Alexander Francois Reber-Reguera, beloved son, brother, uncle, great uncle, friend, corporate financial executive and avid aviator died January 18, 2020 in Treasure Island, Florida USA. Alex was 49 years old.
Born in Venezuela to a Swiss father, Alexander Reber I, a prominent architect of skyscrapers in South America and a Spanish mother, Francisca Maria Reguera an operating room nurse from Barcelona, Alex attended private grade schools in Caracas while his father designed major city structures there.
At age 14, the family returned to Geneva, Switzerland where Alex attended high school, and the went on to University of Geneva where he received advanced degrees in Business Administration, and was on the Faculty of Economic Sciences.
Alex also attended the Languages College Claparede in Geneva and spoke native Spanish and French, as well was fluent in English, Italian, Portuguese and German.
He served in the Swiss Armed Forces as an Air Force officer from 1991 to 2006.
His business career began working for pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly headquarters in Switzerland where he eventually lead the global procurement of materials and ingredients used at worldwide production sites. His next opportunity moved him to France where he was the Financial Director for Carrefour (known as central Europe's Walmart).
Alex's career escalated through some of the largest global firms including Agilent Technologies, Accenture, and Amadeus Private Equity, with promotions that moved him between Switzerland, Spain, France, England, Belgium, Netherlands, Canada and the United States.
In 2019, the US Consulate in Madrid, Spain awarded Alex a ten year business consultant visa and Alex established a new firm, Reber Consulting, Inc. He quickly established a growing base of decision-support focused corporate clientele.
Alex loved aviation and aeronautics nearly as much as he loved tennis and swimming. He adored his friendships in Florida, Barcelona and Geneva, and he was an intense dog lover, especially his sweet Airedale "Lilly". He was a talented artist of abstract paintings and a published writer of technical music.
An engaging man with both passion and an intense sense of empathy, Alex was also subject to depression, which he battled for several years. He chose to end his life just days before his 50th birthday.
He is survived by his mother Francisca and his older sister, Nathalie Reber Hernandez (Barcelona); his niece Melanie Maraboli (Geneva) and several nephews and great nieces and nephews throughout Europe.
After a memorial service for his friends in Florida on a beach he walked nearly daily at sunset, Alex's remains will journey back to his family and the beautiful mountainsides and lakes of Switzerland for final internment.
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I'm Free (Anonymous)
I could not stay another day,
To laugh, to love, to work and play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way.
I found my place at close of day.
If my parting leaves a void,
Then fill it with remembered joy.
Our friendships shared a laugh, a kiss,
Ah yes, these things I, too, will miss.
But be not burdened with deep sorrow,
I wish you the sunsets of brighter tomorrows.
My life has been full and I survived much;
Thanks to good friends, and good times, and loved ones' touch.
Perhaps my time seems all too brief,
Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.
Life up your heart and share with me,
God wanted me now. He set me free.
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