Richard Eric Rhoda
Distinguished geographer Richard (Rick) Rhoda of Ajijic died on June 3 while under care at Hospital San Antonio after a month of health crises.
He was born in Berkeley, California on May 8, 1945, the fourth of six children, and grew up in Monterey, California. He enrolled in the University of California at Santa Barbara for one year before he and a friend embarked on a year-long journey of world travel. Upon returning to the U.S. he continued studies at UC Berkeley where he graduated with a degree in civil engineering.
He was subsequently accepted into the U.S. Public Health Corps as an alternate service during the Vietnam War. During his second year he met his future spouse Valerie and they remained together for more than 55 years. When that tour was over the couple acquired a Volkswagen for extensive travel through Europe and Africa.
Returning a year later, Rick entered the University of Iowa to earn his Masters and PhD degrees in Urban Geography. He and Valerie ventured off to Ghana West Africa to complete research for his dissertation. In 1981 he joined USAID, taking up postings in the Philippines, Somalia, Egypt and Honduras over 21 years.
After the couple retired to Mexico in 1999, Rick became very involved in presenting Ted Talks conferences and Life Long Learning programs at the Lake Chapala Society. Discovering how many people had misconceptions about Mexico prompted him to launch a well-attended lecture series on the country. That led to putting his lecture notes into book form. He collaborated with fellow geographer and author Tony Burton to produce “Geo-Mexico: the Geography and Dynamics of Modern Mexico,” published in 2010. Later lectures were based on the book.
His friend and colleague recalls, “Rick’s concerns about the many misrepresentations of Mexico outside the country echoed my own. He was so generous with his time, research, ideas and analysis that formed the backbone of Geo-Mexico.”
Rick was an internationalist with a deep love of learning that he relished while exploring almost 100 countries over his lifetime. He was keenly interested in delving into intellectual ideas, studying cosmology, and watching sports.
Over their years together residing in Ajijic, Rick and Valerie generously sponsored many local female students through their university studies.
He is survived by his spouse and four siblings. According to his wishes, there will be no memorial service in his memory.