Reinaldo" Rey" Caballero, 68, of Hialeah, FL, beloved partner, brother, papá, tío, abuelo and friend to many passed away before sunrise on Sunday, February 6, 2022.

Rey was born on October 27,1953 in Havana, Cuba to Reinaldo Caballero Menéndez and Onelia Caballero Menendez and grew up in the San Matias, San Miguel del Padron neighborhood of Havana. He was chosen to attend the vocational school Vladimir ilich Lenin from 1973 to 1977 and to further attend the Kaliningrad State Technical University in the Soviet Union, where he graduated with a degree in Marine Biology and Aquaculture. He was fluent in Russian and his stories about traveling by ship to the Soviet Union from Cuba were hilarious. After graduating and returning back to Cuba, Rey worked in aquaculture, overseeing fish farming around the country. In 1992, Rey decided to leave Cuba and set out for a new life in the United States. Settling in Miami, he went right to work and back to school, attending the Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science at the University of Miami where he earned a Master of Arts-Marine Affairs in 1999. He started a new career with the Florida Department of Health, Drinking Water program. He was the all-important "guy" who made sure Miami Dade county drinking water was safe for all of us. He loved his job and his colleagues and retired in 2020.

Rey was a biologist with a deep passion for all life on the planet, his family, his friends and colleagues. He was proud to become a US citizen and embraced the ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity. Rey was a traveler and a foodie before the term "foodie" came about. He loved to experience other cultures through food and traveled extensively in the US and abroad. He was a phenomenal cook and baker in his own right and loved to celebrate with amazing backyard parties, from Lissy's quince to the wedding of his dear friend Jose and his husband John and many birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's celebrations. He was an open heart when it came to animals and lucky were the ones who ended up in his yard. Especially Bronco, his beloved Weimaraner. His backyard garden of orchids and butterflies and peace was a wonderful reflection of his soul.

Rey leaves a cherished and indelible mark of love in the hearts of those he leaves behind, his partner, Craig Willard, his sister Adriana Caballero and her family YaineT, Julio, Celia and Amalia in Havana, Cuba; his sister Cecilia Caballero and her family Lisset, Naidel, Ledian and Adelin in Miami, Fl and many friends and colleagues around the world.

At Rey's request, no services were held. If you care to make a donation in his memory, please support a local animal shelter or donate a pint of blood. During his final year fighting cancer, Rey depended on frequent blood transfusions to stay alive and was deeply grateful for the people who made that possible.