Robert Gex, SUNO teacher, administrator Submitted by N.O.V.A. September 2006 Times Picayune 08-02-2006 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ Robert Gex, an educator whose eight years as chancellor of Southern University at New Orleans capped a 35-year career at the Pontchartrain Park campus, died Saturday of complications from heart disease at St. Rose Dominican Hospital in Henderson, Nev. He was 71. A lifelong New Orleanian, Dr. Gex came to SUNO in 1963 to teach French. He became a professor, then dean of SUNO's Evening and Weekend College and associate vice chancellor before being named chancellor in 1989. Dr. Gex, who earned a doctorate in Romance languages from the University of Missouri, was chancellor until he retired in 1997. He came back in July 2005 to hold the position on an interim basis when Press Robinson Sr. retired and stepped down at the end of the year. "Dr. Gex's contributions to SUNO will resonate within the university and throughout the New Orleans community for many years to come," SUNO Chancellor Victor Ukpolo said. "His leadership proved instrumental in assisting SUNO with remaining true to its mission of providing worthwhile educational opportunities." Dr. Gex graduated from Xavier Preparatory High School and earned a bachelor's degree with honors at Xavier University. As a Fulbright scholar, he traveled to France, where he studied French in Lyon and taught American studies at the University of Clermont-Ferrand. He earned a master's degree from the University of Illinois. When he was drafted into the Army, he was stationed in Germany. During the 1960s, he spent two years as secretary adjutant to the School of Law and Administration in Kinshasa, Zaire, now Democratic Republic of the Congo. Dr. Gex was a member of the New Orleans Aviation Board, the Mustangs Social and Pleasure Club and the Young Men Illinois Club. He was a parishioner of Mater Dolorosa Catholic Church and became a Eucharistic minister. The University of Missouri named him a Distinguished Alumnus in 1997. Survivors include three sons, Dr. Gregory P. Gex and Dr. Roderick A. Gex, both of Las Vegas, and Geoffrey D. Gex of New York City; a brother, Ronald Gex of Dallas; and seven grandchildren. His wife, veteran educator Ina Claire Watts Gex, was killed in June 2004 along with her mother in her mother's 7th Ward home. A Mass will be said Saturday at 11 a.m. at Mater Dolorosa Church, 1206 S. Carrollton Ave. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery. Rhodes Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.