Ruben E Socarras Sr. Obituary
On Saturday, February 18, 2023, Ruben Eugenio Socarras, Sr. passed away in Boca Raton, Florida, after several years of failing health, including cancer. Ruben was born on November 15, 1941, in Cardenas, Province of Matanzas, Cuba, the youngest son of Jose Ventura Socarras and Eloina Abrahantes.
Ruben Sr. is survived by his five sisters, Gisela, Lila, Elsa, Miriam, and Dalia; four children, Jorge, Beatriz, Elizabeth, and Ruben Jr.; nine grandchildren, Jessica, Alex, Jennifer, Ian, Nicole, Brandon, Justin, Connor, and Luke; seven great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Jose (“Pepe”) and Eloina, his two brothers, Antonio (“Pepito”) and Gilberto, and his son, Ruben de Jesus.
Ruben Sr. was a dedicated and devoted son, brother, husband, father, uncle, and grandfather. A true example of the American dream, in 1970, at the age of 28, he left Cuba with this wife, Aleida, and two children, Jorge and Beatriz, to flee Communism to provide a better future for his family.
Despite being disabled since his teenage years, Ruben Sr. was the definition of a courageous and tenacious man that never chose to give up or take “no” for an answer. With nothing but his personal things and hardly able to speak English, Ruben Sr. and his young family moved to the United States, where he first joined his brother’s photography business in Falls Church, VA. Over time, Ruben Sr. and his brothers were able to free their other family members from Cuba who joined them in the United States. Later, he was able to open his own business, Diamond Photo Services, in Hialeah, FL, and worked in the photography industry until his retirement. Subsequent to arriving from Cuba, he would have three more children, Elizabeth, Ruben de Jesus, and then, Ruben Jr., who was born after the loss of Ruben de Jesus at the age of 11 months.
Although he faced some of life’s greatest challenges and made significant sacrifices, he was able to overcome those by being a firm believer in hard work and determination, something his family will remember forever. Ruben Sr. was kind, charismatic, and adventurous. He cherished spending time with his family and loved nature, animals, the ocean, sports, and gameshows. He enjoyed caring for his pets, along with boating, fishing, and camping. His favorite sports were football and baseball. He will be dearly missed by his siblings, children, grandchildren, and his entire extended family.
Memorial Service and Reception: Thursday, February 23, 2023, from 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. at Horizon Funeral & Cremation Services, 4650 N. Federal Hwy, Lighthouse Point, FL 33064, followed by a private family gathering.
