Raymond "Chris" Rondon

Raymond “Chris” Rondon, age 71, passed away peacefully with his loved ones at his side on Saturday, January 18 th, 2020 at home in Plantation, Florida after a long battle with liver cancer. He was born on September 2nd , 1948 in Washington DC to P. Fernando “Freddy” Rondon and M. Elizabeth “Betty” Rondon. Along with his two younger brothers, Pedro and David Rondon, he grew up in Caracas, Venezuela and spent summers vacationing with his favorite “blue blood” relatives in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Isabel Teresa Rondon; his daughter, Elizabeth Rondon Dominguez and her husband Miguel of Madison, Wisconsin; his daughter, Ana Rondon Armstrong and her husband Timothy of Miami; his two grandsons, Miguel and Christopher Dominguez; his brother David Stratton Rondon of West Palm Beach; and many close family members and friends.   Chris received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell and went on to complete his postgraduate education at the Universidad Central de Venezuela in Caracas with a specialization in marketing and business. He began his career as a Product Manager, working at Carton de Venezuela in Caracas. As fate would have it, Chris went on to become an esteemed marketing manager at Richardson Vicks where his chivalry and thoughtfulness led him to his most cherished gift of all, his wife’s heart. After six months of dating, Chris and Isabel said “I do” and ultimately began their journey to the US, looking to grow and expand both their lives and the lives of their daughters. They settled in Weston, FL where Chris began his own business in 1990, transitioning to the sale of automotive parts. Eventually, Chris joined Rotary Lift and after 11 years of dedication and success he retired as the Regional Manager for Latin America. Given his commitment to hard work, he formed his own company, RCRC Inc. where he continued working within the industry.   Chris was a beloved father; he would do anything and everything for the happiness of his girls. When traveling for work, his family stayed on his mind. He always managed to bring back something special from the countries he visited to share his experiences. Chris’ devotion to his wife and daughters is rooted in his own upbringing. Freddy and Betty raised their three boys with strong values, emphasizing the importance of finding and pursuing their passion. Beyond being a loving father to Liz and Ana, he never stopped thinking about his loyal four-legged friends. Always a dog lover, he became especially fond of golden retrievers. His first golden was named Whisky and his most recent golden companion, Sunny, lived 16 years. As an avid family man, he consistently kept tabs on his daughters and grandsons and spent much of his time traveling between Madison, Wisconsin and Tuscaloosa, Alabama.   Chris was most famous for his sense of humor. People who knew him will remember how much he enjoyed using “Fufurulo”, a favorite nonsense word created with a good friend, to describe and label practically anything. With a radiant personality, he could get along with anyone. To a special group, he was a best friend, a “Pana.” The fellow “Panitas” (Frank Amador, Daniel Bauer, Steve Gyroy, Ralph Goldstein, and Chris) had a one-of-a-kind bond that began in grade school and was filled with fun memories from risky mountain motorbiking to annual reunions; their friendship aged like fine wine.   Chris was very well traveled and enjoyed conversing with people from different backgrounds and cultures. He was especially fond of political discussions surrounding Central and South American countries. Even after living in Florida for thirty years, his homeland stayed close to his heart. When he wasn’t watching Gun Smoke you could be sure to find him glued to Jaime Baily, staying informed with the news in Venezuela. To Chris, religion was a pillar instilling hope and strength. Chris and Isabel honored God in their marriage; attending mass every Sunday and supporting one another through the good and bad times, relying on their faith.   Visitation with the family will be held at T.M. Ralph Funeral Home (7001 NW 4th St, Plantation, FL 33317) on Monday, January 20th, 2020 from 6-8pm. A funeral mass will be held at St. Bonaventure Church (1301 SW 136 th Avenue, Davie, FL 33325) on January 21st , 2020 at 9:30am followed by a burial service at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Cemetery (1500 South State Rd 7, North Lauderdale, FL 33068). The family expresses deep gratitude to Dr. Lynn Feun and the staff at Sylvester Cancer Center for their compassionate care. Memorial donations may be made in his name to the American Liver Foundation or St. Bonaventure Catholic Church  Funeral arrangements by T. M. Ralph Plantation Funeral Home 7001 Northwest 4 Street Plantation, Florida 33317 954-587-6888 www.tmralph.com    <iframe id="tukios_player_512x330" allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameborder="0" height="330" scrolling="no" src="https://www.tributeslides.com/videos/embedded_video/5F9RZ8MK837HZ4D2" width="512"></iframe>https://www.tributeslides.com/tributes/show/5F9RZ8MK837HZ4D2