Ricardo Leon Estrada

Ricardo Leon Estrada was born in Havana, Cuba, February 26, 1928 to Zilia Asuncion Carbo and Jose Ignacio Estrada. After a long battle with prostate cancer, he died May 1, 2009 at his home in Provo, Utah. He married Loretta Renae Badura in New York City on August 7, 1970 and, as pre-arranged, three days later they were sealed for time and eternity in the London Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Ric attended the University of Havana and later the Art Students League of New York, New York University, and the School of Visual Arts. An artist and writer working in book illustration, advertising, political cartooning, comic books, and in animation as a storyboard director, Ric's most rewarding professional assignment was illustrating the 1980 edition of The New Testament Stories published by the LDS Church. Ric wrote articles for Dance Magazine and Famous Artist's Schools, screenplays, several novels (unpublished) and completed his personal memoir only months before his passing. Writing and drawing were an anchor for his soul throughout his life and especially through the pain of his final months. Ric received The Inkpot Award for outstanding achievement in the comic arts at the Comic-Con International in 2000. He was a world traveler in constant awe and wonder at life's beauty and variety, an avid reader, lifelong learner, and collector of little known details. He loved to tell stories of his brushes with celebrities and had a remarkable ability to laugh at himself. Paramount in Ric's life was his great love for the Lord, his family and the gospel of Jesus Christ. He served willingly and faithfully in every assignment given to him in the Church, from teaching, to co-ordinating emergency preparedness fairs, to leadership roles. He even completed his home teaching during the last three months of his life by handwriting and illustrating a message to each of the families he taught, sending the last one out days before his passing. Ric is survived by his wife Loretta, nine children - Zilia (from a previous marriage), Aaron, Marc (Julie), Aleli (James), Rebekah (Steve), Seth (Miriam), Jeremy, Ethan (Diane) and Hannah, 11 grandchildren, many extended family members and many, many friends and acquaintances whose lives have been touched by his genuine love of all people. From Ric's children: We love you, Dad, and are so grateful for your example of love, forgiveness and acceptance. From Loretta: I love you - the star and great blessing of my life. Viewing and services will be held at the Parkway 7th Ward Chapel, 2876 W. 1390 N. in Provo. Viewings will be on May 8 from 6 to 8pm and May 9 from 9:30am to 10:30am. The funeral service will be May 9 at 11am. Online condolences may be given at www.serenicare.com Charitable donations may be made to the humanitarian fund at http://www.ldsphilanthropies.org/ Special thanks to Dr. Cordell Bott, the nurses and staff at Central Utah Cancer Clinic for years of treatment care, and to Vista Care Hospice for their support through the brief and intense final week of Ric's life.