Saul Rendon

Mr. Saul Dario Redon, age 71, passed away November 18, 2014.

Saul Dario Rendon Urdaneta was born in Valencia, Venezuela on June 15, 1943 as the first born of Luisa Candelaria Urdaneta and Saul Dario Rendon Martinez. His formative years were full of love, mischief and laughter with much of it spent in his father's home town of Pariaguan. At the age of 12 his father was arrested for delaying telegraph messages from the government of the Dictator Marcos Perez Jimenez, to arrest patriots fighting for democracy, long enough to warn them to flee. As the eldest of ten children, Saul suddenly became the man of the house, and helped his mother provide for his family.

Saul started his political career at the age of 12, joining the Venezuelan Youth Association, and acquiring a leadership position by the age of 18. In 1964, Saul came to Southern Mississippi University to learn English; he then transferred to Tennessee Technological University where he graduated with an Electrical Engineering degree. It was here that he met the love of his life, Betty Jean Bryant; they were married on September 8, 1966. They returned to Venezuela shortly thereafter where they started a family.

From 1967 to 1970 he was selected as a representative to the United Nations for Venezuela specifically for the construction and launching of the INTELSAT IV, international communication satellite. Then he started his career in Venezuela with General Motors as an Electrical Engineer in charge of the quality control/assurance department.

Between the years of 1974 to 1978, during the Presidency of Carlos Andres Perez, Saul served as the Director of Telecommunications, Director of Administration at the Ministry of Justice, Director General of Administration Services; and the Director General of Planning and Budget for the House of Representatives.

Following his term in government, he launched his entrepreneurial career and established MidAmerican and Fisan. These companies were dedicated to the construction for pre-fabricated buildings such as rural schools with two or three modules for classrooms, a teachers office and two bathrooms as well as public notaries offices. In total more than 30 school modules and 20 public notaries were built across rural Venezuela, bringing much needed education and public services to remote areas. Some of these structures are still standing and in use to this day.

He returned to the United States in 1979 with his family, where he dedicated his life to their happiness and well being. He took great pride teaching at University of Central Florida where he was the director of student recruitment for the Minority Engineering program. He also thoroughly enjoyed teaching at the South Florida Community College in Hardee County, Florida.

Perhaps his biggest legacy is the smiles, laughter, and love that he carried with him wherever he went. He had a big heart, and opened his home to so many people along the way. His zest and passion for life will be remembered by all those whose lives he touched. He will be dearly missed by his family; wife Betty Rendon; his children-son Saul J. Rendon, daughter-in-law Carmen Rendon, daughter Kimberly McCue, son-in-law Terrence McCue, daughter Adriana Freund, son-in-law Christopher Freund, His Grandchildren Javier and Gabriel Rendon, Amanda and Kaitlyn McCue, Isabella and Andrew Freund. Siblings: Luisa-Omira, Teresa, Simon, Augusto and Leonardo; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.