Ricky Rivera

Ricky was born in New York City, NY on November 5th, 1989 to parents, Argentina Celeste Sanchez and Gilberto Rivera after they immigrated to the United States from the Dominican Republic. The Rivera family moved to South Florida in August of 2001 where he attended J.P. Taravella High School in Coral Springs, FL and graduated in 2007. He went on to be the first college graduate in his family when he attended Florida International University to study Health Service Administration and graduated in the Spring semester of 2012.

Ricky met his wife, Maria Cid, in 2008 through mutual friends in college. They were engaged 7 years later in November of 2015 and married on September 16, 2016. Ricky and Maria brought into the world a beautiful little girl, Valentina Soleil Rivera on December 7th, 2020.

In addition to being a dedicated and loving husband, brother, son, uncle, and father, Ricky also loved sneakers, listening to an array of musical styles, and enjoying a good meal. However, above all else, he absolutely prioritized his time and attention to each and everyone of his family members and friends. He had an unwavering way about him to always be attentive to each and everyone, always helping, always giving and always being so absolutely present to everyone in his life.

Ricky was a warrior who survived being diagnosed with Stage 4 melanoma in 2014, where his spirit only grew stronger. He never let cancer define him and continued to live his life to the fullest. Even when confined to a hospital bed for extended periods, he always had jokes to tell/play on others, tell stories, and continue to be an example of what true courage and faithfulness was in the midst of great adversity. His second chance at life led him to become closer to and develop a relationship with God. His love for the Lord was an important part of his life. He even became one of the "Goodfellas," which is the men's ministry at our church. He never wasted an opportunity to share and minister to those whom he loved, always speaking to their heart. He will be dearly missed by the Metro Life Church family, where he had the opportunity to grow his relationship with the Lord through relationship and fellowship with his brothers and sisters in Christ.

Ricky's memory will forever be cherished by his wife, Maria Cid Rivera, his baby daughter Valentina Soleil Rivera, parents, Argentina Celeste Sanchez and Gilberto Rivera, his brothers, Gilby Rivera and Leny Rivera, his maternal grandmother, Argentina "Tita" Sanchez, nephew Adrian Jordan "A.J." Rivera, as well as many cousins, aunts, uncles, and dearest friends.