Robert Raimond Rojas

Robert Raimond Rojas passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on August 9, 2018. Rob was born on December 20, 1958 in Philadelphia, PA and enjoyed his childhood in the Philly suburbs playing with his brother and next-door neighbors, Rich and Jordan Gollub. It was during this period that Rob developed a deep interest in science and the natural world which would form the basis of his career.

Rob graduated in 1976 from Thomas S. Wootton H.S. in Rockville, MD and went on to earn a B.S. in Biology from the University of Miami in Coral Cables, FL. In 1986 he earned a PhD in Biology from the University of Houston. His doctoral dissertation was based on research into insect cold-hardiness. He accepted a position as a research scientist with the USDA lab in Fargo, ND after receiving his doctorate in 1986. His research while at the USDA built upon his PhD work with the goal of developing natural forms of pest control for agricultural crops.

After leaving the USDA in 1996, Rob pursued a wide range of intellectual and creative interests including art, photography, music, reading and travel. Rob served as a sound and lighting manager for several Fargo area rock bands including Face for Radio, Rock Paper Scissors and Babylon. He also maintained several websites including a promotional site for Rock Paper Scissors and two nutritional blogs for which he wrote in-depth articles that garnered a good deal of reader interest.

Rob is survived by his parents, Richard and Natalie Rojas of Silver Spring, MD and his brother, Rich Rojas of Frederick, MD. In addition, Rob is also survived by his second “brother,” Dennis Carlson of Moorhead, MN.