Evelio Rodriguez Florido

FLORIDO, Evelio "Nene" R., 90, of Tampa passed away peacefully with his family by his side on November 26, 2018.


Born on August 5th, 1928 in Punta Alegre, Camaguey, Cuba, he came to the United States in 1963. After a brief cold winter stay in New York, he settled in sunny Hialeah, Florida. He was owner of La Campana Hardware Store in Hialeah for many years before retiring to the Tampa Bay area.


He and his beloved wife, Carmita, enjoyed traveling after retiring and visited many countries throughout the world; visiting favorites more than once. He enjoyed learning new trades throughout his life and was always current on world news. He also loved the outdoors and spent much of his retirement in Progresso, Mexico, where he enjoyed his home on the beach and fishing everyday in his boat.


He was a true gentleman, a loving, thoughtful and compassionate man; always putting others' needs before his own. His greatest passion was his family and his desire to help them. He was loved by many and will be missed very much by all who knew him. He will be forever in our hearts. He left behind his loving wife of over 30 years, Carmen Escobar, his beloved daughter, Carmen Davis, step-daughters, Yvette Escobar Payne (Kevin) and Teresita E. Bieberbach, his grandson, David W. Davis, and granddaughters, Gabrielle and Madeline Payne and Erika Willbur (John).


A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 12:30PM on Friday, November 30, at Incarnation Catholic Church, 8220 W Hillsborough Ave, Tampa. It will be followed by a procession to Myrtle Hill Memorial Park. Pallbearers are David W. Davis, Enrique Rodriguez-Florido, Evys Rodriguez-Florido, Erick Rodriguez-Florido, Luis David Coto and Kevin Payne. Honorary pallbearers are Joe Sayre and Ryan Lab. The family would like to thank the staff and nurses at Melech House. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made Lifepath Hospice - Melech House in his name.


Lifepath Hospice-Melech House 11125 N. 52nd St., Temple Terrace, FL 33617.