Saturday, November 14, 2026
It was just 157 days ago that we were writing about the wonderful life of Judith Ann Helen Stormowski Mercado. Today, Judy is reunited with her husband of 62 years, Roger Colina Mercado, MD, who passed away Monday, January 8th in Naples, Florida, surrounded by his loving family.
Roger, who celebrated his 90th birthday on Dec. 26, was born in Mandaue City on the island of Cebu in the Philippines. After being a four-year varsity basketball star for the University of Santo Thomas in Manila, Roger entered its 480-year-old medical school in 1954 and graduated with honors. After graduation, he began his internship at St.
Michael’s Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he met his wife, Judy, the candy striper assigned to escort the young doctor to his internship quarters at the hospital.
After his internship, he completed his anesthesia residency in Chicago at The Mount Sinai Hospital, a Northwestern University Medical School Hospital and in 1965, he began practicing at St. Catherine’s Hospital in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Growing up in Kenosha, his children were always asked, “Are you Dr. Mercado’s kid? He put me to sleep and took such great care of me!” He had impacted so many lives in the community in such a positive way.
After retiring in 1989, Roger and Judy became full-time residents of Marco Island, Florida, where they have had a vacation home since 1968.The perfectly matched couple were game for anything! They loved traveling with family and friends, entertaining friends with Filipino dinners, playing mahjong, growing scorching hot peppers and of course, complaining about those damned mosquitos.
Roger’s love of basketball never left him. While vacationing on the Mexican Coast, Roger was walking home from a dinner filled with lots of “scotch on the rocks,” Roger asked some kids for their basketball. After 32 free throws in a row, he missed the 33rd one and walked to his room. The next morning, all the kids were buzzing and pointing their fingers at him as he made his way through the resort…he loved it! He also loved playing recreational basketball in Kenosha and in a Filipino league in Chicago. After one particular match in Kenosha, two young boys approached him, asking for his autograph. Many afternoons after working at the hospital, Roger could be found playing basketball with his children or just practicing his awesome shots in his driveway.
We will hold his memory close to our hearts and have comfort knowing he is reunited with Judy, cleaning and fileting all her catches with a blue towel rested on his shoulder and a glass of red wine in his hand.
Roger leaves behind a daughter, Lisa Meurgue (Denis) of Marco Island, FL; two sons, Philip (Todd) of Los Angeles and Roger Junior (Stacey) of Fort Myers, FL; eight grandchildren -- Margaux, Alexandra, Emmanuelle, Blue, Leila, Gus, Landon and Sophie; and two sisters, Norma and Bebeth of Los Angeles, all of whom will forever treasure memories of his kind heart and quick wit.
Roger was preceded in death by his wife, Judy; his daughter, Leila; and his siblings, Nene, Luz and Ernesto.
A private service will take place later in the year.
