Robert Lozada: A True Educator

Ernesto Antunez/Staff Writer

After a dogged fight with pancreatic cancer, FIU political science professor Robert Edmund Lozada is now one of the latest occupants in the professorial hall of fame, and perhaps somewhere even greater.

Lozada earlier this year passed away to the distress of his bereaved family, friends and colleagues. He stoically taught till the end under such inhuman strain, going above and beyond what would have been expected of anyone in a similar position. 

Lozada was born in 1953 and was an FIU alumni, having been a founding student of FIU joining the first class in 1972. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science having fallen in love with political philosophy and topped off his university education with a master’s degree in political science from Florida Atlantic University.

Even as a student, he was already well-known for his tireless wit and penetrating intellect. He spent his professional life serving as a union officer for chapter 1363 of the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees in Jackson Memorial Hospital, rejoining his alma mater in 2016 as an adjunct professor teaching his beloved political philosophy.

In his capacity as a lecturer, he was able to grasp the attention of the average pupil in a way that accrued admirable envy from his colleagues given the ease with which he was able to convey difficult philosophical and political concepts in a deeply intellectually penetrating and extremely enjoyable style.

“Lozada was extremely professional about his craft. He wanted his students to succeed and be their best,” said Victor Lopez, a former pupil of Lozada, about his superb abilities as a teacher. 

The sardonic personality and trademark ironic quips by which he was known for tried unsuccessfully to hide an acute tenderheartedness for mankind, which he expressed primarily by his belief in the freedom of the individual and freedom of thought along with his absolute disgust at totalitarian and absolutist thinking.

This was a belief that he attempted to inoculate in his students as they navigated the sometimes-treacherous world of political philosophy.

“Professor Lozada talked about how we can never find the complete answer and truth in our lifetime but after we’re long gone, we will know the full truth as we are able to engage in a final dialogue with the philosophers of long ago,” said Ahmed Abou-Bakr, another former student of Lozada’s.

A memorial service was held Jan. 17 at the Caballero Rivero Funeral Home in Westchester where a large gathering of his friends, family and students came to pay their respects. His son Eddie Lozada gave a moving speech highlighting the last days spent with his father and expressing his gratitude for those in attendance. The formal part of the event ended with a short sermon and blessing from the resident priest.

Lozada will be deeply missed by his friends, family, colleagues and his ever-grateful students who were fortunate enough to experience something beyond the garden variety teacher: a true educator.

As a former pupil of his Emmanuel Diaz succinctly said, “His legacy will live forever.” 

Featured image courtesy of FIU Department of Politics and International Relations on Facebook.

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