Marco Cabrera

MARCO EUGENIO CABRERA Age 54, a professor at Case Western Reserve University, passed away February 5, 2009. He was the beloved husband of Krista nee Tills of Shaker Hts., OH. Marco was the loving father of Stephen, Natalia and Marco, the fond brother of Julia Beatriz, Genoveva, Juan Antonio, Julio, Tico and Jorge, He was a dear uncle to several nieces and nephews and loved friend to so many in all walks of life. An immigrant from Guatemala, he studied in Switzerland before coming to the United States. Marco's life was deeply imbedded in Case Western Reserve University where he met his wife, Krista, and where his two oldest children go to school. He affected many through his research, teaching and mentorship and he cared deeply about the people who worked with him and were supported by his work. He will be deeply missed. The family prefers that those who wish may make contributions in his name to Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44106 or Rainbow Babies and Childrens Hospital, c/o University Hospitals, 11100 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44106. A Funeral Mass will be held Wednesday, February 11 at 10:30 am in his home parish, Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 12021 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland, OH. FRIENDS MAY CALL AT BROWN-FORWARD FUNERAL HOME, 17022 CHAGRIN BLVD., SHAKER HTS., OH, TUESDAY, FROM 3-5 AND 7-9 PM. Brown-Forward Service 216-752-1200 The following is a personal reflection on the life of Marco, composed by his son, Stephen Marco Eugenio Geno Cabrera Valverde was born in Guatemala City, Guatemala C.A. in 1954. He was a curious and spirited child. He tells stories of how he performed experiments in the bathtub which resulted in his father slipping in the shower. He tipped over his baby sister's cradle and once he lit a match in the family car when his father was at the filling station and hid it under the seat to avoid detection. The death of his father when Marco was 15, prompted him to dedicate his life to God. Soon after that he joined the religious organization, Opus Dei. For many years he lived as a numerary in an Opus Dei Center in Guatemala. He received his Licenciate in Physics from Universidad del Valle de Guatemala in 1978. At 27 he received a scholarship for postgraduate work in physics at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH in Zurich, Switzerland. It was difficult learning German and Swiss Deutsche but he made many friends in Switzerland and enjoyed continuing his passion for mountain climbing, and maintained a lifelong preference for Swiss chocolate. He came to the United States in 1983 with a Rotary Club International scholarship to study biomedical engineering at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland Ohio. In 1984, his academic advisor at Case, Dr. Gerald Saidel, advised him that a new graduate student was starting who would be in his class and that he should "take care of her". In 1986 he married this graduate student, Krista Eileen Tills, and continued to take care of her for the rest of his life. Marco joked that he never actually dated Krista and that he was still waiting for her to say "yes" to marry him. They were studying together one day and he said offhandedly, "why don't we just get married?" and Krista responded with equal nonchalance, "OK". Marco received his Ph.D from Case in Biomedical Engineering in 1995 with three children in tow. Stephen Mariano, the eldest, was born in 1988, Natalia Marie was born in 1990 and Marco Rafael was born in 1993. Marco always loved mountains and climbing and it became a lifelong passion for him. During his twenties he led climbing expeditions to summit volcanoes in his native land of Guatemala and he would often climb with his younger brother Tico Hector Gabriel. He took up technical climbing in Switzerland. His years in Cleveland, Ohio proved less rewarding in this respect, but it motivated him to plan family vacations in Montana, Colorado, Alaska, Switzerland and the Canadian Rockies. Physical fitness was a priority for Marco. He was an active member at 1-2-1 Fitness and had he had many friends there. Marco called himself an "integrator" because he was able to make connections between the work of scientists from different disciplines. But he was also an integrator in his personal life, making connections with people from all walks of life, cultures, religions and perspectives. The world needs more people like him.


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