Eugene "Rick" R. Tavares

Eugene Richard Tavares

 

“Rick” — The Man. The Legend. The Hero. June 29, 1936 – June 15, 2025

 

Known widely as “Rick” by friends, “Honey” by his grandchildren, “Mr. T” by the cool, and lovingly as “Genie” by his mother, Alice Fernandez, Eugene Richard Tavares lived a life full of passion, purpose, and perseverance.

 

As Rick would say, he “kicked the can” on June 15, 2025, saluting us all farewell as he journeyed from this world to a pain-free paradise—where we hope he reunited with his mother, four siblings, his beloved wife Dr. Mahalia Tavares, and his daughter Cindi.

His surviving children—Harold, LeRoy, Viana, and Felecia—say the vote is still out on whether he’s already made it into heaven, because as Rick often joked, he “did a lot of stuff” in his lifetime. After overhearing his rehab center roommate hallucinate about women from the past, Rick quipped:

 

“Wow, I hope that never happens to me. I dread to think about what things I’d say.”

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A Humble Hero

Though Rick didn’t always see himself as such, others knew him as one of the most generous, compassionate, unselfish, and sweet men they had ever met. In the final months of his life, he asked his longtime caregiver Pat to help him become a better man. Her reply?

 

“Why would I do that? You’re already a great man.”

 

But the man we came to love was shaped by decades of struggle, service, and spiritual growth.

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The Journey Begins

 

Rick’s story of transformation began at 18 in East Falmouth, Massachusetts. A talented a cappella singer in his church choir, he was, according to family lore, being groomed for the priesthood. But Rick had other dreams. Days before his 18th birthday, he packed a bag and told his mother,

 

“I’m out of here.”

 

He joined the U.S. Air Force, seeking adventure—and began his path to becoming both legend and hero.

 

He served for 20 years as an aircraft mechanic on fighter and bomber planes, stationed in seven countries and six U.S. states. Rick bravely endured the challenges of racism in the military and broader society, serving with honor in Vietnam, Korea, and Thailand. He was later recognized by the Department of Defense and the VA as a Legacy Veteran.

 

A proud and stubborn man who rarely let others tell him what to do (except for his wife—and the DMV at age 86), Rick broke down barriers for people of color in the military, including his daughters Felecia and Viana, who followed in his footsteps.

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A Family Force

 

Rick was a hero at home as well. Protective, loyal, and proudly perfectionist, he cut his fruit into perfect cubes and inspected his kids’ rooms with white gloves before letting them play. He brushed off health concerns with a gruff “everything’s fine,” and when angry, his voice filled the house.

 

“When I first joined the family,” said son-in-law Loren Anderson, “he cursed me out for helping him with meds after a hospital stay.” Rick’s son LeRoy replied, “Welcome to the family. You’ve officially been initiated.” Granddaughter Jazmine added,

 

“I remember the looks he’d give when annoyed—angry, sarcastic stares. I’m pretty sure he was cursing people out in his head.”

 

Still, Rick’s heart was always full of laughter.

 

“He treated me like one of his daughters,” said Maritza, a close family friend. “He always made me feel like part of the Tavares family.”

 

In later years, he struggled to connect with younger grandchildren, but expressed love through thoughtful gifts and handwritten cards.

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A Man of Many Talents

 

Rick’s motto was simple:

 

“If you don’t have anything positive to say, don’t say anything—because no one wants to hear about your misery.” So he danced, partied, sang, laughed, and passionately supported the Dallas Cowboys and the University of Arizona. His voice was so beautiful, some say he could’ve gone pro—like the R&B group Tavares, rumored to be his third cousins.

“He used to croon his way out of the doghouse,” said son LeRoy. “I wish I had that skillset.”

 

Rick was also a builder, businessman, and fixer. He founded R and M Enterprises, a thriving maintenance company in the ’80s, landing major contracts and self-funding a home addition and property wall. He also led a 35-person team in network marketing and always carried thick wads of cash—much to his wife’s and children’s dismay.

 

He proudly set out to “live large and leave a legacy.” And he did just that.

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The OG Life

 

Rick worked hard and played even harder. He hosted late-night pinochle games, danced every weekend with Mahalia, and drove fresh Cadillacs every few years. He truly was an OG.

 

But beneath the swagger was a deep softness. His love for Mahalia was the kind of fairytale most dream of. He cared for her lovingly during 15 years of illness, until her passing in 2023 after nearly seven decades of marriage.

 

Rick also cherished time with his children and grandchildren:

 

“He taught me to play Michigan Rummy so I could join him and Nonnie,” said granddaughter Natalie.

 

He tickled his daughters with “monster games,” nurtured his sons’ talents, and made deep sacrifices for the family—often living apart to ensure their stability.

 

He was a provider, protector, and quiet giver.

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Quiet Acts, Loud Legacy

 

He once surprised his daughter with a TV for her first apartment. He sent birthday cards and cash to grandkids even in his final days. After retiring in 1974, he quietly donated over $1,000 annually to military families in need.

 

He believed in education and self-reliance:

 

“If you want to go to college,” he told his kids, “you’ll have to pay for it.”

 

And they did—with scholarships, grants, and hard work.

 

“He shaped me into a strong Air Force officer, a mother, and a better person,” said daughter Felecia.

 

Rick and Mahalia served faithfully as church ushers. He honored his faith not through showy displays, but with deep sincerity. He wept during Ave Maria, in moments of family conflict, and when pain overtook him—until the Lord, in His mercy, granted him a peaceful and pain-free departure from this world.

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Final Tribute

 

“The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.” — Proverbs 20:7

 

Rick’s children feel truly blessed to have had a father who lived with such integrity and devotion. Though they fondly recall his stern glances—those wordless commands from across the room—they now see them as part of a rich legacy: strength, love, and unwavering guidance.

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Preceded in Death By:

 

· Wife: Dr. Mahalia Tavares

· Daughter: Cindi Tavares

· Mother: Alice Fernandez

· Siblings: Maurice Tavares, Hymie Tavares, Harold Tavares, Charlotte Hutchinson

 

Survived By:

 

· Children: Harold Tavares, LeRoy Tavares, Viana Tavares-Fischer, Felecia Tavares-Anderson

· Grandchildren: Natalie Foley, Tara Williams, Lauren Tavares, Jazmine Beatty

· Great-grandchild: Jaden Gaulden

· Many extended family and friends who will carry forward his legacy

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Celebration of Life Services - Thursday, July 31, 2025

 

Memorial Mass

9:30 AM Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church 1800 S. Kolb Rd, Tucson, AZ 85710

Military Honors Burial

11:00 AM

East Lawn Palms Mortuary and Cemetery 5801 E. Grant Rd, Tucson, AZ 85712

Celebration of Life Luncheon

12:00 PM (Noon) Location TBD Please join the family for a final toast in Rick’s honor.

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With Gratitude

 

The Tavares family wishes to thank those who lovingly cared for Rick in his final years:

· Dr. Brenda Peart, Cardiologist

· The Home Instead caregiving team

· The VA Home-Based PCM staff

· The Arizona State VA Home

· TMC Hospice nurses

· The staff at Peppi’s House 

 

God bless you all.

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In His Memory

 

In honor of Rick’s life, the family kindly asks that you:

· Perform an unexpected act of kindness for someone in need

· Or donate to the American Heart Association

 

“That’s a lot cheaper than flowers.” – Rick