Mario Luis Echemendia Jr.

Mario Echemendia, of Gold Canyon, Arizona, passed away on Monday, July 27, 2026, just one day after celebrating his 70th birthday. He was surrounded by the love of his family, who held him close as he left this world.

Mario was born in Havana, Cuba, and at the age of three came to the United States with his parents, Mario and Aida Echemendia Sr., and his sister, Aida. They travelled to the country in search of a place to build a new life rooted in the freedom they were determined to preserve. Much of Mario’s childhood and young adulthood was spent in Levittown, New York, where he grew into the thoughtful, determined, and generous man so many would come to love.

After a brief time at Johns Hopkins Medical School, Mario realized that path wasn’t his calling. He went on to graduate from Hofstra University and began his career with Monsanto Company in St. Louis, Missouri, a role that allowed him to travel the world. During that chapter of his life, Mario met Kathy, the woman who would walk beside him for 45 years, sharing a life filled with devotion, laughter, and countless journeys together. Mario later continued his education and earned his MBA as well as his certification as a Certified Public Accountant, building a career marked by dedication, intelligence, and integrity.

Mario spent most of his adult life in Arizona, a place whose scenery he cherished deeply. He had a short period living in Florida and always felt a pull to return. He loved nature and found beauty everywhere he looked, especially on the road trips he took with Kathy, where they shared some of their happiest moments.

Mario was a hard worker but there was nothing he cherished more than time with family and friends. He loved traveling, visiting the casino, and going to the dog park with his beloved grand-dog, Dakota. He had a lifelong love of superheroes and never missed an issue of People magazine. Mario could name nearly any actor he saw on screen, and often their spouses too, a talent that often surprised his own spouse.

In recent years, Mario embraced new adventures with the same enthusiasm he carried throughout his life. He traveled to India, where his colleagues welcomed him with such affection that he was treated, and even dressed, like a king. He visited family in Miami, rekindling connections that meant a great deal to him. He also embarked on a Caribbean cruise out of Ft. Lauderdale in January, traveling along the western coastline of Cuba, the closest he had been to his birthplace since leaving as a child.

He is survived by his wife, Kathy, and their children: Alina, Kristina and her husband Aaron, Mario III and his fiancée Brandi, and Marisa. He is also survived by his sister Aida Echemendia, and by his five grandchildren — Em, Aria, Kander, Atlas, and Klay — each of whom he adored with endless love. Mario’s grandchildren knew the constant reassurance of his words, “Your Abuelito loves you.” Some of his happiest moments were holding each grandchild when they were born. Mario leaves behind his immediate family, cousins and extended family members, dear friends, former colleagues, and even his children’s friends, many of whom affectionately referred to him as their “second dad.” All who knew him would raise their glass to the impact he made on their lives. “Salud, dinero, y amor; y tiempo para gustarlo.”

Interment will take place at Green Acres Cemetery in Scottsdale, Arizona, where Mario will be reunited with his mother and father. A celebration of Mario’s wonderful life will be held in October, where loved ones will gather to honor the legacy of a man who gave so much of himself to others.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to Mayo Clinic Hospital (Phoenix), American Diabetes Association, or Pancreatic Cancer Action Network causes meaningful to Mario and his family.