Nelson Famadas

By Joan Chrissos / Miami Herald

Whether he was dancing with his beloved Blanca at President Barack Obama's inaugural ball, singing in the church choir or giving a hug to a Honduran girl who had been abused and abandoned, Nelson Famadas found joy in every moment.

He died Monday in South Miami Hospital from complications resulting from heart-valve surgery. He was 61.

Famadas, chief executive officer of Gables Holding Corp., a development company that builds homes and office buildings across the United States and the Caribbean, was active in the Episcopal Church. He sat on the vestry and sang in the choir at St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Coral Gables (his was music folder No. 1) and was a passionate advocate of Our Little Roses, an Episcopal school and home for abused, abandoned and orphaned girls in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. He also sat on the board of Episcopal Relief & Development, the church's worldwide relief agency.

"The day of his death he was supposed to be in New York for a meeting with the archbishop of Canterbury. Right after that, he was supposed to be leaving for South Africa to see the work they were doing there,'' said the Rt. Rev. Leo Frade, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida. ``That was the kind of person he was.''

'FIRST IN HIS CLASS'
Frade met Famadas years ago when the Rt. Rev. David Alvarez, bishop of the Diocese of Puerto Rico, introduced them. Alvarez had taught Famadas when he was in high school in San Juan.

"He was always first in his class,'' Alvarez said.

Famadas went on to earn his doctorate at the Wharton School of Business of the University of Pennsylvania.

Famadas' calendar was booked: Founder, chairman and CEO of the 107th-largest residential developer in the United States in 2007 (sixth-largest in Puerto Rico); chairman of Sun American Bank in Boca Raton; political activist (fundraiser for Obama and a former political candidate in San Juan); board member of the Episcopal Church in the United States and Puerto Rico.

Despite his schedule, Famadas always made time for family and friends.

"He had time to do everything -- to be a great father, and even better grandfather and wonderful husband,'' said Nelson Edward Famadas, the oldest of his three sons.

Blanca, his wife of 13 years, was the love of his life. A childhood friend of Blanca's who knew Nelson asked him to join them for dinner one night when he was visiting in Miami. He brought wine for the friend, roses for Blanca.

"I remember seeing his face. To this day, I love his gentle face,'' Blanca said.

SPECIAL BOND
The two could be found dancing to a merengue in their kitchen or dancing at the inaugural ball. They could be found splashing at the beach in Honduras with the girls, challenging the boys from the church youth group to a soccer match with the Honduran girls (the girls won) or offering quiet counsel to the Honduran teenage girls who needed a father and mother.

"He had a special relationship with all the girls,'' said Diana Frade, the bishop's wife who started Our Little Roses 22 years ago. ``When Nelson was there, it was absolutely wonderful. They knew how genuine he was.''

Said Blanca: "I had a fairy tale marriage. He was my prince.''

In addition to his wife and son, Famadas is survived by sons Frankie Famadas, Carlos Famadas and stepson José Manuel Touzet.

Visitation will be 7 p.m. to midnight Wednesday at St. Philip's Episcopal Church, 1142 Andalusia Ave. (across from Salvadore Park), Coral Gables. The funeral will be 11 a.m. Thursday at the church.

The family suggests donations be made to Memorial Garden Fund, c/o St. Philip's Episcopal Church; Our Little Roses, P.O. Box 464, Somerset, VA 22972 or Episcopal Relief and Development - Haiti Relief, P.O. Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116.

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