He left Bolivia at the age of 19 to attend Michigan State College of Agriculture and Applied Science (later to become Michigan State University). While at Michigan State, he played for the men’s soccer team and graduated with a degree in civil engineering. He also met and later married Helen Parsons and they had and raised six children together.
Following college, Ricardo went to work for the Michigan State Highway Department (later to become the Michigan Department of Transportation) and spent 40 years planning, constructing and maintaining the state’s highways. Ricardo’s contributions were recognized at retirement with the naming of a state highway rest stop after him.
Ricardo was in life a devout Catholic and was a member of the original finance and building committee for what became St. Colette Catholic Church in Livonia, Michigan. He served for many years as an usher and sang in the church choir.
Ricardo’s love for soccer did not end when he left college. He was a pioneer in the earliest years of girls’ team soccer in the state of Michigan and coached both area club and high school teams at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Livonia for many years.
Later in life, Ricardo married Elena Antelo, who preceded him in death. Ricardo was the oldest of seven siblings. His sister Elena Lazcano preceded him in death as well. Surviving Ricardo are his siblings Raul Galindo, Isabelle “Chavy” Cortes, Teresa “Tete” Mansour, Fernando Galindo, Mario (Joyce) Galindo; Ricardo’s first wife, Helen; children Ricardo (Anne Cloherty) Galindo, David (Joice Luman) Galindo, Jaime Galindo, John (Diane) Galindo, Cristina (Michael) Cabone, Cheryl (Jim Burda) Galindo; grandchildren, Ben (Annie Wesoloski) Godoshian, Malcolm Skye McKinnon, Ricardo (Shannon) Galindo, Stephen (Nikki Hood) Galindo, Alexis (Stephen Macris) Cabone, Kyle Galindo, Samantha (Paul) Roth, Noele Galindo, Jude Galindo, Matthew Krahe, Ethan Krahe, Ashley Krahe; great-grandchildren Taylor Mason, Declan Galindo, Miles Galindo; numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family.
A visitation for Ricardo will be held Friday, January 5, 2024 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Harry J. Will Funeral Homes, 37000 W. Six Mile Road, Livonia, Michigan 48152. A Rosary Service, led by the Knights of Columbus, will begin at 7:00 pm.
Ricardo's life will be celebrated with a Funeral Mass at 10:00 am at St. Colette Catholic Church, 17600 Newburgh Road, Livonia, Michigan 48152 on Saturday, January 6, 2024. Final Viewing will begin at the church at 9:30 am. A luncheon will follow the Mass and be held at the Italian American Banquet Center, 39200 Five Mile Road, Livonia, Michigan 48154.
Ricardo will be laid to rest in Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery, Southfield, Michigan.
Special thanks to the staff at Cedarbrook of Northville for the dedicated care and support they provided to Ricardo late in life.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Ricardo's memory may be made to the American Cancer Society or Food for the Poor.
