Don Rodis (left) and wife Jocelyn | Photo from Rodel Rodis/Facebook
NEW YORK — The search for Filipino American tourist Hermilo “Don” Rodis, Jr. – who was swept out to sea while vacationing in Los Cabos, Mexico, in June – has ended with his family accepting the painful reality.
Rodis remains missing and is presumed dead, a victim of the region’s treacherous mar de fondo waves.
Rodis, 71, was walking along the beach with his wife, Jocelyn, the chief accounting officer of the city of San Francisco, on June 14 when a powerful rip current pulled him from the shore in front of the Hilton Resort on the Tourist Corridor.
Photo from GR Rodis/Facebook
Local authorities said the phenomenon, known as mar de fondo, is notorious for generating rogue waves as high as three meters, sweeping unsuspecting beachgoers into the Sea of Cortez with little warning.
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Witnesses, including hotel guests and resort staff, rushed to assist but were thwarted by the force of the surf. Both a security guard and a fisherman who attempted rescues nearly drowned and required emergency care after being overpowered by the same currents that seized Rodis.
Authorities launched an extensive, round-the-clock search operation involving the Los Cabos Municipal Civil Protection Directorate, aquatic rescue teams, the Mexican Navy and aerial support from Civil Protection helicopters. Despite scouring the stretch between the Hilton and Marquis resorts by boat, jet ski and air, Rodis’s body has not been found.
Officials said such an incident is very rare along this resort corridor, underscoring the unexpected danger lurking beneath the tranquil seaside scenery.
The tragedy occurred just days before Jocelyn was scheduled to receive a Presidential Service Award in Washington, D.C. The couple, parents to three children and grandparents, had planned to celebrate her recognition as one of the nation’s most outstanding public servants.
Appeal to expedite release of death certificate
As days turned to weeks with no sign of Don, the Rodis family faced a second ordeal: Mexico’s legal requirement to wait before obtaining a death certificate for missing persons.
According to his brother, Rodel Rodis, a prominent immigration lawyer and Filipino American community leader in San Francisco, families may be forced to wait as long as seven years under existing rules to obtain a death certificate for missing persons.
“Without a death certificate, we are trapped in a state of continuous uncertainty and heartache,” he wrote on social media and in a formal petition.
“This prolonged waiting period adds to the grief of families who have already lost a loved one under tragic and often traumatic circumstances. Every day without closure is a day of uncertainty and pain that prolongs the suffering of those left behind. We urge the authorities to have compassion and understanding for families in these exceptional situations, so they can begin the healing process and find peace.”
Rodel has appealed to both US and Mexican authorities to acknowledge the profound emotional toll on bereaved families and to consider humanitarian exceptions to these legal requirements.
Friends and classmates remember Don as the “live wire” of Philippine Science High School’s alumni network, known for his hospitality in San Francisco and his enduring warmth. He was active in the Filipino American community.
Don’s sister, Girlie Rodis, a Manila-based talent and events manager, traveled recently with relatives to Cabo.
In a heartfelt post, she wrote: “We are in Cabo now to say goodbye to our beloved brother Don who was taken by an errant wave in Mexico last June 14. … We bid him a safe journey to the Lord’s eternal embrace.”
Mexican authorities warn that mar de fondo, especially prevalent early in the morning and late at night, continues to pose a risk. Officials urge all residents and tourists to heed warnings, regardless of swimming ability or familiarity with the coastline.
