3
trees
planted in memory of Ruben Alberto Salis, Sr.
Obituary for Ruben Alberto Salis, Sr.
Ruben Salis, 99, passed away peacefully in his home in Casselberry on January 10, 2022, surrounded by family and friends. He is survived by his three children Miriam Savard, Lissette Villanueva, and Ruben Salis, his 6 grandchildren Michael Savard, David Villanueva, Cristina Villanueva Martin, Sean Salis, Alan Canamar, Gianna Canamar, and his three great grandchildren Sophia Savard, Gabriella Savard, and Michael Martin. He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 59 years, Maria Caridad, and his 8 siblings.
Ruben was born on August 16, 1922 in La Habana, Cuba. In youth, he took up the cloth with Los Hermanos de la Salle. He left six years later with the support of seminary leadership to pursue a family, assured and committed to walk with God in the journey ahead.
He took up work in telecommunications in Guantanamo, where he would meet his life-long wife and partner, Maria Caridad. She was conducting a literacy survey for the census bureau, and chanced upon Ruben on his break. He was, as she put it, charmingly reserved, with captivating, steely blue eyes. She would continue to “conduct further surveys” around and on his breaks until a romance ensued. They married on December 12, 1952, and quickly had their first and second daughters, Miriam and Lissette. Seeking greater prospects for his family, Ruben moved his wife and daughters to Chicago in the mid-50’s, where they would complete their family with the birth of Ruben Jr. (lovingly monikered “Rubencito”). In the coming decades he would go on to dutifully provide refuge for family, friends, and strangers alike fleeing the sweeping communist regime in Cuba. In 1968, Ruben would settle his family in Casselberry to send his children to the University of Central Florida.
Ever involved with his community, Ruben was also a member of the Lions Club and the Masons in both Cuba and the United States for most of his life. He worked as a communications technician and was a self-taught engineer. His most notable inventions were telephone hook switch, an automated distilled water battery filler, and, in the interest of bringing Cuban life to the states, a plantain chip plant.
His generations would go on to start their own lives in all corners of the country, but his home always served as an ark for the Salis family for the holidays, major life events, or just any given Sunday. A perfect reflection of the life well lived, one would be greeted with a child on the piano, the laughter induced by a joke well-told, warm smiles and hot food, with Ruben, anchoring it all, sitting in his easy chair donned in his trademark loafers and tweed drivers cap.
Ruben Salis was a man of God, family, the arts and the sciences. His was a spirit of devotion, humor, love, and style. With joy and peace, he joined his beloved in spirit, and later to be joined in body when he is laid to rest beside her.
On Thursday, January 13, 2022, there will be a public viewing at Banfield Funeral Home & Crematory in Winter Springs. On Friday, January 14, 2022, there will be a private service at St. Augustine Catholic church, followed by a private burial at All Faiths Memorial Park in Casselberry.
In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made in memory of Ruben Salis to Vitas Community Connection, 2201 Lucien Way, #100, Maitland FL, 32751.
”See ya later, alligator.”
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Ruben was born on August 16, 1922 in La Habana, Cuba. In youth, he took up the cloth with Los Hermanos de la Salle. He left six years later with the support of seminary leadership to pursue a family, assured and committed to walk with God in the journey ahead.
He took up work in telecommunications in Guantanamo, where he would meet his life-long wife and partner, Maria Caridad. She was conducting a literacy survey for the census bureau, and chanced upon Ruben on his break. He was, as she put it, charmingly reserved, with captivating, steely blue eyes. She would continue to “conduct further surveys” around and on his breaks until a romance ensued. They married on December 12, 1952, and quickly had their first and second daughters, Miriam and Lissette. Seeking greater prospects for his family, Ruben moved his wife and daughters to Chicago in the mid-50’s, where they would complete their family with the birth of Ruben Jr. (lovingly monikered “Rubencito”). In the coming decades he would go on to dutifully provide refuge for family, friends, and strangers alike fleeing the sweeping communist regime in Cuba. In 1968, Ruben would settle his family in Casselberry to send his children to the University of Central Florida.
Ever involved with his community, Ruben was also a member of the Lions Club and the Masons in both Cuba and the United States for most of his life. He worked as a communications technician and was a self-taught engineer. His most notable inventions were telephone hook switch, an automated distilled water battery filler, and, in the interest of bringing Cuban life to the states, a plantain chip plant.
His generations would go on to start their own lives in all corners of the country, but his home always served as an ark for the Salis family for the holidays, major life events, or just any given Sunday. A perfect reflection of the life well lived, one would be greeted with a child on the piano, the laughter induced by a joke well-told, warm smiles and hot food, with Ruben, anchoring it all, sitting in his easy chair donned in his trademark loafers and tweed drivers cap.
Ruben Salis was a man of God, family, the arts and the sciences. His was a spirit of devotion, humor, love, and style. With joy and peace, he joined his beloved in spirit, and later to be joined in body when he is laid to rest beside her.
On Thursday, January 13, 2022, there will be a public viewing at Banfield Funeral Home & Crematory in Winter Springs. On Friday, January 14, 2022, there will be a private service at St. Augustine Catholic church, followed by a private burial at All Faiths Memorial Park in Casselberry.
In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made in memory of Ruben Salis to Vitas Community Connection, 2201 Lucien Way, #100, Maitland FL, 32751.
”See ya later, alligator.”
To plant a tree in memory of Ruben Alberto Salis, Sr., visit the Tribute Store.
Previous Events
Visitation
Thursday
13
Jan
6:00 PM
- 8:00 PM
Banfield Funeral Home & Crematory
420 W. State Road 434
Winter Springs, FL 32708
Funeral Mass
Friday
14
Jan
11:00 AM
St. Augustine Catholic Church
375 Sunset Drive
Casselberry, FL 32707
Cemetery Details
Location
All Faiths Memorial Park
1390 Park Drive
Casselberry, FL 32707
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