Gomez Family Grieves But Celebrates
Son’s Life

By Debra decoster

The Christmas season holds bittersweet memories for Ramona Vargas and her family. Her son, Rojelio Vargas, was struck by a hit-and-run driver and killed on November 16, 2010 as he walked to a friend”s house.

The sound of the neighbor’s dog’s barking lifts Ramona’s spirits and for a moment she expects that Rogelio, who lived with her and took care of the house’s maintenance, will come through the door after work.

Delores Gomez has been concerned about her mother’s health for a while. She takes her out to her brother’s grave as often as her mother wants to visit and the visits are sad.

“My mom talks to him and tells him, ‘if you were still here you would be bringing up my winter clothes for me and taking my summer clothes and putting them in storage. You would be helping me to get the decorations up in the house,’” she said.

“My mom has lost weight since his death and I have talked to her about it. I tell her she needs to eat and gain weight. My mom has buried her husband and three children and she worries that she will outlive her other children and have to bury them,” added Gomez.

Acting on a tip, Wyandotte County authorities arrested Darrick Allen Rippetoe and charged him in Vargas’ death. He was later released after posting bond. A bench warrant was issued after he failed to appear in court. He currently sits in the Wyandotte County jail on unrelated charges. A year later, the case is in limbo.

Delores Gomez, sister of Rojelio, told Hispanic News that her family keeps in touch with the District Attorney’s office and they are aware of what evidence they have in the case.

“It is up to the courts what will happen to him. His life is ruined…our lives are ruined. If he would have just stopped after hitting my brother it would have been easier on him. Now he has committed a very serious crime,” she said.

As the family gathers for Christmas this year, it will be a day of remembrance about their son and brother. He enjoyed the holiday celebrations and getting together and sharing childhood stories and seeing the children enjoy the family traditions and the celebration of Christmas at the family home.

The family holds no bitterness against Rippetoe. This Christmas season is one of forgiveness and that includes forgiveness for the man that allegedly took Rojelio’s life.

“My mother and the rest of my family have forgiven him for killing my brother and leaving the scene of the accident. My mother does not want to see the picture of the man who did this to her son, but she didn’t want to hold anything against him. My brother is gone and nothing will bring him back, all we have is our memories but yes we have forgiven him for the lost and grief that our family has experienced over the past year,” said Gomez.

Rojelio was well-known in the neighborhood for his willingness to help any neighbor on the street. It didn’t matter if a neighbor needed help raking leaves, painting or cleaning up their property, he would be there to lend a helping hand. After his death, on the side of the road that he walked every day, a memorial sprung up tended by neighbors and friends that knew him.

“I know that they had to take some of it down, it was growing so large. There are flowers, prayers and crosses at the site where he lay after being hit. Someone got his work boots and they placed them at the site with a note that said, ‘a good man walked in these shoes,’” recalled Gomez.

Vargas would have turned 52 on November 27, 2010. It was a somber Thanksgiving for the family last year as they buried him on November 22. His mother Ramona turned 83 on December 23, 2010 and Christmas was another somber gathering for the family.

In the past, the family held their Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations at a hall they rented as they had outgrown their mother’s home. This year Thanksgiving and Christmas will see the family gathered at Ramona’s home.

“The family said that having the gatherings at a hall was never the same as it was at the family home. So this year my mother decided to celebrate the holidays at her house. My mom said she has to have it at her house. She wants all her sons and daughter there at her home close to her,” said Gomez.

Gomez knows that the events of that day changed the lives of all involved.

“He changed our lives by taking my brother’s life and not taking responsibility for what he did. He has changed his life and his family’s lives by his actions that day. He has to live with the fact that he killed someone and he will have to answer for what he did,” said Gomez.

Still today, when the family takes Ramona out of the house they avoid taking her past the spot on the road where Rojelio died. “It is difficult because he died on the road where my mother’s house is. It just tears her apart to see it,” said Gomez.