Obituary of Gustavo Clemente Perez De Corcho

Gustavo Clemente Perez De Corcho

December 27, 1952 – February 17, 2026

Gustavo was born in Camaguey, Cuba on December 27, 1952. He was 5 yrs old when the Castro regime came into power and his parent's business was taken away. They left Cuba and went to Venezuela for 2 years while waiting for U.S. residency.  Gustavo was only Spanish speaking at the time and was put in an English school where he quickly learned the language.  After high school he went to university of Miami music school. He started playing Guitar but found he had a love for percussion. Drums became his career after that, and he travelled the country and overseas with many different bands.  While working in a trio with Norwegian cruise line, he met one of the nurses onboard, Judy, who got him involved with medical emergencies on board. He then decided he wanted to become a Paramedic.  He left the ship jobs and did just that.  Working with Manatee County EMS and later Lee County.  They were married in 2001, a year later his personality changed and he was found to have a brain tumor, surgery was successful, but scans showed it was metastatic Renal cancer. Many treatments and surgeries later at Moffit cancer center he was in remission.  He then went on to become a hyperbaric technician working in two hospitals in the area with decompression chambers.  He was a Dive Master so was always interested in Hyperbaric medicine. Sadly about 10 years after the brain radiation, he began to suffer ill effects from it. He lost his balance first then other problems arose that prevented him from working at jobs he loved, he still played drums with a band for a few years until he could barely walk and then had a stroke. When his wife retired as a nurse their home in Sarasota, Florida was sold and they made the long drive to Canada with a tabby cat and A Golden retriever, Sonny who was his service dog for a while. With the help of friends, one Lori Wagner, they made it back to Newfoundland in 2004, bought a handicap accessible house and Judy cared for him at home. After his 73rd birthday in December he became Ill and never recovered. He passed peacefully away in the palliative care unit of Western Regional health center on February 17th, 2026, with his wife and friends Barbie and Bart by his side and Sonny the big golden. He leaves behind his best friend of 30 years and wife of 24 years Judy, Nephew Luis, Neice Marlene and Nephew Marcello plus a large circle of cousins and friends. He was loved by all, happy always even when he didn't feel well. When asked how he was he would always say he was messed up but happy! His final wish was to have his ashes placed in a reef ball in Florida. He was always saddened about the natural reefs dying so wanted to be part of establishing a new one. He will be missed dearly.