A Note About Ricardo………

(José) Ricardo Austrich, son of Maria Fernandez and Ricardo José Austrich, was born in Habana, Cuba and proud of his Galician and Catalunya descent as brandished by the Galician beret he faithfully wore regardless of the season. Ricardo studied business and accounting at the University of Habana (then again at Boston University) and was employed by Armour & Co. and Goodyear while living in Cuba. It was during this time that Ricardo began a life-long endeavor and commitment to advocate tirelessly for the underdog, the voiceless and the under-represented through political and organizational means.

His fighting spirit, shared by his late wife of 67 years, Casilda Austrich, was inured during the Cuban Revolution of 1959. During that time, he was actively involved in the resistance against Fidel Castro, resulting in his emigrating with his immediate family to the United States as political exiles. Ricardo resumed working with Armour & Co. in the Boston area for many years then became a teacher at the Hubert Humphrey Occupational Resource Center (HHORC) housed at Madison High School in Boston educating and empowering Hispanic students in related business administration skills.

Ricardo, Casilda and her sister, Gloria Moran Penso, started a candy and chocolate wholesale distribution business, Maracas Distributors, Inc., serving bodegas and mom & pop stores in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, which was active for over 40 years. Ricardo and Casilda retired at the age of 85 years. Through this business, Ricardo continued his political and community-based advocacy work in supporting local minority and immigrant owned businesses in procuring regulatory and economical safeguards against the larger and more economically influential business chains. With the support of his wife, Ricardo co-founded two organizations, Latin American Grocers Association (LAGA) and the Washington Street Business Association, to protect the smaller and minority-owned businesses in the Boston area. This effort involved tireless outreach and collaboration with Boston City Hall, including the former Boston Redevelopment Authority (zoning issues), Elderly Services, Immigration Services and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and the Boston Police Department.

Ricardo's passions were airplanes and baseball; he planned on a career as a pilot and played in semi-professional leagues in Cuba and was actually drafted by an American team in the 1950's; however, both dreams were unfortunately interrupted, but his love for the sport or aviation were never dampened but rather recharged through his spirited sharing with his children and grandchildren. With the fighting spirit and commitment to his native Cuba, Ricardo continued promoting, educating and mentoring fellow emigres and audiences in the history of Cuba. He established an organization, Facts About Cuba in 1980's, to share and promote factual historical and political information to counter existing misinformation about the country he loved dearly and the ideological system which took hold of Cuba following the Revolution of 1959.

Ricardo's zealous and captivating story-telling was difficult to miss, as assuredly attested to by anyone who entered a conversation with him, willingly or unwillingly. His loyalty and reverence for his native country, his steadfast sense of equity and his love and unwavering support for his family are extraordinary values of a man who will always be loved, respected, and missed by his family and all who knew him.

Ricardo passed away on the morning of May 23, 2024. He was predeceased by his wife, Casilda Austrich, who passed away in June of 2022. Ricardo is survived by his children, Juan Manuel Austrich, Gloria Maria Austrich and Ricardo Roberto Austrich and son-in law, Douglas Creed; his grandchildren Robert John Provost, Stefan Manuel Provost and granddaughter-in-law, Allison Nagle Provost; his great-grandchildren, Cecelia Marie Provost and Leo Joseph Provost.

Ricardo was interred with his wife's remains at Forest Hills Cemetery with a graveside ceremony  held on May 29, 2024.

Viewing hours were held on Tuesday, May 28, 2024 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm at Bell-O'Dea Funeral Home in Brookline, MA www.bellodeafuneralhome.com

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Good Shepherd Community Care, a Hospice service that provides care and support with dignity. Here is the link and address:

https://gscommunitycare.org/Donate

Good Shepherd Community Care

160 Wells Ave.

Newton, MA 02459