Rene R Romero

Born August 5, 1932 at the home of Miguel Romero Quicute and Micaela Romero Santana in the humble Luyanó neighborhood of Havana, Cuba, he was the youngest of six children. Though the family was not of means, the home served as the central connection for all family members, where somehow there was always food for all, never lacking love or song. He was raised with a strong moral compass and a motto taught to him by his mother, “No matter the circumstances, you are never better than any man, and never is any man better than you.”

In spite of his parents’ lack of formal schooling, they instilled in René the importance of education. He completed his secondary education in 1949 at the Instituto de la Víbora, Havana, Cuba, where he excelled in science and mathematics. Though a great student, his vivacious personality and loyalty helped him establish life-long friendships that began in high school and continued throughout his life. Upon entering the University of Havana, he hoped to become a physician, possibly a pediatrician, but the Cuban Revolution and Love altered those plans, ending his university career in 1955.

He met the love of his life during his last year of high school. Not one to be shy, one day near the end of the term he came up to the future mother of his children, Amparo Souto Hermida, and quickly planted an unexpected peck on her cheek saying, “That is so you remember me!” To which she indignantly replied, “I did not give you any permission to do that! You’re not even worthy of the slap you deserve!” Still, both realized an undeniable spark was present.

René was a talented singer and his love of music and song stayed with him throughout his long life. He emotively interpreted his favorite romantic boleros of Cuba and Latin America. He sang professionally with small bands at various social gatherings around Havana and had the opportunity to rub elbows with the great singers of 1950’s Cuba. He once wrote the lyrics and later sold the rights to a song dedicated to his future wife, which became a frequently played tune on the radio, “Dudas de mi” (You Doubt Me), sung by Orlando Vallejo. However, when faced with the ultimate choice presented by his future father in law, “El cantaito o Amparito” (Either singing or my daughter), René had no doubts. Amparito meant everything.

He married his Amparito on May 18, 1957. Their union through better and worse, richer or poorer, in health and illness, was an example for all who knew them during their nearly 63 years of marriage. They raised 3 children together, Lourdes, René, and Jorge Luis. He was a model husband and father throughout his life. Challenges abounded, not least of which was Jorge Luis’ long battle with chronic illness, but regardless, he gave of himself always. He loved Jorge Luis dearly and never abandoned him or his care.

Quickly knowing that life under a totalitarian system was not what he wanted for his family, he renounced any participation in the Cuban Revolution and he became the driving force for his family to seek a new life in the United States. The family arrived at Miami on October 11, 1962, on one of the last Freedom Flights before the Missile Crisis. With little work in Miami, he moved the family to Detroit, Michigan where his brother, Jorge, and his family were located.

He made a life for his family in Detroit, where starting in mid-1963 he worked at Parke-Davis, a pharmaceutical company, as an animal lab technician in the area of vaccine testing. Within three years, he was promoted to the company’s International Quality Control Division, ultimately becoming a Manager. During this time, in order for his wife to fulfill her professional goals and re-establish her pharmaceutical license in the U.S., he was both mother and father in 1975 for his then teenaged children, cooking, cleaning and caring for the children all the while his wife sacrificed for a year studying in Florida. After Parke-Davis was acquired by Warner-Lambert, he started a new career as a Medical Specialty Representative within the company, moving the family to Tampa in December 1976, where René and Amparo Romero remained an inseparable team the rest of his life. He retired from Pfizer (the company had acquired Warner-Lambert) in 1997 after 34 years.

His active life in Tampa continued after retirement. It was filled with loving, happy moments with his children and six grandchildren, known to them as Abu. Frequent trips to Miami filled the weekends where he enjoyed time with all his extended family. Retirement gave him the opportunity to reconnect deeply with his lifelong friends, sharing great joys, food, stories, and of course, music. He enjoyed international trips to Mexico, Argentina, Dominican Republic, and Spain and as usual, made many new friends along the way.

There is a great chasm left with his passing, but like the Grand Canyon, it is not the void that is wonderful, but rather, it is the beauty of the force, which having passed, has carved its memory on what remains. Preceding him in death, are his parents, Miguel and Micaela; his son: Jorge Luis; his brothers, Alfonso and Jorge; his sisters, Matilde, Georgina, and Isabel. He is survived by his wife, Amparo; his children, Lourdes (Kelleher), her husband Thomas (Kelleher), Rene (Romero) and Ileana (Barceló); his grandchildren, Adrian (Hunnicutt), Lauren (Kelleher), Audrey (Kelleher), Alejandro (Romero), and his wife Blair (Welch), Veronica (Romero), Aliana (Romero); and his great-grandson Luca (Romero). Also surviving are numerous nephews and nieces whose lives he touched and influenced in many ways.

In lieu of flowers, please give donations to his favorite charity, Metropolitan Ministries of Tampa. Special thanks to the staff of Aston Garden, especially to everyone who loved and cared for him in Memory Care. We appreciate greatly the care provided by the Garnett team of LifePath Hospice.