Mr. Rafael Condis

Rafael was raised with humble beginnings in Manzanillo, Cuba. While studying business and sales at the local trade school, he began his life long love of entrepreneurship. In his mid-twenties he moved to Havana, Cuba where he met his wife, Dalia Condis (née Pujol). They married in 1953 and began a seventy-year journey as husband and wife.

In November 1967, they fled the Castro regime to make their future in our beloved United States. He often said the United States was the best country in the world and lived each day in gratitude for his family’s freedom. Here in the US, their love of free enterprise lead them to establishing a number of businesses together in New Jersey. In 1968, while living in Union City, NJ, they established Dalia Condis Fine Arts School, as well as Rafdaly Fine Arts. Together they opened an art school and art gallery, multiple retail gift shops, a wholesale gift enterprise, a ceramic manufacturing business and invested in multiple real estate properties.

It was always a lifelong wish of Rafael's to move to Florida, mainly due to the year-round warm weather reminiscent of Cuba. In 2008, he and Dalia moved to Tampa, Florida, where he spent the remainder of his life and worked on creating artwork of his own. Rafael was a lifelong champion of the arts and served as his wife’s greatest critic and deepest inspiration. He often wrote poetry and enjoyed deep conversations about almost anything. He believed in a free Cuba, and had always dreamed of returning one day. He carried that desire until his final days. On December 30th, 2023, Rafael lost his long battle with Alzheimer’s surrounded by loved ones in his Tampa home.

Rafael is survived by his wife Dalia, his daughters, Dalia and Gisela, and his son, Ralph. He was a proud grandfather to Michael, Jennifer, Venessa, Yvette, Cassandra, Adrian and Tristan, as well as a great grandfather to Jacob, Sofia, Rosalina and Noah. He will be deeply missed and eternally loved.