Roland Louis Bassett

Roland Louis Bassett, exemplary husband, father and grandfather, passed away at UTMB in Galveston on January 7, 2025. Roland was born December 6, 1938, to parents Cecil Emerson Bassett, Jr. and Opal Alvina Baltz in Council Grove, Kansas and lived in Mexico, Nebraska and Louisiana before choosing Galveston as his home. 

Roland graduated from University High in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. 

He said the best thing that ever happened to him was meeting and marrying his wife, Adrienne. They met while he was at Tulane Law School in New Orleans and eloped to Baton Rouge in 1962. Last year, they celebrated 62 years of marriage. 

In 1964, the pair moved to Galveston where Roland practiced law for more than 60 years. He was an active civic servant and considered it a privilege to serve his community. 

A lawyer by trade, Roland left an indelible mark on the island through his work, assisting many with legal incorporation and the formation of many charities.  

A Galveston College Regent, he helped establish its Universal Access scholarship program which has benefited thousands of young Galvestonians with tuition support. 

Roland chose Moody Methodist Church as his place of worship. He devoted his time and talent to being active in Church affairs and serving on several of its Boards and Committees. He was a founding member and Trustee of the Permanent Endowment Fund of Moody Methodist Church and Chairman of its Asset Management Committee. The fund serves non-profits whose focus areas include education, religious mission and ministry, health and wellness and crisis support services. 

For more than 40 years, Roland devoted himself to the Rosenberg Library. There, he was President for 15 years, and later became Treasurer. A devoted Rotarian, he served as the Galveston Rotary Club’s Director and as a member of its foundation. He was elected as a Galveston City Council member and to the Galveston College Board. He served as Chairman of the Galveston Wharves Board. He also served on other boards including the Galveston Symphony, Galveston Housing Authority, Salvation Army of Galveston, Chamber of Commerce and the United Way of Galveston. 

In the 1990s, Roland and Adrienne lived in Albania volunteering with the American Bar Association’s Central & East European Law Initiative. There Roland assisted the new Albanian government in writing commercial laws following the collapse of the worst form of Communism ever devised. 

Roland is predeceased by his parents and his brother Cecil. He is survived by his wife Adrienne and their three boys Roland, Jr. and wife Michele, Mark and wife Mary Beth, Keith and wife Genette, and six grandchildren Bryson, Grace, Jordan, Anna, Alex and Allison.  He is survived by a nephew, Dr. Cecil Bassett III. He is also survived by his brother-in-law Dr. Donald Strain and his children Sherri, Gregory, Susan, Cathy and Michael. 

The family is forever grateful to the caregivers at UTMB Jennie Sealy, the P.A.M. Rehabilitation Hospital, All Care Home Health and Right at Home for their love and kindness. 

Visitation will be held on Friday, January 17, 2025 at J. Levy & Termini Funeral Home, 2128 Broadway in Galveston from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. 

A funeral service will be held Saturday, January 18, 2025 at Moody Methodist Church 2803 53rd Street, at 2 p.m. 

The family requests that any donations in lieu of flowers go to the Rosenberg Library, 2310 Sealy Street, Galveston, Texas 77550 or to the Galveston Rotary Club Foundation, 2301 Strand Street, #270, Galveston, Texas 77550.

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