Rafael Augusto Rivera, M.D.

Rafael Augusto Rivera MD, 87, of Plantation, FL passed away April 4, 2022. He was born on January 12, 1935 in Santurce, Puerto Rico to Luis Rivera Carbonell and Juanita Betancourt Rivera. Rafael attended the University of Puerto Rico for undergraduate studies and medical school where he met fellow student, Myrna M Rodriguez. Upon their graduation from medical school, they married and started their family. He joined the US Army Medical Corps and trained in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington DC. He also successfully completed Army Ranger training, Airborne school, Air Assault school and Flight Surgeon training. Foreign tours included general medical work in Pusan, Korea and as Command Surgeon at the Southern Command Headquarters in Panama. He also practiced privately in Washington, DC for many years. After his retirement from medical practice, he and Myrna moved to Jacksonville, Florida where he worked as a medical director in the health insurance industry and finally, to south Florida upon full retirement. An eternal student, he continued his love of learning, discovering a new thing called the internet. He entered the world of desktop publishing and then joined the American Translators Association (ATA) where he helped to create and lead a new section for medical translation. He worked for years translating medical literature between English and Spanish and communicated with other translators around the world. He wrote for and edited a newsletter for the medical section called Caduceus. All this learning required lots of books, so the new Amazon online bookstore made him very happy. Making memories with family was paramount. He looked forward to his many visits with his grandchildren whether it meant travelling to Texas, Germany, Georgia, and Rhode Island or coming to visit him in Florida - they brought joy to his life. Nothing made him happier than to share a delicious meal with family and friends ending with a too sweet cafecito. Most important was the talking, laughing and storytelling around the table afterwards, la sobremesa. He loved to play tennis, host a pig roast, celebrate New Year’s with a big party, dress stylishly, and give hugs and kisses. His incredible love of music animated him right up until the end of his life. He will always be remembered for being a family man and his love was felt by each and every one who had the pleasure of knowing him. He is survived by his beloved wife of 62 years, Myrna, his children, David Rivera (Eileen), and Vivian Lopez (Alfredo), his grandchildren, Daniel Rivera (Lauren), Jacqueline Kaschel (Shane) and Thomas Rivera (Janine) and great grandchildren Tyler, Avery and Emma Kaschel and Theodore Rivera. He was predeceased by his brother Luis H Rivera and sister Maria “Lolita” Bradham. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Saturday, April 30th at 11:00 AM at All Saints Catholic Church (10900 W. Oakland Park Blvd. Sunrise, FL 33351) In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Rafael A Rivera may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or to the CLOF BENEVOLENT FUND at Covenant Living of Florida (see links and mailing addresses below) Alzheimers Association Link: Click here to donate to Alzheimers Association in his memory. Alzheimer's Association PO Box number 96011 Washington DC 20090 Please include In Memory of Rafael Augusto Rivera,M.D. Covenant Living of Florida Link: Click here to donate to Covenant Living of Florida in his memory. Attn: Cheryl Lawko, Director of Philanthropy 9215 West Broward Boulevard, Suite 100 Plantation, FL 33324 Cremation Arrangements by T.M. Ralph Plantation Funeral Home