1899 BEQUEST SOCIETY
RON RICARDO ��64
For information
about Jesuit’s 1899
Bequest Society
please contact Nick
Suszynski ’98 at
(813) 877-5344, ext.
704.
JESUIT PERSPECTIVES • WINTER 2020-21 41
A lot has transpired since the spring
of 1964, when Ron Ricardo and
his classmates graduated from
Jesuit High School.
Man landed on the moon. Classmates
graduated from college, with some
returning to the Tampa area (such as
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many fanning out across the country.
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came and went. Times changed. There
were seminal moments such as 9/11 and
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president. There were life milestones
such as children and grandchildren.
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high school then, their classmates have
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few may have reconnected at a 50th
reunion. Many are forgotten, lost to
time, faded memories, scattered and
disconnected.
Not Ricardo and his Jesuit brothers. The
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many years, seen a consistent group of
about 20 gather semi-regularly for dinner
and socializing, usually at Iavarone’s
Steakhouse & Italian Grill in Carrollwood.
“It’s like nothing has changed between
us,” Ricardo said. “We always have that
brotherhood. We just know each other
so well and enjoy spending time together.
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We are still a very close-knit group.”
Ricardo’s Jesuit connections run deep.
��������������������������������������������������, who was one of
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er married Ricardo and his wife, Cynthia.
A grandson, ��������������������������������, is a junior
at Jesuit, which provides Ricardo many
opportunities to return to campus.
His love and gratitude for Jesuit have
inspired him to support the school
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and also has joined Jesuit’s 1899 Bequest
Society. Bequest Society members are
those who indicate in writing that they
have made provisions for Jesuit in their
will or estate plans.
“This is just a great way of ensuring
several years of contributions once I am
gone,” Ricardo said. “It will be funded by
my estate’s liquid assets.
“Jesuit High School played such a critical
role in my development as a person
and in my professional career. Making
contributions to Jesuit is a good way of
saying ‘thank you,’ but more importantly,
to help supply resources to ensure the
school continues to provide the education
and guidance that shapes our future
young men. Young men who contribute
to society and aren’t just worried about
themselves – ‘Men for Others.’”
Ricardo never left the Tampa Bay area,
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decades in Pinellas County. He put his
accounting degree to good use as a CPA
in public practice in Tampa Bay for more
than 50 years.
“I still maintain just a few clients,”
Ricardo said. “I am 99.9% retired and
loving every minute of it.”
These days, he spends even more time
with family and friends (“my hobby has
always been my family and friends”),
stays connected to classmates via email
or gatherings – though it has been only
via phone and email recently, no gatherings,
due to COVID-19 – and makes it to
the wellness center 5-6 days a week.
And he is grateful for the formation
he received at Jesuit High School in the
early 1960s.
“All the good teachers during my four
years there had a major impact on my
life,” Ricardo said.”
Making contributions to Jesuit is a good way of saying
‘thank you,’ but more importantly, to help supply
resources to ensure the school continues to provide
the education and guidance that shapes our future
young men.