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Leo Nicholas Rinaldi, age 82, of Miami, FL passed away at home on Saturday, December 5, 2020. A scholar and a professor, Leo was beloved by his students at Coral Gables High School, where he taught French and Italian for 30 years, sponsored the French & Italian clubs, chaperoned several legendary band trips and was the Chair of the Foreign Languages Department. Coral Gables High was also where he met his lovely bride of 56 years, a shy young lady named Patricia Kilgard who was a fellow Spanish teacher. After their marriage, they welcomed their first-born daughter, Rosemarie Lynne (not Rose Mary, thank you very much), followed by middle child Elaine Louise, then their baby, Steven Leo. Leo made sure to give his family all the comforts and benefits of a solidly loving middle-class life, which included summer car trips to North Carolina, up the East Coast and out west, then eventually multiple trips to Europe, Australia, and Asia and many cruises with Pat (while the kids stayed home with grandparents). Dad loved to travel, and the travel bug bit him early, when he received multiple scholarships to study in Colombia and Chile, France and a Fulbright Scholarship to study at the Universita’ per Stranieri in Perugia, Italy. Dad loved people, and wherever he went, was the life of the party. He had great stories from his travels and from his childhood in Torrington, CT, and was an avid reader on all subjects, so he always had plenty to talk about. Later in life, Leo had many health scares and near-brushes with death. However, with his incredible spirit, faith in God and will to live, he always came home. We are forever grateful for the power of modern medicine, and especially to the people at Fresenius Kidney Care, Kendall Dialysis Center, who gave Leo another 2 years with his family and friends. Leo is survived by his wife Patricia, daughters Rosemarie and Elaine, and son Steven. Viewing/visitation will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 9 th from 2-6 PM at Van Orsdel Kendall, 11220 N. Kendall Drive, Miami, 33176; funeral mass will be held at St. Timothy’s Catholic Church on December 10 th at 11:00 AM, 5400 SW 102 Ave, Miami, 33165. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Orchestra Miami, PO Box 7598, Miami, FL 33255 or www.orchestramiami.org.

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Leo Nicholas Rinaldi

January 19, 1938 - December 5, 2020

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Leo Nicholas Rinaldi

January 19, 1938 - December 5, 2020

Obituary & Service

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