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Reinardo Delgado, Jr.
Reinardo Delgado, Jr.
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Reinardo Delgado, Jr. Obituary
Ray is survived by his wife, Karey, sister Osceola Pia, Georgia, children; Debra Ward (Jimmy) of Tampa, Donnie Delgado (Deborah) of Lake Placid, Michaelle Smith of Tampa, and Osceola Hope Fossa (Andrew) of Spring Hill; five grandchildren, Karista, Jimbo, Rayzer, Jonner, and Koryl, and ten great grandchildren. Ray lived a full and happy life with his family. Following college, he worked with motorcycles, boats and motors. Early in his life, he became a commercial fisherman and maintained that career to the very end. Ray was hard-working and dedicated. He mentored and cared for everyone he met. He was loved by all and a father figure to most. Despite his many responsibilities, he always made time for his family and his passions. He left a lasting impact on everyone who knew him.
Ray, Dad, Papa, we will miss you, immensely. You were our "go-to" when life got rough, you were our sanity in this crazy world, and our comfort when we needed clarity. You were always someone we could count on, and although you were a straight shooter, you always got your point across without judgement and always provided us sound advice. You always made sure we made our decisions after thinking things through. You always gave it 110% and never stopped fighting for what's right. Because of you, we have the hearts of a lion, and the love of our family.
Ray's spirit, radiant smile, and compassionate heart captivated everyone who had the chance to know him. Ray will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Please forward memories and pictures to:
[email protected]
Celebration of Life will be Saturday, June 28th, 2025. For additional information, please contact Osceola Hope Fossa at 813-334-0937.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the American Cancer Society or Hillsborough County Hospice Society.
Honorary Pallbearers are Andrew Fossa, Jimmy Ward, Sr., Sean Bierne, Ray Ward, Steven Wright and Robert Gordon.
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Steven Wright
June 29, 2025
I´ve spent a lot of time thinking about Ray and have more to share:
I went fishing with Ray a number of times out of Tarpon Springs in the beautiful Formula OSCEOLA. I swear I´d see/experience something different each time. In those trips we never went all the way out to the Middle Grounds but only about 30-35 miles offshore; that was far enough for me. The experiences included seeing flying fish "running" along with us, catching an octopus and one day in the middle of nowhere with nothing in sight a parakeet landed on the bow rail. Too many times we´d be coming back in the afternoon running through the rough weather of an afternoon storm; not too concerning because Ray took it all in stride. Oh, we also went scalloping on the east side of Anclote Key; very cool experience!
I said I had wondered why Ray had hired me in 1973; a 17 year old lightly experienced naive "kid". Thinking about it now I realized that´s what he did. He gave kids a chance! A chance to learn, mature, develop skills and begin to understand the world around them! Here are just a few of the 17+\- year old "kids" I know that were lucky enough to ask for and be given an opportunity by Ray.
Steven Vale - went on to become a Kraft Foods executive and Planning and Zoning Commissioner, Councilmember, and Mayor Pro tem in Granbury, Texas.
Tony (Jacobs) Jones - went on to join the US Air Force and became a licensed professional Land Surveyor.
Russell Wright - went on to become a licensed electrician and successful business owner.
Tom Hernden - went on to become a professional mechanic, personal computer repairman, business owner & entrepreneur.
Chip green - went on to become a professional mechanic.
I became a mechanical engineer and worked in the electric utility industry for 39 years.
Ray gave a lot of young "kids" a chance at working in the shop. As one might imagine there were times when one got into trouble. But trouble didn´t mean Ray got upset; trouble meant you had to learn from your mistake, fix it and move on. The ones I recall for myself include:
Crashing a dirt bike (got to test ride you know!) and breaking my wrist - fixed the bike; Ray and Karey filed Workers Comp for me. I got the medical attention and lesson I needed.
Crashed a Vespa while doing, trying to do, a wheelie in the back of the shop - fixed the bike; Ray took care of getting me whatever parts I needed.
Tied to a coat hanger hanging in the vice on the marine work bench at Barney's I blew up and then BLEW UP an oxy-actelyene ballon! Yes, it was pretty awesome! Thankfully the windows weren´t latched so when they blew to their open position and then slammed back none broke! And no permanent hearing loss! Maybe a little.
THANKS Ray!!
Michaelle Smith "Mikey"
June 25, 2025
My entire life I referred to Ray as my dad, I always confused people. In all reality, he was my dad. He was there for school recitals, us being sick, being well, broken bones, surgeries, his kids having kids. He may have been tough and he always meant it with love. Up until the day he passed, we knew all we had to do was ask daddy and we got what we wanted lol. He would go to multiple fast food restaurants for us or cook several dinners or the same thing but different ways. Used to drive mom crazy. I remember being sick, no more than 7 yo and Ray brought me home a Goody burger and fries. He lived a full and we were all blessed to be in it. I talked to him so much his last month and the time I stayed there when I moved back to Florida, I wouldn't change that for anything!!!
You are in my daily thoughts, when I go to the house you are every where, and I will always love and respect you for making mom as happy as you did!! Thank you for being such a wonderful dad.
Steven Wright
May 19, 2025
I hate writing but I loved Ray and that can´t be said without saying I love Karey. I´ve known them since 1973. Because of my love and respect for them I am writing this.
Karey supported Ray 1000%; they supported me and I like to say they put me through college. At a young 17 years of age Ray hired me at Barney´s Honda and Outboard Marine in early ´73. My first time showing up and asking about a job Ray told me to come back later; I probably gave it a couple weeks and went back. Why in the world he gave me a job I can´t say. Thankfully 4-1/2 years later and 3 years out of high school I decided I should try engineering at USF. Ray allowed me to continue working as a mechanic and that allowed me to put myself through school. I learned a lot from Ray; I wouldn´t be what I am without the experiences I had working for him. I worked for him at Barney´s Honda and Outboard Marine, Suncoast Honda and Honda of Tampa from 1973 - 1981. I was a very meticulous, not a speedy, mechanic; one of his favorite comments to me was, "are you making a career out of that?" There were times when I´d be having a bit of a problem trouble-shooting or assembling and he´d walk up and right away point out the problem. I probably would have saved a lot of time if I had just gone to him right away and asked him to take a look at my issue.
I wholeheartedly echo the descriptions for Ray: hard-working, dedicated, mentor, reliable, straight shooter, non-judgemental and wise.
My most sincere condolences to Ray´s family.
Tammy
May 5, 2025
Your heart soon will be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you
celebrate a life well lived.
I want tell all of ya i wont be able to make i will be getting blood transfusion at the same time i will be thanking of all of ya he was a neat guy i still remember i frist saw him i was about 8 i think i thought he was Santa calus
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Rob & Kim Thomas
May 2, 2025
The hardest working and one of the Greatest Men I ever Knew. Fishing was more than just a job and a hobby to Ray . It was a Art. This Great man
could find fish when no one could. He took me under his wing and taught me all i know about Ocean fishing. He would give you the Shirt off his back without question and what ever you needed help with he would be their. My heart goes out to all the family. He will be missed.
Skip Beatty
April 30, 2025
I'm so sorry to hear about Ray. Please accept my deepest condolences. I will miss listening to his fishing stories.
Holly and Rob
April 29, 2025
Our hearts and prayers are with Ray and family. Holly and Rob Mentillo
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