- Date Of Birth: August 9, 1926
- Date Of Death: January 5, 2013
- State: Indiana
Dr. Rodolfo E. Echeverria Sr., 86, of Elkhart, departed to Heaven Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013, at Elkhart General Hospital.
He was born Aug. 9, 1926, in Pinar Del Rio, Cuba, to Eduardo and Consuelo (Roque) Echeverria.
On May 27, 1954, he married Dido D. (Rodriguez) Echeverria in Havana, Cuba.
In addition to his wife of 58 years, other survivors include three daughters, Dido M. Echeverria of South Bend, Constance (Edward) Smyth of Elkhart, and Elisa (Rob) Nilsen of Elkhart; son Dr. Rodolfo E. (Tena) Echeverria Jr. of Fishers; seven grandchildren, Patrick (Valerie) Echeverria, Micheal Brenneman, Lucas (Katrina) Brenneman, Jordan Smyth, Alex Echeverria, Ryan Echeverria, and Lindsay Nilsen; and six great-grandchildren.
Rodolfo was one of the founding fathers of the Orthopedic Sports Medicine Center in Elkhart and practiced there for over 40 years.
He was a 1952 graduate of the University of Havana Cuba Medical School.
Rodolfo and Dido came to the U.S. in 1954. His schooling continued for five more years in the U.S. in the study of orthopedics and surgery. He also served nine months at Veterans Hospital in Buffalo, N.Y.
He was a member of the American Medical Association, Indiana Orthopedic Society, Academy of American Orthopedic Associates, and Board of Certified Orthopedic Surgeons, and was president of the Indiana Orthopedic Association.
He did the first total hip replacement at Elkhart General Hospital in 1973. Rodolfo practiced medicine for over 50 years.
He was an avid hunter and fisherman all over North America, belonging to No Peek Hunt Club and Elkhart Canadian Hunt Club.
“He was the most interesting man in the world.”
He will be missed and remembered by the ones who loved him dearly.
