Rafael Leo Perez Maramba

Rafael Leo Perez Maramba, 83, of Los Angeles, California, passed away on January 13, 2025. After years of battling Parkinson’s, he passed away due to natural causes, standing and defiant. 

Raffy was born on April 11, 1941, in Legaspi City, Philippines, to Tomas "Tomasin" Garcia Maramba, a regional bank manager, (d) and Pacifica Rizalina "Pacita" Perez Maramba (d), homemaker and pianist extraordinaire. The eldest of their children, Tomas “Cuya Toots” Perez Maramba, Jr. performs his last act as Cuya as he stands vigil, with his wife, Nelia “Ate Nels” Cortes-Maramba at his side, dutifully having ensured that all siblings, Atio (Ignacio Daniel Maramba) and his wife Jo (Josephine IldefonsoMaramba), Manuel (Fr. Benildo Maramba), youngest and only sister Cecile (Sr. Benilda Maramba), and now Dad, have safely passed to the other side. 

Raffy’s intellect was, at once, a source of distinction and heartache. As a child, he knew the answers at school but was too shy to raise his hand. He described as ‘painful’ when his teachers caught on to how smart he was and called on him anyway. A master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Northwestern University and an MBA from Harvard University later, one could say he overcame his shyness to some degree, clearly enough to meet and marry Guillermina Madeline “Guila” Kindt Maramba with whom he had Guillermina Gloria “GJ” Maramba Hinkley, Gloria Juliana “Gia” Kindt Maramba, Rafael Polo Maramba, Jr., Giselle Elfina “Gemm” Maria Maramba Dimond, Maria Glenda Pamela “Seiko” Maramba, and Renan Albert “Ram” Maramba (d). Life was good. A turn of fortune reminiscent of Icarus ended all that, marking an end to Chapter One. Chapter Two, one of reevaluation and reinvention, is highlighted by his marriage to Marsha Gold Maramba and, the lights of their lives, twin sons Lawrence Leo Maramba and Tobias Alexander Maramba. Raffy’s priorities changed. He was a much more present father and husband, and put family over professional pursuits. More remarkable than Raffy having two beautiful families is that they are one. The kids range in age and generation, are diverse professionally and in their interests, and practice different faiths. They even have their fights. But they are all, all eight of them, one family. 

Raffy is also survived by sons- and daughters- in-law Martin Hinkley, Daniel Shanfield, Exvi Faltado-Maramba, Tony Dimond, Michael Anderson, and Dyan Maramba; and grandchildren Craig Martin Maramba Hinkley, Sabina Simone Maramba Shanfield, Ethan Y’Israel Maramba Shanfield, Anjelica Giselle Maramba Byrne, Chloe Anderson, Chase Anderson, Charlette Anderson, and Carter Anderson. Waiting for him at the rainbow bridge is a retinue of creatures including Wiggly, Macho, Maya, Kristel, Milo, and Nebo.