Ricardo Rafael Rondinelli

Ricardo R. “Rick” Rondinelli, 93 years old and a resident of New Orleans, passed away on August 12, 2017 after a short illness. Rick was born on April 14, 1924 in San Juan, Puerto Rico to the late Cesar Rondinelli and Helen Weichel Rondinelli. Rick left Puerto Rico in 1942 with seven other men to become the first native Puerto Rican pilots in the Army Air Force in WWII. He served as a B-25 bomber pilot in the Pacific Theater, at one point ditching his plane due to severe weather from the remnants of a typhoon. He successfully put the plane down in 20 foot swells, saving his entire crew from injury and capture by the Japanese. After his discharge in 1946, Rick attended Stanford University on the G.I. bill, graduating with a degree in electrical engineering. He immediately went to work at Devilbiss Company as a salesman. During his lengthy career with Devilbiss, he lived in Atlanta, Ga., Toledo, Ohio, and Jackson, Tn, where he retired at the age of 72 as the Director of New Production. During his last years with the company, he travelled extensively to South America to open new markets.

Throughout his life Rick enjoyed two activities the most, playing golf and going to horse races, where he always placed the minimum bet but studied the racing form like he was betting everything. He spent many years as a volunteer working with the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), serving as president of the Georgia AAU. With the encouragement of his wife Marilyn, they travelled throughout Europe and the Middle East, and he became a dedicated member of the Congregationalist Church.

Rick was predeceased by his siblings David Rondinelli and Alice de Corral, his former wife Joan Oden, and his beloved wife of forty years, Marilyn Moore Rondinelli. Two of his children, his son David and infant daughter Catherine, also predeceased him. He is survived by his daughters Christine R. (Tina) Holland (Lance) and Teresa R. Ogden; his stepson Peter Eudy (Wendy); his granddaughters Jamie Ogden, Leslie Renee Toledo (Carlos), Heather Holland, and T. Elena Cambre (Drew); his step-grandsons Commander Peter Eudy, Jr., U.S.N. (Amelia) and Matthew Eudy (Amie); his step-great grandchildren Hunter, Vivian, Elliott, Pierce, and Keaghan Eudy; and his great granddaughters Lisette Toledo and Coraline Cambre, who were the light of his last years.

Rick’s daughters would like to thank the staff of Poydras Home, including his granddaughter Elena, for the care they provided to him. A celebration of his life will occur when racing season starts. Arrangements were entrusted to the NEPTUNE SOCIETY, 3801 Williams Blvd., Kenner, LA.