ROBERTO ELIZONDO

March 25, 1960-July 18,2020

Roberto Elizondo passed gently into the night on July 18, 2020 in Austin Texas. The love of his life Claudia Maluy-Elizondo and his loving family surrounded him as he began his heavenly journey. He lived and died as a loved and respected man. His life story encapsulates the meaning of his name; "bright fame". Roberto was born to Margarito and Aurora Elizondo in 1960. From humble beginnings in Laredo he was raised along his sisters Estela Cobos and Gloria Elizondo and his brother Margarito Elizondo.

Roberto proudly graduated from Martin High School in 1978 where he bonded with friends who he kept in touch with all of his life.   By his participation in class activities he demonstrated that he never forgot where he came from. Roberto then pursued an education at the University of Texas in Austin where he graduated in 1984. In 1986 received an associate's degree from Austin Community College.   More importantly he fostered new deep relationships that lasted until the day of his death.

Roberto served the state at the highest levels as an the internal auditor for the office of Texas governor Greg Abbott. His charge was to bring a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluating and improving the effectiveness of risk management, control and governance processes for the governor's office. Prior to that Robert served as a staff auditor at the Office of the Governor.   Before to service with the state he was a supervising senior auditor for the City of Austin a position he held from 2002 to his retirement from the city in 2018.  Prior to that he served as a senior auditor for the Department of Aviation, The Texas Department of Transportation and The Texas Water Commission. Diversely talented he was a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), a Certified Government Audit Professional CGAP, and held a Certification in Risk Management Assurance CRMA.

Roberto was involved in professional organizations at the local and national levels including participating in the Institute of Internal Auditors of North America and at the local level in Austin.   He holds the distinction of being the only two-time president of the Austin Chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors and served the IAA at the international, national and state level where he distinguished himself as member of the International Board of Directors.

The desire to get things right and to be fair led him to his association with the USA Softball Amateur Association where he was first a softball umpire and the District Umpire-in Chief ultimately leading his association with NCAA Softball as a fast pitch umpire for the Big XII and Southland Conferences.

Robert's capacity to embrace life manifested itself in his diverse endeavors in his free time. A self-described "foodie" he took advantage of his travel across the state to find the best restaurants in Texas so as to share them with family and friends. His quest to find the best barbeque across the state made him a legend with the family.   He was an ardent Texas Longhorn fan, watching every game either in person or at home. He was equally passionate about listening to music and dancing to his favorite Tejano and Country Western music. He was a yearly attendee of Rodeo Austin. He was also an avid golfer, a passion he shared with his friends.

But above everything Roberto was a family man. His close bond with his family was undeniable. He was wonderful father, uncle, as well as son and brother.  Nowhere was his love else more evident than his devotion to his wife Claudia. He was a faithful, loving and devoted husband, and a dutiful provider. But more than that he was her soul mate. When they found each other, they found ultimate fulfillment and happiness.   Their days together were spent talking, exploring, dancing and always fining a time to reflect and to laugh.

Hospitalized at the end of his life, he visited daily through a window from his room. And even with that limitation, he found a way to comfort Claudia and his family. On the day of his death, he was surrounded by family. He took his last breath knowing that he was loved and loving in return.

Robert was predeceased by his parents Margarito and Aurora (Gonzalez) Elizondo and his siblings Estela Cobos and Margarito Elizondo Jr. He is survived by his wife Claudia Maluy-Elizondo, his son Bernardo Garcia, sister Gloria Elizondo and nieces, Veronica Elizondo, Venezza Bremner, Georgina Cobos, Isela Cobos Jarell, Eleonora Paredes, Anna Paredes, and Ana Laura Elizondo and nephews Jorge Ricardo, Guillermo, Margarito (Bevo) Elizondo, George Cobos, Marco, Leo Curzio, Gabriel Elizondo, and Erick Paredes.  He is survived by his loving cousins, grandnieces and grandnephews.

Funeral services are under the direct of   Hernandez, Lopez & Sons Northside Chapels. Visitation will be held at Hernandez, Lopez & Sons Northside Chapels located at 800 Boston St., Laredo, Texas 78041 on Friday July 24 ^th from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. A funeral mass will be celebrated at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church located at 1602 Garcia, Laredo, Texas on Saturday July 25, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. with gravesite services following the mass at Calvary Catholic Cemetery, 3602 McPherson, Laredo, Texas.