Hector Manuel Rivero

Hector Manuel Rivero ended his earthly journey on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012, at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, one day before his 79th birthday. Born in 1933 in Cascajal, Province of Santa Clara, Judicial District of Las Villas, Cuba, the son of Carlos Manuel y Hernandez, of Cascajal and Alejandrina Rivero y Rodriguez, of Cartagena, Province of Santa Clara, Cuba. He left Cuba at age five and attended military school in Tampa, Fla., and graduated from Edison High School in Miami. After obtaining a degree in mechanical engineering from LSU in 1958, he worked in New York and then for many years at Ormet Corp. in Burnside. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Helga Saalfeld Rivero, of Baton Rouge and formerly of Nordhausen, Germany; a step­son, Gerd Ludwig Saalfeld, his wife Brigitte and a step-grandchild, Marco Saalfeld, all who reside in Wolkramshausen, Germany. Hector was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Miriam Alejandrina Rivero Dehart. He is also survived by two beloved brothers, Charles Vladimir Rivero and Jorge Albert Rivero, both of Baton Rouge. A lifelong devotee of history and classical music, Hector enjoyed cruising, travel, dancing, baseball, LSU sports and attending Oktoberfests...from Munich to Robert's Cove! He was a pragmatic, analytical and extremely kind man whose world view was based on helping others and going the extra mile for anyone in need. His family would like to thank the staff of Our Lady of the Lake's Critical Care units and their Palliative Care team for the loving support extended during his brief illness. A memorial service will be held at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East, 11000 Florida Blvd., on Saturday, Jan. 21. Visitation and recollections of his life will be shared from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. with the memorial service being held from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.