Roland S. B. Escalante - Obituary

oland San Buenaventura Escalante, Sr., was born on June 5, 1930, to Domingo and Maria San Buenaventura in Naga City, Philippines, resting in Eternal Peace beginning January 23, 2021. Roland, his beloved wife Teresita (“Tessie”), and their “Five Rs:” Roland Jr (59), Father Ronald (56), Raynold, (52), Reginald (49), and Russell (45), immigrated together to the United States in 1976, living in Washington, D.C., Fort Washington, MD, and Oxon Hill, MD. As a Roman Catholic, he faithfully attended the parishes of St. Thomas More (Washington, D.C.) and St. Columba (Oxon Hill, MD). For thirty-four years, Roland worked for the federal government, retiring from The State Department, U.S. Agency for International Development. Roland had a passion early on with writing, continuing over the years, in professional work, as well as in his personal journals (which his family found humor in absorbing). While often quiet in his ways in public, he made sure his trusty 35mm camera and its photos held true the phrase, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Oh, the stories that emerged from those photos at get togethers! Roland made sure he preserved those memories for his family, providing him joy as they recounted with him individual perspectives of the captured moments. These moments were important, as over the years Roland would begin to forget a detail, or seven, as the years reminded him he’d done well in causing high blood pressure moments for Tessie, as well as sharing comforting conversations and acts of husbandly love, letting Tessie know he loved her, down to their final day together, celebrating their 60th Wedding Anniversary on January 22, 2021. Roland found pride in embarrassing “The 5 Rs” at every school award session that he could, as each son’s accomplishments were possible with the better opportunities available by his and Tessie’s decision to raise The 5 Rs in the United States. Roland found extra peps in his step, from his daughters-in-law, Anneli, Ruth, and Wendy (and no ages here, as you never ask a lady her age), providing the welcomed addition of females in his family, toning down all the testosterone levels in his inner circle. With this expanded family unit, Roland received extra comfort knowing his Escalante name would live on through his grandsons, Joshua (19), Justin (17), Vincent (14), and Jacob (13). Roland was able to see Tessie and The Five Rs in his final days, further assuring him that a family united in Faith and Love, can never truly be separated, no matter the circumstances or physical distances, and that the family he envisioned with Tessie over 60 years ago, was the family his eyes saw, before resting in Eternal Peace.