Rafael A. Munoz

Rafael Andres Muñoz Marti died January 22, 2021, from complications related to Alzheimer's dementia. Rafael was born December 10, 1933, in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, and grew up in New Orleans, New York City, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and various other locations. He was a Catholic seminarian in high school in Puerto Rico and at St. John's University in St. Cloud, Minnesota but left college to enter the US Army intelligence corps, where he served in Germany. He trained at Camp LeJeune, earned top-secret crypto clearance, and used his multiple languages to help intercept and translate intelligence communications. After the Army, he worked for Pinkerton detective agency in Minneapolis, ran a manufacturing plant in Puerto Rico, and worked in economic development for Fomento, the Economic Development Agency of the Government of Puerto Rico. After being posted to Atlanta with Fomento, he went to work for the Canadian Consulate General in Atlanta, where he met his wife, Mary. After his retirement from the Canadian Consulate, Rafael moved with his wife to San Francisco, California, and then to Phoenix, Arizona. Rafael was a huge music fan and sang in choirs at church as well as i...[more]

View Full Online Obituary and Tributes

the San Francisco City Chorus. Most recently he was a member of the Parish Choir at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Phoenix. He loved classical music, the symphony, opera, and musical theater. An avid non-fiction reader, he had a special interest in current events, American history, and presidential biographies. Thomas Jefferson was one of his heroes. Rafael was well-traveled, and with Mary, he traveled in Europe, Morocco, Turkey and Greece, the Caribbean, and to China to adopt the youngest daughter Lily. Rafael is survived by his wife of 32 years, Mary McHaney Muñoz; his four children--Elizabeth Reach, Russell Muñoz, Victoria Morris, and Lily Muñoz; his first wife Caroline Muñoz; 9 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Isabel Muñoz Marti, and his two brothers, Luis Muñoz Marti and Jaime Muñoz Marti. In lieu of flowers, Rafael's family would appreciate donations to Alzheimer's research.