| Graduation Year | Class of 1969 |
| Date of Passing | May 02, 2012 |
| About | GARRETTSVILLE - Dr. Debra Elayne Muehleisen Rodriguez, 60, died Wednesday, May 2, 2012, at home with her family by her side after a long, courageous battle with cancer. She was born May 13, 1951, in Columbus, the daughter of Charles and Peggy Patton Muehleisen. A lifelong scholar, Debra graduated from Howland High School in 1969, attended Ohio Wesleyan University's Achievement Scholar program for one year and then OWU's Programas Americanos in Segovia, Spain. While there, she met the love of her life, Rafael Jose Rodriguez Sanchez, and married in December 1971. Their child, Barbara, was born in 1973. Returning to the U.S. in 1976, Debra continued her studies, earning a BA in Spanish from YSU in 1978, an MA in Romance Languages from Kent State in 1986 and a Ph.D. in Spanish and Portuguese from The Ohio State University in 1994. Her greatest joy was teaching and she shared her love of the Spanish language and culture with students at all three universities, even teaching business Spanish for Packard Electric engineers, before being hired in 1990 at Hiram College. She dedicated 19 years of service to Hiram as teacher, mentor, colleague, administrator and scholar. During those years she welcomed students into her class and her home, challenging them to become global citizens and forming lasting friendships with many of her Spanish majors. She was passionately committed to student success and incorporated innovative cross-cultural theories and practices within the classroom and beyond. She led several study abroad trips to Spain and Costa Rica. Hiram's Board of Trustees awarded her Professor Emeritus status in October 2009. Debra is survived by her husband, Rafael of Nelson; a daughter, Barbara; father, Charles Muehleisen; a sister, Beth (Burke) Ensign of Cortland; her Spanish sisters/brothers-in-law, Mari Paz, Maria Jesus, Alicia (Fernando), Jesus Maria (Consuelo), Javier, and Carlos (Agueda) Rodriguez Sanchez, all of Segovia, Spain; several nieces and nephews in Spain and her nephew, Andrew Ensign of Cortland. Her mother preceded her in death in 1992. The family extends a special thanks to Dr. Charles Nock of University Hospital in Cleveland and his staff for their devoted care and support throughout her illness; and Hospice of Portage County's nurses and aides for their assistance during her last few weeks. An informal celebration of her life for family and friends will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. May 12 at Rafael's bakery in Nelson Circle, state Route 305 and Parkman Road. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests gifts in her memory be made to the charity of the donor's choice. |
