individuals they grew up to be.

Francisco is survived by his daughter Michelle and daughter-in-law Susan; his granddaughters, Elizabeth, Meghan (Dashiel), Jacqueline, and Téa; and his great grandchildren, Lucía and Oliver.

He was preceded in death by his wife Molly and son Noel.