Raul Alfredo Pozo

After an unexpected two-week battle, Raul A. Pozo, 84 passed peacefully on October 8, 2012 under hospice care at the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital surrounded by his family in a circle of love. Raul was born April 6, 1928 in Riobamba, Ecuador to Angel Polivio Pozo and Dolores Elvira Vallejo. In his youth, he was highly regarded for both his academic and athletic prowess. He held many roles developing a terrific personality and an entrepreneurial yearning. But tragedy struck and Raul had to embrace the role of patriarch for his family and six siblings in lieu of his law career. This challenge stimulated him to come to the US to achieve the American Dream. As an ambitious, hard working and dedicated young man, Raul achieved his goal to bring his family to America where most settled in New Jersey. In a love story for the ages, he also arranged to marry by proxy the love of his life – one Yolanda Esperanza Yepez who arrived on New Year’s Eve in 1952 making a life in New Jersey for the next forty years. As a self -made man, Raul learned from the school of hard knocks, eventually developing properties and engaging in a variety of entrepreneurial opportunities. Disciplined and forward thinking, he developed careers in sales, international import and export, and teaching - all the while being a dedicated father and husband. A natural leader, Raul served as president of community organizations and as a Board of Directors for service organizations. Raul was a true renaissance man, well read, and extremely interested in divergent viewpoints. He loved to talk with friends about religion, politics, investments, and golf. He enjoyed activities including poetry reading, chess, tennis, soccer, golf and bocce. In 1996, Raul and Yolanda packed their bags for a new life in Michigan to strengthen bonds with grandchildren while touching the lives of all in “la familia”. Building a wonderful life in Ann Arbor, they quickly developed an extraordinary network of valued friends. Raul was a kind, generous and a humanitarian that inspired everyone he met. Raul is survived by his soul mate of nearly 60 years, Yolanda and their two daughters, Cecilia (Bill) of Ann Arbor Michigan and their sons, Eric of Ann Arbor, MI and Owen and his finance, Kristina, of Manhattan Beach, California and Wilma (Paul) of Baytown, Texas and their children, Nick (Christine) of San Antonio, Texas and Alyssa of Baytown, TX and siblings Carlos Pozo (Miriam), Guido (Yolanda), Lala (Andrew) Hopta and many adored nieces and nephews. Raul was one of a kind. Forever youthful, he personified the saying “they don’t make them like that anymore”. While we are all deeply saddened by his passing; all will treasure the times together. We hope to continue to make him proud by applying the many lessons he shared with us always holding family first. His true calling was to inspire all to embrace life, encourage continuous improvement in one’s self and the world around us for all our collective good.Visitations will be held on Sunday, October 14 from 3 to 5pm and on Monday from 10am to 11am followed by a service at the Muehlig Funeral Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to: The Raul A. Pozo Scholarship Fund – Eastern Michigan University College of Health and Human Services.