By Matt Wiley
Many times, people have no idea the impact they have upon their community and peers throughout their lives. However, judging by the number of people who came out to pay their respects to the late Renald William Cruz, he was a man who made a profound impact upon everyone around him.
A Far Rockaway, NY, native, Cruz, 54, of Hunter’s Green, served the community as a Tampa Fire Rescue (TFR) firefighter and paramedic who also was trained in aviation firefighting for nearly 30 years before retiring in 2012. Cruz served most of his career with the Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting (ARFF) unit at Tampa International Airport.
Although he was never based at any of New Tampa’s three fire stations, a service was held for Cruz on February 7 at St. James United Methodist Church, located off Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in Tampa Palms (just north of TFR Station #20), and was attended by nearly 700 people, rendering the sanctuary standing-room only. The service also featured a bagpipe processional and several fire engines.
“He was a loving, religious, family-oriented man,” said Reny Cruz, Renald’s son. “His friends were his family, too. He had an infectious, contagious loud laugh.”
In fact, the family has created a hashtag to remember Cruz with: #LoudLove.
Reny says that his father had no problem being the butt of a joke to make someone around him feel better and that he almost always was in a good mood.
“He would have been so proud that the whole family was together (at his service),”Reny explained. “The turnout was incredible. The number of people that showed up shows how well-loved he was in the community and how many people he impacted throughout his life.”
Reny says that his father loved to cook, often serving up meals (including his signature soups and empanadas) at the fire house and family gatherings. If he had leftover food and was driving, Reny says it wasn’t unusual to see him give some to a homeless person on the side of the street.
“He’d give you the shirt off his back,” Reny said. “He always tried to help people.”
Cruz was stricken with an unknown illness the weekend of January 24 and was taken to the hospital, where he remained until he passed on the evening of February 2. Reny says that the family is having a private autopsy conducted and should know the cause of death in a few weeks, but all of the tests conducted while Cruz was in the hospital proved inconclusive.
“Renald Cruz was an outstanding firefighter and paramedic with (TFR), who for nearly 30 years gave so much to this department and the community,” says TFR spokesperson Jason Penny. “We are saddened by his passing and our prayers are with his family as they grieve his loss.”
In addition to his son Reny and Reny’s wife Nicki, Renald is survived by his wife Suzie, his son Zachary, daughters Savannah and Sophia, grandsons Sunny and Cole, his mother Mary, brothers David, Daniel and Fermin, sisters Linda and Mona and was preceded in death by his father, Fermin Cruz.
In lieu of flowers, a scholarship fund for Renald’s children has been opened. Donations can be made to Mary Suzanne Cruz and mailed to Pilot Bank c/o Rita Boodram, 17635 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33647. For questions about donations, please contact Rita at RBoodram@PilotBank.com.
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