Ronaldo Tomas

I attended a funeral service for a dear friend Saturday, not something I would normally post on my blog. By the time the service was over, however, I had decided that this one was of interest to my readers.

My friend, Ronaldo Tomas, passed away a few days ago after long years of illnesses and physical ailments. He was just a few days past his 70th birthday when death came. In his last years, he had suffered from diabetes, undergone a kidney transplant, several toe amputations, and, finally, succumbed to cancer of the liver and pancreas.

My wife and I had visited him in the hospital just days before he passed. We were in Las Vegas when his wife called with the news.

I hadn't known a great deal about Ronaldo's life in the few short years I knew him. I knew that he had been born in Panama and immigrated to the US when he was young. I also knew he had served in the US Air Force and was teaching English as a Second Language to the immigrant community in Orange County. His mother-in-law, Argentina, was roommate to my mother in a local board and care until she (Argentina) passed away a couple of years ago. Ronaldo's wife and mother-in-law were from Argentina, and so it was natural that our families became friends since my own wife is from Mexico. Even after Argentina's passing, we kept in contact on a social basis. When my Mom had to go into a hospital or skilled nursing facility, Ronaldo and Maria would make it a point to visit her as well as at the board and care.

Unfortunately, many of our visits with Ronaldo occurred at hospitals and skilled nursing facilities as he continued to have one medical problem after another. Yet, he seemed to keep his good cheer. It was also obvious that Ronaldo was a person who loved people. Between him and I, our communication switched back and forced between English and Spanish (he spoke both perfectly). When greeting and saying good-bye, the abrazo and kiss on the cheek was obligatory. He usually called me hermano.

The last time my wife and I visited him, we knew the end was near. He was greatly emaciated and had just learned of the cancer. When we entered his room, he had just been served dinner and was saying a silent grace. As we chatted, my wife spoon-fed him.

At his service, most of the time was spent listening to his family, friends and associates telling stories about their experiences with Ronaldo. As I said above, there was a lot I didn't know about his early life.

After his military service, Ronaldo joined his family in South Central Los Angeles, where he became active in the Catholic Church. During that time, he engaged in much community work and became closely associated with Father John Coffield, who was a major civil rights leader in Los Angeles and, in turn, a colleague of Cesar Chavez. Coffield also marched in Selma with Martin Luther King. When Coffield died, Ronaldo was a spokesman quoted by some of the local papers.

A few months ago, while I was visiting him in the hospital, the topic of race came up somehow (I don't remember how). Ronaldo, who was of African descent, told me that while growing up in Panama, he had never known about prejudice and discrimination. At his service, one of his close friends from those early LA days described how racial attitudes were found even within the Church, something Ronaldo had to contend with. In those years, the LA Archdiocese was under Cardinal James Francis McIntyre, who did not enjoy a good relationship with his Latino and black parishioners. In
1962, Ronaldo entered the seminary to study for the priesthood. He eventually left the seminary and pursued a career in community work, business, education and counseling, earning his PHD in the 1970s. Ronaldo spent his life helping other people as his career and his life spanned three countries, Panama, Argentina and the US.

Aside from being just a time for mourning Ronaldo's loss, Saturday's service was more a celebration of his life. Though his family shed tears, it had to be acknowledged that Ronaldo's suffering was at an end and that he was in a better place with his Lord.

Rest in peace, Hermano.