Rene A. Cruz

Rene was born in Arecebo, Puerto Rico on July 27, 1943, and he graduated from Harrin High in New York City. He never went to college or had any honor of any sort. He was a family man. He didn’t bother with school because his main focus was starting a family. He married Margie Melgar on January 27, 1962, at the age of 19.

He worked as a mechanical technician for Kmart for 30 years and then for Metro Dade Shop 3 for 26 years where he made lifelong friends, who up until his passing called to check up on him.

He was a member of the South Florida Pigeon club and the Hialeah Racing Pigeon Club. Yes, he had racing in his blood, and since his wife refused to let him have a Ferrari he settled for pigeons. Seriously, though, Rene raised and raced pigeons since he was 7 years old on the fire scapes and rooftops of New York City buildings. He had a passion for animals. It didn’t matter what type. He loved birds and always wanted to keep some type of bird at home, whether it was a finch or macaw.

Rene was loved by everyone who knew him. There wasn’t a person who came to his house that wasn’t offered food and a soda, then jokingly charged $2.75.

He was preceded in death by his sons, Brandon and Douglas Cruz; and his mother, Ana Cruz Vargas.

He is survived by his wife, Margie Cruz; children, Kristen Fajardo and Rene Cruz II; many grandchildren, and a sister, Elba Sanchez.

A Memorial Mass for Rene will be held Saturday, September 2, 2023 at 10:00 AM at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 1401 West Country Club Blvd Citrus Springs, Florida 34433. Visitation for family and friends will be held after the Mass on Saturday, September 2, 2023 from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM at Forest Lawn Funeral Home, 5740 South Pine Avenue, Ocala, FL 34480. A committal service will follow visitation from 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens, 5740 South Pine Ave, Ocala, FL 34480.