Raymond Allison Trompler

Al passed away July 30, 2014. His battle with cancer is over. The struggle was long and difficult but he did not lose the battle. Instead he lived all his days with determination, vigor and humor. He survived with cancer for many years, always with a hope and a promise of yet another fishing trip. Al was born Raymond Allison Trompler on May 29, 1941 to Raymond Trompler, Sr. and Julia Allison Trompler in Hillsboro, Texas. He loved scouting and spent his youth on the plains of far north Texas learning to hunt and fish, activities that he enjoyed all his life. He graduated with highest honors from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas and attended the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, graduating in 1966. Al served his country as a medical officer in the US Army and later completed his residency in Pathology at William Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Paso, Texas. Following his residency, he accepted a position in Pathology at Memorial Medical Center, Las Cruces, New Mexico. He later became the Medical Director of the Laboratory of that hospital. In 1984 Al accepted a position as Staff Pathologist at Scott and White Memorial Hospital and Clinic in Temple, Texas. He specialized in surgical pathology and cytopathology. He also served as Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Texas A&M University College of Medicine. Al was a strict and exacting teacher and mentored many new doctors in the field of pathologic medicine. He retired from Scott and White in 1999 and returned to Las Cruces. Al is survived by his wife, best friend and favorite fishing buddy, Helen Zagona. He is also survived by his son Robert A. Trompler and daughter in law Sharon Trompler and grandson Ryan Trompler, all of Las Cruces, New Mexico; and by son Curtis Trompler and companion Judy Mendez, of Austin, Texas. Al and his sons shared a special closeness and enjoyed many vacations together and all became excellent fly fishermen. He is survived by many cousins, brothers- and sisters-in law-and his beloved niece, Caterina Zagona-Prizio. Al was very active all his life and made many friends along the way. He was an accomplished skier, honing his skills each winter at Taos Ski Valley. In his earlier years, he took up running and ran with the Mesilla Valley Track Club. In later years he became an avid cyclist and rode every week (that he was not fishing) with Bike and Chowder Club where he met many other riders whose friendships he cherished. Aborn naturalist, Al discovered birding in his later years and was an asset to annual bird counts by MesillaValley Audubon club. He spotted a few fairly rare migrants to New Mexico in the process. As a passionate fly fisherman, Al was active in the Mesilla Valley Flyfishers Club and made some of his closest friendships there. He found that Las Cruces offered many of his favorite pastimes and he had a special fondness for the community and its people. Al's family wish to thank the staff at Mesilla Valley Hospice and especially Susan Brooks, RN for their unending support and comfort during the last months of Al's illness. Al never gave up on life and lived each moment to the fullest. His many friends and colleagues will gather to remember him and celebrate his life at 3:00 PM on Sunday, September 21 at Getz Funeral Chapel, 1410 E. Bowman Ave, Las Cruces, NM. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that those wishing to remember Al may give to the St. Jude's Children's Hospital of Memphis, TN in his memory. He had a close working relationship with this hospital and a strong belief in their mission. Donations may also go to Mesilla Valley Hospice or the charity of your own choice. Notes of condolence may be sent to: tromplermemorial@Q.com. PDF Printable Version