Obituary of Arturo S. Flores

Arturo S. Flores

Rocky

Arturo Sanchez Flores was born to Rosario and Epafrodito Flores on May 6, 1955 in Butuan City on the north-eastern corner of the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. If family lore is to be believed, his mother nicknamed him "Rocky" after the boxer Rocky Marciano, because his father was involved in a fistfight while she was in labor. But Rocky was far from pugnacious and would grow up to be one of the smartest, gentlest and kindest men anyone could know. Born the ninth of nine surviving children, he was the family's baby, but over the rest of the sixty-three years of his life he would bind all the threads of his family together across Florida, Atlanta, Illinois, California, Seattle, British Columbia, Japan, Myanmar, the Philippines, and other parts of the world.

Rocky shared a tight, lifelong bond with his siblings and was among the most accomplished of them. He graduated Magna Cum Laude in Accounting from the University of San Carlos in Cebu, and then started his career in I.T. at some of the largest corporations in the Philippines. By the mid-eighties, he was in Jeddah, working at NCB, one of the major banks in Saudi Arabia, running and managing their systems’ code. At the end of the summer of 1989, he relocated to the United States to pursue his Master’s in Professional Accounting from Barry University, obtained his CPA, and subsequently restarted his career in I.T. at First Data Corporation. He then transferred to Office Depot in South Florida where he thrived for over 20 years while running a private CPA practice on the side with family members as his main, mainly pro-bono, clientele.

He bowled, played tennis, was learning golf, travelled, supported a third world children’s charity and the Catholic Church and was an avid collector. Among his cherished collections, you’ll find sports memorabilia, first release stamp dies, porcelain figurines, Swarovski crystals, magnets showcasing his travels, multiple generations of consumer electronics, an Englebert Humperdinck cassette tape, and a myriad of birthday notes, wedding invitations, and Christmas cards – colorful memories and a testament to a life devoted to family and friends. To those who knew him, he was the best of men – quiet, brilliant, competent, pragmatic and utterly reliable but also humble, self-effacing, unfailingly kind and possessed a dry wit and wicked sense of humor. He was a man of great faith and devotion, of great love and compassion. He was a rock, a pillar, a refuge, a moral compass, a friend and cousin and brother and uncle who was like a great familiar mountain in the distance, the sight of which lets you know where you are and where to go.

Rocky never married and never had children of his own, but his many nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and grand-nephews and cousins and siblings and other relatives could always find help, guidance, encouragement and praise…and Scrabble, movies, bowling, beer, TFC Filipino soaps, fishing from piers, target- shooting and other things. To the children he was a superhero who made their hurt and pain his own so he could help make it go away, but he was always ready for fun and adventure. His advice was always sought after because of his knowledge, but was more greatly valued because of his compassion. His discreet generosity helped generations of his family and many friends through difficult times. He never complained, but would be patient with complainers. In a family legendary for its temper, he was never angry. He was the listener, the observer, the holder of hands, the sayer of prayers, the one who got many, many of his people through dark days.

He prayed for and stood by his brother Vicente, his sister Elena and his niece Rosaly for many years as they fought--and won--their battles with cancer. That cancer ultimately took Rocky from the people who loved him is a bitter irony. That he has now joined people he loved in heaven is a great comfort.

Rocky’s close friends Lester, Paulo, Andrea and Rosalie were the last people with him when, minutes before midnight last Saturday, the 27^th of October, he opened his eyes, looked up, took his last breath and slipped the bonds of this life. He had spent his last few days in hospice care while his brother Rafael, sister-in-law Roxanne, nieces Rosaly and Rosemarie kept vigil and friends and family visited to say goodbye. Waiting with them were Hailey (11), Joseph (5), Hannah (4) and Jacob (2) whose voices, laughter and love must have reassured “Yoyo Rocky”, and given him leave to let go.

Rocky, Kuya Art, Kolrocks left an indelible legacy in an elegantly written code wherever he went in this life. He is eternal now, and will be loved eternally.

Arturo S. 63, of Pompano Beach, passed away on Saturday October 27, 2018 in Boca Raton,  Florida. Loving Son of the late Rosario Sanchez and the Late Epafrodito Flores. Dearest Brother of Ireneo Flores, Maria Elena Flores Santa Maria, the Late Gumersindo Flores, the Late Leo Michael Flores, Ester Jean Flores Navarra, Rafael Flores, Antonio Flores and Vincente Flores. Cherished Uncle of numerous nieces , nephews and Grand Uncle and friend to many. In Repose Friday, November 2, 2018  From 2 PM to 12 AM at the Joseph A Scarano  Pines  Memorial Chapel  with Prayer Service at 7 PM. 9000 Pines Blvd,Pembroke Pines, Florida, 33024 Interment to follow San Vicente Memorial Park Butuan City, Philippines