Rafael Ricardo Menendez

Architect Rafael Menendez, 76, passed away on January 16, 2024. Born in Havana, Cuba, he emigrated to New York with his parents and sister Elaine as a child. The family spent some time in Miami before moving to the Los Angeles area. As a young boy, he loved to draw and build forts out of modeling clay so it’s no surprise he gravitated toward architecture after college at Cal Poly Pomona and a three year stint in Vietnam. He got his architecture degree at the innovative SCI-Arc, then in Santa Monica, California. He later got a contractor’s license to better serve his architectural projects. Rafael loved the beach life in Santa Monica and Venice and lived most of his life in the area. He ran the LA Marathon and rode his bike all over the beach cities. He was also an intrepid traveler, especially to South America. Fun-loving, creative, he was young at heart to the very end and will be deeply missed by his children, Gabriel and Madalena, their mother Kay, his grandson Brock, sister Elaine, niece and nephew, Carrie and Aaron, cousin Al and his wife Penny, and other dear family and friends.

A short service will be held on Thursday, February 8th at 11:15am at Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Blvd, Riverside, CA 92518. The information booth at the cemetery will provide service location details upon arrival.