Sergio ROY

ROY, Sergio 86, of Tampa, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2013, at his beloved home in Ybor City. A native of Ybor City, he was born on Oct. 18, 1927, to Jose and Rosario Roy. At the age of 18 he enlisted in the United States Navy and proudly served from 1945 to 1954. He was honorably discharged and later became a merchant marine, crewing vessels off and on until the early 1980's. In his career at sea he had adventures, such as a collision in rough seas with another vessel off Nova Scotia and coming under the fire of rockets in Vietnam. He saw the world, but always returned to his beloved West Tampa where he was known in every corner market, coffee shop, store, garage, jewelry store and neighborhood simply as "Roy." Throughout his life when he was not at sea he was a business man, owning at various times bars, a grocery store, rental property, and a beauty salon. He sold jewelry and bought and sold cars for many years. He was, at times, both a pauper and a king, but he always had the respect and love of everyone who knew him and he treated everyone the same way, whether you were a humble immigrant, an inner city kid, or a downtown lawyer or politician. He always dressed "sharp" and was active in local politics over the years. He knew how to have fun, knew how to dance, tried to sing, and had a laugh no one could forget. He would give you his last penny if you needed it, and sometimes would give it to you even if you didn't saying, "You better take it while I got it." He was the Uncle you would go to when you couldn't tell your parents and he took enormous pride in the accomplishments of those around him. He loved his big Cadillacs, which he drove slow and his big cigars, and loved being on the street in West Tampa, talking to people, making deals, and eating well. He represented a part of Tampa history and will be missed by many. Sergio was preceded in death by his father, Jose; his mother, Rosario; sister, Hilda (husband Oscar Llanes), sister, Violet (husband Manuel Fernandez); brother-in-law, Euell Crocker; niece, Marcie Inman; and his ex-wife, Emily Roy. He is survived by his children, Joseph "Donny" Roy, Sheila Stone and son-in-law, Gary, Kenny Roy and daughter-in-law, Nancy, and Rob Roy; sister, Norma Crocker, and daughter-in-law, Peggy Roy; and his beloved grandchildren, Kenny Roy, Kelley and (husband, Dr. Jeff Bourguignon), Chad, Jamie, and Kristen Stone; and his little ones, Madison and Riley Roy; as well as his beloved nephews and niece, Manuel, Danny, Bobby and Mikey Fernandez, Sandra Robinson, Joey and Scotty Crocker, Charlie Inman, and their spouses and children. Uncle Roy loved all his nieces and nephews, his cousins, his extended family and his numerous friends. A memorial service will be held on Friday, Oct. 11th, from 6-8 pm, with words of memory at 7:30 pm, at JGR Funeral Home on North Armenia Avenue, Tampa.