Tributes

Claro Orfanel Onate, MD died in Tallahassee, FL on April 20, 2023, despite heroic efforts by medical personnel to save him after a sudden and brief illness. He was born on July 1,1940 in Guinobatan, Philippines to Florentina Orfanel Onate and Rafael Los Banos Onate. He received his BS in 1960 and the Doctor of Medicine degree in 1964 from the University of the Philippines. Following graduation, he came to the United States for postgraduate training. He completed specialty training in psychiatry in Cleveland, Ohio and Akron, Ohio in 1973. During this time he met his future wife, Martha. The couple married in December, 1970. His first job after residency was at Florida State Hospital in Chattahoochee, FL where he served as staff psychiatrist for 7 years. The couple welcomed 2 children while living in Chattahoochee: John Claro Onate, now also a psychiatrist, and William Rafael Onate, now a psychologist and registered nurse. In 1980, he joined the Apalachee Mental Health Center in Tallahassee, FL as staff psychiatrist. The following year, he began his 23 years of service as Senior Psychiatrist with the Veterans’ Administration Health Service, Psychiatric Division, in Gulfport, MS, where he retired in 2004. After retirement, he concentrated on his interest in botany and gardening, producing abundant displays of roses, zinnias, ginger flowers, marigolds, and black-eyed Susans. He lovingly maintained his lantana bushes because they attracted the brilliantly colored butterflies and fluttering hummingbirds. His skills were also directed at the vegetable and fruit domains, producing kale, onions, corn, and bushels of oranges and grapefruit. He kept his mind active by going to the physical and digital library where his favorite topics were astronomy, scientific and medical scholarly articles and books, as well as history and biography. He was a whiz at crosswords and sudoku, and puzzles of all kinds. He particularly enjoyed putting up the lighting display at Christmas which was always the delight of the neighborhood. He loved animals including some backyard visitors that he left food out for. He was the loving caretaker of 2 very pampered cats, 1 deceased, 1 very much alive—both named Groo. His main interest remained his family, relishing the get-togethers on holidays and visits from grown children and other family members. He leaves to grieve his wife, Martha, his son, John, of Sacramento, CA and his wife, Makiko, and his son, William of Spring Hill, FL. His brother Rafael Onate and wife Loningning of Redondo Beach, CA and his brother Florentino Onate and wife Asunción of Chicago survive him. Surviving also are a sister-in- law, Loida Onate, of Pomona, CA, a sister-in-law, Elizabeth Pace, of Spring Hill,FL and a brother-in-law, Benjamin Lorete of Las Vegas. A brother, Diogracias Onate, and a sister, Gloria Lorete, predeceased him. There remains a host of nieces, nephews, and other extended family both in the US and in the Philippines who will remember him fondly. The family will be receiving guests for a visitation at Bevis Funeral Home on Thursday, April 27, 2023 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm. Breanna Green of Bevis Funeral Home (850-385-2193 or www.bevisfh.com) is assisting the family with their arrangements.

Tributes

Claro Orfanel Onate

July 1, 1940 - April 20, 2023