Ambar Zenith Maria Rosato-Kripotos

A friend and inspiration to all who knew her, Ambar Rosato-Kripotos was the oldest of four children, born October 10, 1951, in Venezuela, S.A. to Corazon Madrazo de Castro and Henry Castro. The family came to the United States in 1964 with their mother when their parents separated, and the children -- Ambar 12, Henry 10, Edgar 8, and Dafne 6 -- grew up in the Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

Ambar was a dutiful big sister, helping to care for her siblings while her mother worked full-time at the Organization of American States in D.C. to support the family.

After finishing college, Ambar held several jobs before getting hired at the Inter-American Development Bank. She was a recruiter in the Human Resources department, a job well-suited for her because she loved people and inspired trust in others. She was beautiful and sweet and beloved by her workmates who fittingly called her “Bambi.’’ She worked at the bank for several years on and off.

Ambar later married businessman John Rosato and had two sons, Jason in 1983 and Jonas in 1985. After her marriage broke up some years later, Ambar married Spero Kripotos in 1995, the love of her life. Ambar was able to quit working and took up painting, gardening, and volunteer work where needed. She became an extremely talented artist over the years, producing beautiful paintings, and devotedly took care of her mother until she died in 2025. She did so selflessly, even while she was fighting for her own life.

The Bible says in Genesis 3:19 that ‘‘In the sweat of your face you will eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For dust you are and to dust you will return.” My sister Ambar must have been formed from heavenly ‘’fairy” dust because everyone she came in contact with loved and admired her. Like a “Fairy Godmother” she was admired by extended family members on both the Castro and Madrazo sides on three continents for the unconditional generosity, compassion, and kindness she bestowed to all over the years.

Ambar truly displayed all the attributes of the “Fruit of the Spirit” listed in Galatians 5:22-23 . . . love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. Each one of these qualities are to be aimed for and are indications of the Holy Spirit’s work within us.

In short, Ambar’s faith in the resurrected Jesus was her hope and strength. We loved her dearly and are heartbroken, and we will feel the emptiness she leaves behind. But we are ever so thankful to our Lord that she was a part of our lives on this earth and we will wait to see her again in eternity.

“We do not want you to be ignorant concerning those who are sleeping in death; that you may not sorrow just as the rest also do who have no hope.” -- 1 Thess. 4:13

Ambar is survived by her beloved husband, Spero, her sons Jason (Nikki), proud parents of Rosie and Simon, and Jonas (Casey), proud parents of Angelo, Cora, and Valentina; and her stepdaughter, Nicole (Harald), parents of Isabelle. She is also survived by her brother, Edgar (Ingri), and her sister, Dafne (Raymond), as well as all of her cherished nieces and nephews, whom she loved so much.

A Funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, 9200 Kentsdale Dr, Potomac, MD 20854, on May 27, 2026, at 11:00 am. A Committal Service will take follow at Parklawn Memorial Park, 12800 Veirs Mill Rd, Rockville, MD 20853,.  

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of choice.