In Memory

Roldan Santiago Moreno - Class Of 2017 VIEW PROFILE

Roldan Santiao Moreno

October 16, 1998 - July 16, 2021

Westchester Alumni Association 2017 Scholarship Recipient

Obituary of Roldan Santiago Moreno

 

We welcome you to wear happy colors to Santi’s viewing. He enjoyed wearing bright colors and we want to honor him that way.

Roldan Santiago Moreno, 22, of Houston passed away July 16, 2021 as a result of a sudden illness. His friends and family were by his side when he drifted off to be with the Lord. He was born to Roldan and Martha Moreno in Arauca, Colombia, on October 16, 1998. Santiago went to Treasure Forest Elementary School, Truitt Middle School, and Westchester Academy for International Studies in Spring Branch, where he was the Salutatorian of his class and received an International Baccalaureate Diploma and a Texas Distinguished Diploma.

He received a Bachelor of Science and Arts in Computer Science with a Business minor and Applied Statistical Modeling and Scientific Computation and Data Science certificates from the University of Texas in Austin in May 2021. He completed internships at Microsoft, Snap, and Apple, and was planning to join Microsoft as a software engineer in September. At UT Austin, he was involved with the Association for Computing Machinery as co-President, the Information and Systems Security Society, and the Hispanic Association of Computer Scientists.

Santi’s main passion was photography, which also drove his interest in volunteering, consumer electronics, travel, and hiking in nature. His Flickr and Instagram accounts documented his extensive excursions and travels to places from Paris to Peru, from Iceland to China, and from California to Canada. He was also active in the Hackathon circuits in Texas and Oklahoma, where he won many awards as a member of the Waitlisters. He also enjoyed tending to his family’s many dogs, bringing U’wa along for his summer stays in Seattle. He was a voracious reader in both English and Spanish.

Santi was passionate about everything he did and enjoyed life fully. He made plans and he achieved all of them to a T, from getting into computer science at UT Austin, to graduating with honors, to buying a Tesla with his hard-earned money, to traveling the world. He was incredibly dedicated and hardworking, and always made time to help others. He brought so much joy and love to everyone who knew him, and he will be missed so much. His life was far too short, but he lived so fully and inspired everyone around him.

Santiago is survived by his parents Roldan and Martha Moreno, and his sister Martha (WAIS 2021), all of Houston. He also leaves his maternal grandparents, Jaime and Elizabeth Duarte, of Houston; and his paternal grandmother, Elpidia Vasquez of Colombia. He also leaves behind several loving aunts, uncles, and cousins, and too many friends to list in Austin, Seattle, and in his hometown of Houston.


Roldán Santiago Moreno falleció el 16 de Julio de 2021 a los 22 años de edad debido a una enfermedad repentina. Sus amigos y familiares estaban a su lado cuando partió a estar con el Señor. Sus padres Roldán y Martha Moreno tuvieron a Santiago en Arauca, Colombia, el 16 de octubre de 1998. Santiago estudió en la Escuela Primaria Treasure Forest, la Escuela Media Truitt, y en Westchester Academy for International Studies en Spring Branch, donde se graduó en el segundo puesto de su promoción y recibió un Diploma de Bachillerato Internacional y un Diploma Distinguido de Texas.

Santiago se graduó con un título en Artes y Ciencias de Ingeniería de Sistemas con una especialización en Negocios y con certificados en Modelado Estadístico Aplicado y Computación Científica y Ciencia de Datos de la Universidad de Texas en Austin en mayo de 2021. Completó pasantías en Microsoft, Snap, y Apple, y planeaba empezar a trabajar en Microsoft como ingeniero de software en septiembre. En UT Austin, fue miembro de la Asociación de Maquinas de Computación como co-presidente, de la Sociedad de Seguridad de Información y Sistemas, y de la Asociación Hispana de Ingenieros de Sistemas.

La pasión principal de Santiago fue la fotografía, la cual también lo llevó a interesarse en voluntariado, en aparatos electrónicos, en viajar, y en el senderismo en parques naturales. Sus cuentas en Flickr e Instagram documentaron sus extensas excursiones y viajes a ubicaciones desde París hasta Perú, desde Islandia hasta China, y desde California hasta Canadá. También era activo en el circuito de Hackathons en Texas y Oklahoma, donde ganó muchos premios con su equipo Waitlisters. Santiago disfrutaba cuidar a todos los perros de su familia, llevando a U’wa a que lo acompañara en sus veranos en Seattle. Santiago fue un lector voraz tanto en inglés como en español.

Santiago era apasionado en todo lo que hacía y disfrutó la vida a plenitud. Hizo su plan de vida y lo cumplió a cabalidad: ingresar a Ingeniería de Sistemas en UT Austin, graduarse con honores, usar sus merecidos ingresos para comprar su Tesla, y viajar por el mundo. Santiago fue increíblemente dedicado y trabajador, y siempre tenía tiempo para ayudar a los demás. Él le trajo mucha alegría y amor a todos los que lo conocieron, y nos hará mucha falta. Su vida fue muy corta, pero la vivió al máximo e inspiró a todos los que lo rodeaban.

A Santiago le sobreviven sus padres Roldán y Martha Moreno, y su hermana Martha, todos de Houston; así como sus abuelos maternos, Jaime y Elizabeth Duarte, de Houston; y su abuela paterna, Elpidia Vásquez, de Colombia. También le sobreviven varios tíos, tías, y primos que lo amaban, y muchos amigos en Austin, Seattle, y Houston para enumerarlos acá.


Deceased Classmate: Roldan Santiago Moreno, Class of 2017
Obituary Link:
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/houston-tx/roldan-moreno-10275565
Date Of Birth: October-16-1998
Date Deceased: July-16-2021
Age at Death: 22
Cause of Death: Sudden Illness
Classmate City: Houston & Austin
Classmate State: TX
Classmate Country: USA

 

Survived By: His parents, Martha and Jose Moreno and his sister, Martha Moreno - Class of 2021.

Santiago Moreno was a wonderful person. He was so passionate about everything he did and enjoyed life fully. He made plans and he achieved all of them to a T, from getting into computer science at UT, to graduating with honors, to buying a Tesla with his hard-earned money that he made from internships at Microsoft and Apple, to traveling the world. He was incredibly dedicated and hardworking, and always made time to help others. He brought so much joy and love to everyone who knew him, and he will be missed so much. His life was far too short, but he lived so fully and inspired everyone around him. Santi, you are so loved. Rest In Peace.

submitted by his Mother, Martha Moreno 8/1/2021



photo of Roldan Santiago Moreno on July 23, 2021


 

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/houston-tx/roldan-moreno-10275565





Click here to see Roldan Santiago's last Profile entry.