Served in the Korean War, Svc Co 5th Inf Regt APO 52, National Defense Service Medal, U.N. Service Medal, Korean Service Medal
Card Dealer and Casino Inspector, Las Vegas, Nevada, Havana, Cuba
Manager at La Tropicana Café, Ybor City, Florida
Character in Novel
Havana Nocturne: How the Mob Owned Cuba and Then Lost It to the Revolution, T.J. English
http://www.sptimes.com/2002/02/08/Citytimes/Social_club_celebrate.shtml
Ralph (Raphael) Evaristo Rubio, Jr., was born in Tampa, Florida on July 8, 1931 and died on March 27, 2008. He was mentioned by T. J. English in the historical novel, Havana Nocturne. English described Rubio as a card dealer and "glorified errand runner" for mobster Meyer Lansky during the glory days of Batista's Cuba. Rubio's role was somewhat more complicated as a "fixer" and strongman. Ralph Evaristo Rubio was the nephew of Evaristo Tito Rubio a Charlie Wall associate and Bolita King, who died in a "underworld" dispute in 1938.
Ralph loved women and was married 14 times. It seemed that he enjoyed getting married but had no gift for staying in that state. He had five legitimate children by four different women.
Before his days in Cuba, Rubio was an athlete at Jefferson High School in Tampa, Florida. in his senior year, he was voted: "best personality," and "biggest flirt."
He then served in the U.S. Army during the Korean war. He was an infantryman and was promoted to artillery sergeant in a very short timemuch to the resentment of many of his fellow NCOs who had enlisted during peace time and moved up more slowly through the ranks. Ralph was anything but a model soldier. Although he served with distinction he also ran card games and various scams for personal profit. His answer to any allegations of wrongdoing was, "fine court marshal me, then I will go to Tokyo instead of back to the combat zone."
After the war, he found himself in Nevada where he began his casino career. He traveled extensively in South and Central America for both legitimate and shady enterprises. He was only convicted of one cocaine charge late in his life.
After his brief incarceration, he worked behind the counter as manager of La Tropicana Restaurant in Ybor City, Florida. He was known for his jokes and anecdotes. He enjoyed being an umpire for local youth softball. He was very well liked by the regulars and was involved in local politics until his health failed. Rubio is featured in the center of a painting by fight doctor, Ferdie Pachecho that hangs in La Tropicana Restaurant until the restaurant was sold.
http://www.sptimes.com/2002/02/08/Citytimes/Social_club_celebrate.shtml
RUBIO, Ralph Jr., 76, a lifelong resident of Tampa, passed away March 27, 2008. Ralph attended high schools in Tampa, where he was an outstanding athlete at Jesuit and Jefferson high schools. Ralph was a veteran of the Korean conflict. After returning to Tampa, Ralph began a long career with the Riviera Hotel and Casino chain in Las Vegas, Nev., Cuba and South America. Ralph spent the next several years as a "permanent" fixture at the Tropicana Cafe in Ybor City, where he was immortalized in the Ferdie Pacheco painting "La Tropicana." Ralph entertained everyone with his colorful and humorous, if not factual, stories of the history of Tampa and Ybor City. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph Sr. and Margaret Rubio. He is survived by five children,...
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tampabaytimes/obituary.aspx?n=ralph-rubio&pid=106567795#sthash.Fw7xrNRi.dpuf
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tampabaytimes/obituary.aspx?n=ralph-rubio&pid=106567795
Card Dealer and Casino Inspector, Las Vegas, Nevada, Havana, Cuba
Manager at La Tropicana Café, Ybor City, Florida
Character in Novel
Havana Nocturne: How the Mob Owned Cuba and Then Lost It to the Revolution, T.J. English
http://www.sptimes.com/2002/02/08/Citytimes/Social_club_celebrate.shtml
Ralph (Raphael) Evaristo Rubio, Jr., was born in Tampa, Florida on July 8, 1931 and died on March 27, 2008. He was mentioned by T. J. English in the historical novel, Havana Nocturne. English described Rubio as a card dealer and "glorified errand runner" for mobster Meyer Lansky during the glory days of Batista's Cuba. Rubio's role was somewhat more complicated as a "fixer" and strongman. Ralph Evaristo Rubio was the nephew of Evaristo Tito Rubio a Charlie Wall associate and Bolita King, who died in a "underworld" dispute in 1938.
Ralph loved women and was married 14 times. It seemed that he enjoyed getting married but had no gift for staying in that state. He had five legitimate children by four different women.
Before his days in Cuba, Rubio was an athlete at Jefferson High School in Tampa, Florida. in his senior year, he was voted: "best personality," and "biggest flirt."
He then served in the U.S. Army during the Korean war. He was an infantryman and was promoted to artillery sergeant in a very short timemuch to the resentment of many of his fellow NCOs who had enlisted during peace time and moved up more slowly through the ranks. Ralph was anything but a model soldier. Although he served with distinction he also ran card games and various scams for personal profit. His answer to any allegations of wrongdoing was, "fine court marshal me, then I will go to Tokyo instead of back to the combat zone."
After the war, he found himself in Nevada where he began his casino career. He traveled extensively in South and Central America for both legitimate and shady enterprises. He was only convicted of one cocaine charge late in his life.
After his brief incarceration, he worked behind the counter as manager of La Tropicana Restaurant in Ybor City, Florida. He was known for his jokes and anecdotes. He enjoyed being an umpire for local youth softball. He was very well liked by the regulars and was involved in local politics until his health failed. Rubio is featured in the center of a painting by fight doctor, Ferdie Pachecho that hangs in La Tropicana Restaurant until the restaurant was sold.
http://www.sptimes.com/2002/02/08/Citytimes/Social_club_celebrate.shtml
RUBIO, Ralph Jr., 76, a lifelong resident of Tampa, passed away March 27, 2008. Ralph attended high schools in Tampa, where he was an outstanding athlete at Jesuit and Jefferson high schools. Ralph was a veteran of the Korean conflict. After returning to Tampa, Ralph began a long career with the Riviera Hotel and Casino chain in Las Vegas, Nev., Cuba and South America. Ralph spent the next several years as a "permanent" fixture at the Tropicana Cafe in Ybor City, where he was immortalized in the Ferdie Pacheco painting "La Tropicana." Ralph entertained everyone with his colorful and humorous, if not factual, stories of the history of Tampa and Ybor City. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph Sr. and Margaret Rubio. He is survived by five children,...
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tampabaytimes/obituary.aspx?n=ralph-rubio&pid=106567795#sthash.Fw7xrNRi.dpuf
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tampabaytimes/obituary.aspx?n=ralph-rubio&pid=106567795
Served in the Korean War, Svc Co 5th Inf Regt APO 52, National Defense Service Medal, U.N. Service Medal, Korean Service Medal
Card Dealer and Casino Inspector, Las Vegas, Nevada, Havana, Cuba
Manager at La Tropicana Café, Ybor City, Florida
Character in Novel
Havana Nocturne: How the Mob Owned Cuba and Then Lost It to the Revolution, T.J. English
http://www.sptimes.com/2002/02/08/Citytimes/Social_club_celebrate.shtml
Ralph (Raphael) Evaristo Rubio, Jr., was born in Tampa, Florida on July 8, 1931 and died on March 27, 2008. He was mentioned by T. J. English in the historical novel, Havana Nocturne. English described Rubio as a card dealer and "glorified errand runner" for mobster Meyer Lansky during the glory days of Batista's Cuba. Rubio's role was somewhat more complicated as a "fixer" and strongman. Ralph Evaristo Rubio was the nephew of Evaristo Tito Rubio a Charlie Wall associate and Bolita King, who died in a "underworld" dispute in 1938.
Ralph loved women and was married 14 times. It seemed that he enjoyed getting married but had no gift for staying in that state. He had five legitimate children by four different women.
Before his days in Cuba, Rubio was an athlete at Jefferson High School in Tampa, Florida. in his senior year, he was voted: "best personality," and "biggest flirt."
He then served in the U.S. Army during the Korean war. He was an infantryman and was promoted to artillery sergeant in a very short timemuch to the resentment of many of his fellow NCOs who had enlisted during peace time and moved up more slowly through the ranks. Ralph was anything but a model soldier. Although he served with distinction he also ran card games and various scams for personal profit. His answer to any allegations of wrongdoing was, "fine court marshal me, then I will go to Tokyo instead of back to the combat zone."
After the war, he found himself in Nevada where he began his casino career. He traveled extensively in South and Central America for both legitimate and shady enterprises. He was only convicted of one cocaine charge late in his life.
After his brief incarceration, he worked behind the counter as manager of La Tropicana Restaurant in Ybor City, Florida. He was known for his jokes and anecdotes. He enjoyed being an umpire for local youth softball. He was very well liked by the regulars and was involved in local politics until his health failed. Rubio is featured in the center of a painting by fight doctor, Ferdie Pachecho that hangs in La Tropicana Restaurant until the restaurant was sold.
http://www.sptimes.com/2002/02/08/Citytimes/Social_club_celebrate.shtml
RUBIO, Ralph Jr., 76, a lifelong resident of Tampa, passed away March 27, 2008. Ralph attended high schools in Tampa, where he was an outstanding athlete at Jesuit and Jefferson high schools. Ralph was a veteran of the Korean conflict. After returning to Tampa, Ralph began a long career with the Riviera Hotel and Casino chain in Las Vegas, Nev., Cuba and South America. Ralph spent the next several years as a "permanent" fixture at the Tropicana Cafe in Ybor City, where he was immortalized in the Ferdie Pacheco painting "La Tropicana." Ralph entertained everyone with his colorful and humorous, if not factual, stories of the history of Tampa and Ybor City. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph Sr. and Margaret Rubio. He is survived by five children,...
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tampabaytimes/obituary.aspx?n=ralph-rubio&pid=106567795#sthash.Fw7xrNRi.dpuf
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tampabaytimes/obituary.aspx?n=ralph-rubio&pid=106567795
Card Dealer and Casino Inspector, Las Vegas, Nevada, Havana, Cuba
Manager at La Tropicana Café, Ybor City, Florida
Character in Novel
Havana Nocturne: How the Mob Owned Cuba and Then Lost It to the Revolution, T.J. English
http://www.sptimes.com/2002/02/08/Citytimes/Social_club_celebrate.shtml
Ralph (Raphael) Evaristo Rubio, Jr., was born in Tampa, Florida on July 8, 1931 and died on March 27, 2008. He was mentioned by T. J. English in the historical novel, Havana Nocturne. English described Rubio as a card dealer and "glorified errand runner" for mobster Meyer Lansky during the glory days of Batista's Cuba. Rubio's role was somewhat more complicated as a "fixer" and strongman. Ralph Evaristo Rubio was the nephew of Evaristo Tito Rubio a Charlie Wall associate and Bolita King, who died in a "underworld" dispute in 1938.
Ralph loved women and was married 14 times. It seemed that he enjoyed getting married but had no gift for staying in that state. He had five legitimate children by four different women.
Before his days in Cuba, Rubio was an athlete at Jefferson High School in Tampa, Florida. in his senior year, he was voted: "best personality," and "biggest flirt."
He then served in the U.S. Army during the Korean war. He was an infantryman and was promoted to artillery sergeant in a very short timemuch to the resentment of many of his fellow NCOs who had enlisted during peace time and moved up more slowly through the ranks. Ralph was anything but a model soldier. Although he served with distinction he also ran card games and various scams for personal profit. His answer to any allegations of wrongdoing was, "fine court marshal me, then I will go to Tokyo instead of back to the combat zone."
After the war, he found himself in Nevada where he began his casino career. He traveled extensively in South and Central America for both legitimate and shady enterprises. He was only convicted of one cocaine charge late in his life.
After his brief incarceration, he worked behind the counter as manager of La Tropicana Restaurant in Ybor City, Florida. He was known for his jokes and anecdotes. He enjoyed being an umpire for local youth softball. He was very well liked by the regulars and was involved in local politics until his health failed. Rubio is featured in the center of a painting by fight doctor, Ferdie Pachecho that hangs in La Tropicana Restaurant until the restaurant was sold.
http://www.sptimes.com/2002/02/08/Citytimes/Social_club_celebrate.shtml
RUBIO, Ralph Jr., 76, a lifelong resident of Tampa, passed away March 27, 2008. Ralph attended high schools in Tampa, where he was an outstanding athlete at Jesuit and Jefferson high schools. Ralph was a veteran of the Korean conflict. After returning to Tampa, Ralph began a long career with the Riviera Hotel and Casino chain in Las Vegas, Nev., Cuba and South America. Ralph spent the next several years as a "permanent" fixture at the Tropicana Cafe in Ybor City, where he was immortalized in the Ferdie Pacheco painting "La Tropicana." Ralph entertained everyone with his colorful and humorous, if not factual, stories of the history of Tampa and Ybor City. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph Sr. and Margaret Rubio. He is survived by five children,...
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tampabaytimes/obituary.aspx?n=ralph-rubio&pid=106567795#sthash.Fw7xrNRi.dpuf
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tampabaytimes/obituary.aspx?n=ralph-rubio&pid=106567795
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