Roberto Rivera

Roberto Rivera

Sunrise, October 17, 1952     Sunset, July 18, 2024.

Beloved Roberto Rivera was a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, son, brother, uncle, cousin, proud Navy Veteran, friend and most of a Christian saved by the grace of God. Roberto was born to the late Teofilo Rivera and Engracia Maldonado Rivera on October 17, 1952 at St Catherine’s Hospital, East Chicago, Indiana. He grew up in Hammond, Indiana and graduated from Hammond High.  Roberto met his wife, Cheryl Harris in June 1975 in Jacksonville, Florida during a weekend visit with her brother. At that time Cheryl was a student at the University of Florida and Roberto was in the Navy. It was love at first sight. Bob and Cheryl were married March 24, 1976, and moved to East Chicago in August 1979. Bob and Cheryl have been loving each other for 49 years and counting. Beloved Roberto was a “man of valor”. What does this mean? A person of valor displays qualities such as courage, honor and strength and one who is willing to stand up for others and face danger. It also means moral worth and fearlessness, especially in battle. Just in case you hadn’t heard, life is a battle, from birth to death. Bob’s valor showed his strength and ability to withstand great force or pressure without quitting, displaying courage to love and live  boldly and fearlessness across lines of race, culture, ethnicity.  Bob was courageous in fighting the vicissitudes of life, MS and declining health. In his profession, Bob stood up for the vulnerable, those suffering with mental and behavioral health issues, foster children and foster families. Bob stood up for family, friends and country.

Bob was a devoted husband, father of our two children, grandfather of our 10 grandchildren, and great grandfather to 14 1/2 great grandchildren. Bob was Dad to his children and Poppi to the grand kids . Bob was not only Cheryl’s husband, but her superhero and the wind beneath her wings. Bob and Cheryl were united, joined as one. Bob was Cheryl’s protector, lover, sweetheart, confidant, sounding board, the smartest guy in the room, a colleague very intelligent, educated with a Purdue University degree in Clinical Psychology. He wasn’t perfect, neither were we, but he was perfectly fine, for us. Bob was and still is a handsome man, a man’s man who was not threaten by a strong woman, Cheryl at his side. He was incredible, amazing, interesting, a buff bronze guy, lifelong bodybuilder until MS took hold, a runner, music lover, martial arts lover and a poet. He was a charmer. He was a team leader and trainer of behavioral health strategies with aggressive patients. Most of all he was just a sinner, just like us who was snatched up and saved by the Grace of God, a Christian, a child of God. While Roberto confessed Christ at an early age, it was at the age of 42 that he was Baptized at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, East Chicago under the pastoral leadership of Rev. Dr. Vincent L .McCutcheon. Bob fought a good fight. On July 18, 2024, just after midnight Jesus came and escorted Roberto on his final run into the loving arms of his Heavenly Father. Now he has a beautiful new body. Roberto has joined his mother Engracia and father, Teofilo Rivera, sister Carmen Valez, brother, Efrain Borrero, all other family, friends and the saints in Glory.

 Roberto will be forever loved and remembered by his loving and devoted wife, Reverend Cheryl Rivera and children Bridget Rivera and Dante Rivera, Sisters Gloria Roldan of East Chicago, Indiana, Estella (Richardo) of Hammond, Indiana and Sylvia Fontanez of Goodyear, Arizona; and ten grandchildren, Michael (Aaliayah) Rivera of Indianapolis, Indiana,  Epiphany Rivera of Albany, New York, Angel Rivera of Jacksonville, Florida, Donovan Rivera, Iowa, Serenity Rivera of Jacksonville, Florida, Shuntay Rivera of Portage Indiana, Divinity Rivera, Emmanuella Rivera, Jeshua Rivera and Ariella Rivera of Orlando, Florida;14 ½ great grandchildren Eli Rivera, Zae Rivera, Julian Rivera  Michael Rivera Jr. Maliyah Martin, Skylar Rivera, Tia Rivera , Sanai Rivera, Infinity Rivera; Amoya Rivera Lyfe Tisby Rivera, Gabriel Shields, DeAndrew Tisby Rivera , Brothers In-Law Mell (Vera) Harris Jr., of Jacksonville, Florida, Malcolm Harris of New York, New York, Sister In-Law, Lyntonia Harris of West Palm Beach, Florida;

Nephews and nieces, Adolfo (Patricia) Valez of East Chicago, Indiana, Gilbert (Marilyn) Valez of Hammond, Indiana,  Efrain (Milargros) Borrero Jr., of Shorewood, Illinois, Margarita ( Jose Alberto) Alvarado Sr., of Chicago, Illinois, Teofilo ”Teddy” ( Monica) Roldan Merrillville, Indiana, Agelina(Tony)Salazar of Lowell, Indiana, Grace (Mike)Saldana of Hobart, Indiana, Luis (Cecilia) Fontanez of Goodyear, Arizona,  Richardo Barajas Jr, Gabriel (Shannon) Barajas of Hammond, Indiana; Attorney Melva Harris (Spencer) Rozier of West Palm Beach, Florida, Anton ( Marilyn) Dawson, Ricco Harris and Kevin Harris of Jacksonville, Florida, Lifelong friend Brian Isom of Griffith, Indiana and a host of other family and friends.

A Celebration of Life Services will be at Fife Funeral Home, 4201 Indianapolis Blvd., East Chicago, IN 46312 on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Private Family Viewing 9:30 am to 10:00 am. Public Viewing 10:00 am to 11:00 am. The American Legion Allied Post #369 will conduct Military Honors at 11:00 am.  Celebration of Life Services 11:00 am to 1:00 pm with Rev. Emmett Karl Mosley and Pastor Asher Harris Sr. officiating.  A Repast will follow at 1:30 pm at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, 3901-06 Alexander Avenue, East Chicago, IN  46312.  In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated.

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