Héctor Cruz-López a.k.a. Ché López, passed away on Friday, August 9, 2019 at age 63 from cancer. He was the loving husband of Noel A. Cruz, father of Diego Sebastian and Ricardo Cristobal, and grandfather of Noah, Helene, Gabriella, and Amelia. Héctor was proudly born in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico to his father Héctor José Cruz-Rivera of Carolina, P.R. and Josefina López Guzmán (now Josefina Silveira) of Caguas, P.R. He had one brother, Jaime. After graduating from high-school from Colegio Bautista de Carolina in P.R., studied Opera and Music Composition at the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico; he earned a B.S. in Biology at the University of Puerto Rico, M.S. in Biochemistry at the University of the State of New York and a PhD in Oceanography at the University of South Florida.
For most of his professional career 33 years he worked for state law enforcement as a marine and forensic biologist in the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
His passion for ecology in recent years has been eclipsed by love for the sea itself. He was called "The Most Interesting Man in the World" for his diverse hemispheres of poetry, music, high-speed racing and sword-dueling, among dozens of other interests and skills.
He reached Olympic-tier status in fencing, but after an injury turned his talents to coaching, founding the Boca Blades and Trident-Armes fencing clubs in Boca Raton, Florida, continuing to attend tournaments nationally as a referee and armourer.
Following the discovery of his illness, he published ten poetry and short story collections in the time between diagnosis and death.
He loved the absurd and the romantic alike, but above all, God and country (Puerto Rico, just to be clear) and his family and friends, and he will be greatly missed.
Hector Cruz-Lopez
Che Lopez
Passed away 8/9/19.
We will be having a
“Celebration of Life”
Thursday 8/22/19
7:00pm to 8:00pm
afterwards light refreshments
and time to be together
in the Family Life Center
Boca Glades Baptist Church
10101 Judge Winikoff Rd,
Boca Raton, Fl 33496
We would appreciate you
sharing a story about Hector.
Please write it on a paper/card
and bring to place in a basket at the church.
We will read and cherish them.
If you cannot come that is okay.
Hector and our family love
you and appreciate your
sharing in our lives.
Thank you!
Noel, Diego, Helene 5 yrs; Ricardo & Heather, Noah 5 yrs.
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