Enrique "Ricky" Cruz

Enrique "Ricky" CRUZ, age 84, of Boca Raton, Florida passed away on Tuesday, February 1, 2022. Ricky was born on February 11, 1937 in Puerto Rico, a son of the late Enrique and Carmen Cruz. His late sister Marlene was his beloved sibling from that union.

After immigrating from Puerto Rico with his family at the age of 17, Ricky lived in Brooklyn, New York and eventually moved to Ronkonkoma, Long Island where he resided for over 40 years. Although he gave 100% of himself in every role, he was at heart and foremost, a dedicated family man – father, husband, and grandfather. After nearly 40 years of marriage to his loving wife, Nilsa, he became a widower in 2001. With Nilsa he had two beloved children, Melissa, who passed away in 2011, and Anthony.

Ricky earned a Bachelor degree from Pace University in accounting. However, the bulk of his professional life was focused in the field of social services, as a foster care case worker and a teacher of English to newly arrived immigrants. He derived great joy from serving and providing resources to those in need.

Ricky was a lifelong learner and lover of knowledge. As a result, he owned many books and purchased the local newspaper on a daily basis for both the news and the crossword puzzle.

An extremely kind and optimistic man, Ricky spread love without conditions or expectations of reciprocity. He was a well-loved figure to anyone who was blessed to know him, in part because of his sincere and deep generosity towards others. Sometimes this extended to complete strangers.

Surviving Ricky are his loving wife Nelly with whom he shared life for the past 20 years; his son Anthony; his bonus children: Gina, Anna Marie, and Donald; and his grandchildren whom he spoiled incessantly: Khalil, Gabriel, Joey, and Mia. He is also survived by his brother George, sister Milagros, and brother Harry, as well as, nieces, nephews, family members, friends, and loved ones.

A visitation for Ricky will be held Sunday, February 6, 2022 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Babione-Kraeer Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 1100 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton, FL 33432. A prayer service will be held from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.babionesouthflorida.com for the CRUZ family.