Date: 02/02/2010

Loved and admired, generous and kind with colleagues and students, Professor José Cerrudo of the Department of Foreign Languages has died of cancer. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, February 6, at St. Julie's Church, 366 St. Julie Dr., San José.

Melinda Melendez, longtime state Senate staff member and SJSU alumna, died in late January. "Many minority, disabled and English learner students -- without her unfettered determination -- would not have had the opportunity to live their dreams," said the Capitol Weekly. Services have been held.

"Messiah for the environment" and Professor Emeritus Frank Schiavo died Tuesday, January 26. Services are pending. He was profiled in the San Jose Mercury News.

SJSU alumnus and beloved local musician Rudy Madrid, who died in late January, was memorialized by San Jose Mercury News columnist Joe Rodriguez.