Ramon “Ray” Guillermo “Guille” Anton, Jr of Coral Gables passed away on Sunday, July 9, 2023. He was 79. He was surrounded by the love of his grateful family and friends during his last days. Ramon was born in Havana, Cuba on December 26, 1943, the son of Ramon Guillermo Senior and Amalia (nee Cobo) Anton. Ray worked for Pan Am for more than 32 years where he started in Planning and completed his time there as the Director of Production Control by the time the airline closed its doors in 1991. He was also a property manager in Miami for more than 40 years.
As a child he traveled all over the world with his mother and father. Ray immigrated to the US in November, 1960 with his father with the thought that they would go back after Castro was gone. His mother stayed back to hold on to their property but was arrested and jailed for resisting the new political party. Amalia joined her husband and son in Miami six months later. Ramon always told the story about how they only had $2 when they came here.
Ray graduated from University of Miami with a Bachelor’s in Industrial Engineering in just 3 years and a Masters in Business Administration. Ray married Diane (nee Thackery-Wildenburg) on September 4, 1965. Ray and Diane went to Kingsport, Tennessee in a yellow GTO for a short time to work for Eastman Kodak but wanted to be near family after the birth of their son Raymond and moved back to Miami in 1968.
Ray loved being a father and grandpa and his one dream was for everyone to be in Miami near him. He ensured that his children, Raymond and Vanessa, were secure and lived the American dream. He took them on cruises, Disney, and overseas travel. Ray worked hard and inspired others in careers of aviation. He managed the Pan Am Airport hangar at MIA. Through the years Ray guided others to help reach their full potential.
He managed several properties with his son Raymond and when they would “do the rounds” they were known as the Ray & Ray Show. More than anything, he was proud of his granddaughter, Krystal who he called “Bippy”. He would give her rolls of quarters he collected from his units’ washing machines.
Ray played basketball and baseball in his younger days. Ray’s favorite sports teams were the Dolphins, the Heat, the Marlins and University of Miami Hurricanes. He played tennis and loved being a spectator at any game. He still got together with school mates from Maristas School in Cuba to have meals and play dominos. He was a regular at Versailles Bakery where he would talk about the world’s politics, business, and Cuba at the big table.
Ray was proud to see his daughter, Vanessa, perform improv comedy in San Diego. He was proud of his son, Raymond, for his guitar business and to see him and his wife, Maria, play music in the Miami area.
He will be forever missed by his partner Maria Lourdes "Luly" Gascue, the love of his life whom he met in August 2021. Along with her daughter, Maria Elena “Beby” and family they traveled to Spain, Virginia and other trips. He will be missed by Diane and their two children, Raymond (Maria, and son Elias) Anton of Miami Springs, FL and Vanessa (Eric) Anton of Denver, CO and his cherished grandchild, Krystal (Charles) Anton. He was preceded in death by his beloved parents.
A visitation for Ramon will be held Thursday, July 13, 2023, from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Caballero Rivero Little Havana, 3344 SW 8TH ST, MIAMI, FL 33135. A memorial service will occur Friday, July 14, 2023, at 12:00 PM at St Raymond of Peñafort Catholic Church, 3475 SW 17th Street, Miami, FL 33145.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.riverofuneralhomemiami.com for the Anton family.
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