Cecil Rhea Warren

1932 - 2018

C. Rhea Warren was born in Coral Gables, Florida on September 28, 1932, and passed away at Epworth Village, in Hialeah, on October 16, 2018, at the age of 86, after a long struggle with Parkinson's Disease. He was predeceased by his parents, Cecil R. Warren, Sr., who was a reporter for the Miami Daily News, and Elizabeth Baxter Warren; his brothers Robert Bruce Warren and John W. Warren; and his grandson, Brandon Dakota Kandik. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Jane Coleman Warren; daughters Kathryn Rhea Carlsson (Bjorn) of Palm City, FL, and Kimberly Carter Barron McAden (Mike) of San Diego, CA; sisters Beverly Kane, Carol Dubberly and Virginia Axtel; grandchildren Skye Carlsson, Liam Carlsson, Haakan Carlsson, Gilbert Barron and Nicholas Barron; sister-in-law Nancy Bauer. Rhea was a graduate of Miami Senior High and was called to serve in the US Army for two years. Much of his service was in Berlin, Germany. He later attended the University of Miami where he was a member of the Biology Honor Society and served a term as President; Omicron Delta Kappa, National Leadership Honorary; and Iron Arrow Honor Society, the Highest Honor Attained at the University of Miami, where he served eight terms as Chief (President) of the organization. As a result of Rhea's efforts as a field herpetologist four animals new to science were discovered by him. From Long Island, at Gray's Settlement, in the Bahamas he found a gecko new to science which was named Tarentola Americana warreni Schwartz, 1968. From Palmiste on the Ile de la Tortue, Haiti he discovered a lizard Diploglossus warreni Schwartz 1970 which was later renamed Celestus warren Powell, et al 1996; a snake Epicrates striatus warren Shepian and Schwartz 1974; and a frog Eleutherodactulus warren Schwartz 1976. As a result of these findings and other scientific expeditions, such as his two trips to Komodo in Indonesia, Rhea was elected to membership as a Fellow National Member of the Explorers Club. Rhea, and his wife Jane, became certified Track and Field Officials eventually attaining the Master level. Rhea served as Officials' Chair for the Florida Association of USA Track and Field for ten years. He was elected to serve as Secretary of the National Track and Field Committee. In 1996 he was awarded The Andy Bakjian Officials Outstanding Service Award which is the highest award presented by the National Track and Field Officials Committee. In 1997 he was inducted into the Florida Track and Field Hall of Fame. The family would like to thank the nursing staff in Building 5 at Epworth Village for their kind care of Rhea over the past eight years and the staff of Vitas Hospice Care for their compassionate care during this difficult time. There will be no services. In lieu of flowers or cards the family suggests that donations be made to the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine for Parkinson's Disease research in Memory of C. Rhea Warren.