Visiting Hours
Memorial Service
Obituary of Rene Raul Trespalacios
Rene Raul Trespalacios, 82, of Morristown, passed away, peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family, on Tuesday April 16th, 2024.
He was born on June 4th, 1941, in Havana, Cuba to Rene Trespalacios and Flora Varela. He graduated from Jose Miguel Gomez in 1958 and received a BA from the Professional School of Commerce.
Rene fled Cuba for Spain in 1961 with only a suitcase, leaving many family members behind to endure Fidel Castro’s brutal regime. He exiled in Spain for several months with close friends from Cuba, with little money, but much determination to make a better life for himself.
Unsatisfied again with the political climate, now under Franco’s dictatorship, he immigrated to the US. In 1962, (The Golden Exile 1959 -1962 period), he arrived in the United States, after obtaining a visa from the U.S. Embassy and pledging to become a US Citizen.
He lived in New York City until being drafted into the U.S. Army in 1967, during the Vietnam War. For several years, he served as a corporal in the accounting department at Fort Lewis, Washington.
Following his military service, he returned to Union City, New Jersey with his first wife, Amor de Maria Vicioso and son, Eugene.He worked multiple jobs to support his growing family, during weekdays, as a production assistant at American Heritage Co.,and nights as a maître’d at The River Club.
Rene continued working in the advertising production field for many years, holding prominent positions at Random House and The Dreyfus Corporation, from which he retired in February 2009.
Rene was passionate about sports, blackjack, traveling, cooking, music, dancing, word games and puzzles, as well as his extensive stamp and coin collections. He also loved collecting magnets from every city he visited during his travels. Most of all, he adored his family and pets, especially his cat, Jake.
Beloved husband of Susan Gardiner. Brother to the late Elisa Nadia T. Cartaya of Miami, Fl. Loving father of the late Eugene A. Mossop of Miami, Fl.; Veronica A. Trespalacios of Berlin, Germany and Vanessa N. Trespalacios of Morristown, NJ. Adored Abuelito/Papi of Ashley E. Trespalacios, Sebastian E. Canosa, Durant O. Canosa, and Sloane D. Trespalacios, all of Morristown, NJ. Cherished father-in-law of Linda A. Mossop. Treasured brother-in-law to Margaret M. Gardiner of Cornville, AZ; Lisa D. Gardiner of Chestnut Hill, MA; Thomas B. Gardiner and his wife Donna of Long Valley, NJ; Uncle to Jose R. Cartaya of Miami, Fl.; Alexandra E. Gardiner of Vermont and Robert M. Gardiner II of Brooklyn, NY, as well as a multitude of cousins, extended family and friends.
The viewing will take place on Thursday April 25th from 4:00 to 8:00 pm at the Dangler Funeral Home, 600 Speedwell Avenue, Morris Plains, NJ 07950.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday April 27th at 2:00 pm at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Morristown, NJ 07960. For those who cannot attend the Service in-person, you may watch it via the Church's livestream: https://www.stpetersmorristown.org/. A reception will follow the service at The Westin Governor Morris Hotel in Morristown.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to The Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org). This was a cause dear to him as a result of his years in service and as a proud war veteran.