Florentino “Chico” Lopez Mir passed away October 18, 2019 in Summerfield, FL, after a period of physical and mental decline caused by Alzheimer’s disease.
Chico was born in Preston, Cuba on July 19, 1938, son to Florentino D. Mir and Esther Lopez. He grew up with his brother Jorge Mir and best friend Don Burgess, riding horses, swiping sugar cane out of trains passing by, swimming, and studying. He graduated high school in Tennessee at Baxter Seminary in 1956 after asking his father to study in the United States, as his schooling would have been interrupted by the Cuban Revolution had he stayed in Cuba.
Chico met Kathryn “Kay” Grace Mir in 1958, while attending Union College in Kentucky. They were married shortly thereafter in 1960, after his graduation. He became a citizen of the United States in 1964, and he realized his dream of becoming a CPA (or a Certified Pain in the A**, as he would joke). He enjoyed working for Arthur Anderson, Sheraton, ITT, and Bacardi. He excelled at his calling as an accountant; his career took him across the globe, supported his family, and allowed him to retire to The Villages, FL in 1997, where he cultivated many meaningful friendships and served as President of the VHA from 2001-2002. During his retirement, he also served on the board of the Villages Community Development District No. 2 and volunteered for the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide. His friends and family will miss his sense of humor and joie de vivre, and are in awe of all he accomplished in his pursuit of the American dream.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Kay Mir, his brother Jorge Mir, his son Carlos Florentino Mir, his daughter Kathryn “Kathy” Grace Putzulu, his granddaughter Rebecca Mir, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
An open house will be held at 1701 Madero Drive in The Villages, FL, in celebration of Chico’s resplendent life on Saturday, November 2nd, 2019 from 2-5pm. All who knew Chico are welcome to attend.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in memory of Florentino Mir to the Alzheimer’s Association, 8180 Greensboro Drive, Suite 400, McLean, VA 22102 or The Hospice of Marion County, PO Box 4860, Ocala, FL 34478-4860.
