OBITUARY: Roberto DeJesus Rivera (Chef Roberto), 73, of Palm Bay Passed Away Peacefully Sept. 9

worked as Executive Chef for several Space Coast restaurants and assisted living facilities

BREVARD COUNTY • PALM BAY, FLORIDA – Roberto DeJesus Rivera (Chef Roberto) 73 of Palm Bay, FL passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on September 9, 2022.

He was born in Añasco, Puerto Rico to Lauricine DeJesus and Alejandra Rivera. Roberto’s love and soul will continue living on through his adoring family.

Roberto came to the US at the age of 15. He worked as a dishwasher and did modeling and acted in a Spanish film. As a dishwasher, he discovered he had a love and passion for cooking great food. He loved to use food to express his love.

He would make his family’s favorite dish of Seafood Newburgh or a Seafood Alfredo that would make your mouth water. He learned how to mold bread to look like a Space Shuttle, Ice sculptures of swans and castles. He worked in famous restaurants such as Mamma Leone’s, O’Cooneys & O’Caseys Irish Restaurants and found his passion in cooking which spanned for several decades.

He moved to Lorain, Ohio and cooked in several restaurants. He then moved to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and continued his passion for cooking. He moved to Palm Bay in 1988 and continued working as an Executive Chef for several restaurants and assisted living facilities. He retired in 2015. He loved life, fishing and his baseball, most of all he loved his family.

He is survived and will be sorely missed by the love of his life Rose Marie DeJesus; his children, which include his daughters – Yvette Duttry, Michelle (Gabriel) Ramos, Yvonne (Ed) DeJesus-Velazquez and Rose Marie DeJesus and his son Carlos DeJesus; his grandchildren, Damian Rodriguez, Ramon Davila, Daniel Davila, Nicole Duttry, Angel Ramos, Hannahniah DeJesus, Rachel Ramos, Stephanie Warner, India Velazquez, Trinity Velazquez and Tristan Velazquez; and 13 great-grandchildre; his sisters, Gudelia, Gladys and Lucy; several nieces and nephews and many beloved extended friends and family; and his beloved pets, Bobby and Beebee. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers (Emilio, David & Louis) and one sister (Ines).

Roberto’s wishes were not to have a viewing but a mass and celebration of life. A memorial mass will be held on Saturday, September 24 at 1 p.m. at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, 300 Malabar Road in Palm Bay. A celebration of life and memories to follow the mass at 911 Quail St. Palm Bay Florida, 32909.

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