Services will be held Wednesday for a popular City of Miami firefighter who was taken off life support Tuesday following a brief battle with cancer.
A viewing for Rafael "Ralf" Garcia will be held Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Caballero Rivero Woodlawn Funeral Home, located at 8200 Bird Road in Miami. A mass will be held Thursday morning at 10:30 a.m. at St. Kevin's Roman Catholic Church, 12525 Southwest 42nd Street in Miami, followed by a burial at Our Lady of Mercy Cemetery located at 11411 Northwest 25th Street in Miami.
Garcia, a firefighter on a Miami fireboat, underwent emergency surgery Sunday to remove a tumor on his cerebellum.
He lost consciousness following the surgery and will be taken off life support Tuesday, officials said.
Garcia's wife, Maeghan, is seven months pregnant with their son, Mason.
A post on Firehouse 9's Facebook page announced the death of Garcia, also known as "Robertico."
Don't even know what to say. Stunned, heartbroken can't stop crying. Thank you for your efforts but sometimes it's not enough. We lost Ralf this morning. The last gentlemen Fireman. We love you Robertico. We will see you again in the eyes of your soon to be born son and he will know you thru our story's.
A GoFundMe page established to help support baby Mason has raised more than $140,000 since Monday.