Ramon Osvaldo Cordero, 96, Loved to Help Others

Osvaldo was born on August 5, 1920 in Quebradillas, Puerto Rico. He was a member of the Concilio de Puerto Rico of the Boy Scouts of America and served in the U.S. Army Air Corps, Corps of Engineers, during World War II. Osvaldo worked for NASA Lewis Research Center in Brook Park, where he retired in 1982. He is believed to be the first person of Puerto Rican descent hired by NASA Lewis Research Center.

Osvaldo was an active member of Sacred Heart Chapel, Lorain where he volunteered his skills and talents to the Sacred Heart Credit Union and the annual church fiesta. He loved to help others and served as an also volunteer for Meals on Wheels of Lorain County. Chispa loved to play dominos with his friends, invite them over for coffee to discuss current events. He was devoted to his wife, who he cared for until he was physically unable to so. His children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and godchildren were the owners of his heart.

Osvaldo is survived by his children, Osvaldo “Ozzie” Cordero, Jr., Nancy J. Cordero, and Zaida Ortiz, all of Lorain, Ohio; his siblings, Zaida Zamot of Tampa, Florida, Milagros Cordero of Orlando, Florida, and Jose Cordero of San Juan, Puerto Rico his five grandchildren, Jason Cordero, Evangeline Gomez, Martin Ortiz, Maria Honaker, and Stephanie Ginese, and eleven great- grandchildren.

Chispa was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 64 years, Emma A. Rivera, and by his parents, Faustino Cordero and Maria Jesus Perez, great-grandson Balthazar Haney, eight siblings, and his dogs, Coco and Gizmo.

His family will receive friends on Thursday, January 12, from 4p.m. until 8p.m. at Sacred Heart Chapel, 4301 Pearl Avenue, in Lorain, when Military Honors will be provided by the Disabled American Veterans, Louis Paul Proy Chapter 20. A mass in honor of Chispa will be held on Friday, at 9:30 a.m. in Sacred Heart Chapel. A private burial will follow.

Memorial contributions in Osvaldo’s honor may be made to Sacred Heart Chapel, 4301 Pearl Avenue, Lorain, Ohio 44055.

Funeral arrangements are by Richard J. Reidy Funeral Home, 1783 East 31st Street, South Lorain (440) 277-8164. For further information and to sign the online register book, see Reidyfuneral.com.