Mrs. Patricia Joyce Saul Rochon departed this earth in the loving arms of her devoted family after a courageous and determined fight against metastatic cancer. She died on March 13, 2023, her 77th birthday, at Yale's Smilow Cancer Center in New Haven, Connecticut.

On March 21, 2023, Mrs. Rochon would have celebrated her 53rd wedding anniversary with her loving husband, Dr. Gilbert Rochon III, the 6th President of Tuskegee University; where Mrs. Rochon proudly served as Tuskegee University's First Lady.

Mrs. Rochon completed her early education in 1963 at St. Mary's Academy in New Orleans, LA. Four years later she graduated from Xavier University of Louisiana. Upon graduation she was accepted into and later graduated from Yale University’s School of Drama, where she received her MFA in 1975. She also studied Communications at the Pennsylvania State University’s College of Communications.

During her sixteen years at Dillard University, Mrs. Rochon chaired the Department of Mass Communications. She later held a faculty appointment at the College of Communications at Purdue University.

Mrs. Rochon was also an Emmy Award winning television news producer. She produced an array of television shows, which included, Fast Track, Fast Track Te Informa, Primetime and the New England Regional Emmy Award winning "Best Target Audience Series" Urban Update and Black News.

Mrs. Rochon is survived by her husband, Gilbert Rochon III, PhD, MPH; their daughter, Hildred Sarah Rochon, MD, MPH, MBA; their son, Emile Saul Rochon, MD; daughter-in-law, Jalelah Sophia Ahmed, MIA; son-in-law, Lillard Royal Lewis, Jr., MBA; grandson’s Jayden Royal Lewis and Jameson Ramon Lewis; sisters, Anna Lois Saul Harrison and Margaret Ethel Saul Bordenave; brother, Herman James Saul, Jr.; brothers-in-law, Richard David Harrison; RADM Stephen Wayne Rochon, (RET.), Gregory Paul Rochon, Brandon Pierre Rochon; sisters-in-law, Sheryl Saul, Shirley Rochon and Janet Oliver Rochon; cousins Dr. Claudia Phillips Joplin, Dr. Michele Louise Phillips Pointer, Myra E. Phillips, JD and a host of beloved nephews, nieces and cousins!

She was preceded in death by her parents, Herman James Saul, Sr. and Louise Phillips Saul; Aunts, Magnettie Saul Perrault, Beulah Saul, Malcolm Saul, Florence Saul, Edith Saul; Uncles, Wallace Saul, Godfrey Saul, Dr. George Martin Phillips, Aunt Wimberly Ruth Philips; Cousins George Martin Phillips Jr., Dr. Deborah Phillips Theado; sisters-in-law, Alexis Rochon, Dr. Melanie Rochon Bush; brothers-in-law Christopher Joseph Bordenave, III, Evan Ashley Rochon; grandmothers, Sarah Anna Merritt, Claudia Ethel Gates Phillips Tunnage and Marguerite Toye Saul; grandfathers, Joseph Saul and Thomas Phillips.

Patricia will forever be remembered as a devoted and loving wife and mother; a strong champion for the societal benefits of higher education; an advocate who served to advance the opportunities of students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities; and a fighter who believed in equitable health care access and equal opportunities for ethnic minorities and women. May she rest in peace and may God’s perpetual light shine upon her.

Memorial Service Information

Mrs. Rochon's memorial service will be on Saturday, March 25, 2023 at the St. Katharine Drexel Chapel on the campus of Xavier University in Louisiana. Family and friends who wish to pay their respects are invited to attend her viewing at 9:00 AM, followed by her Requiem Mass and memorial service at 11:00 AM. The address is:  3932 Pine St, New Orleans, LA 70125. Ladies, please wear white. Gentlemen, please wear white or a suit with white accents.

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