Exequiel "Exe" Rivera Bravo Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Exequiel ‘Exe’ Rivera Bravo, born on April 10th, 1929 to Isidro and Trinidad Bravo, passed peacefully on February 16th, 2021 at the age of 91. All of his immediate family members were able to see him before he passed at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center during visiting hours amidst the COVID pandemic. Exe’s educational background afforded him a Doctorate of Medicine from Far Eastern University Manila, Philippines as well as a Doctorate of Medicine from the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice in the United States. While interning at Swedish hospital in Minneapolis, he met and married nurse Lois Lee Lind on May 2, 1964. He became a U.S. citizen eight years later on July 26, 1972. At the time of his passing, Exe and Lois had been married 57 years. They have two children, a daughter Kirsten M. Sanders and a son Eric K. Bravo. Prior to his retiring to North Carolina at the age of 89, Exe served as the Director of Employee Health Services at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota until 1994. Then in 1998, he served as the Medical Director of two CSL Behring Plasma Centers, one in Minneapolis and the other in St. Paul, until 2018. During the interim, he administered physicals to military inductees and served on medical missions trips to Costa Rica sponsored by Christ Church in Apple Valley, MN. Exe enjoyed boating and fishing in his earlier years until a spinal injury precluded them. He also enjoyed fine dining and in later years, gourmet cooking. He often blended his own spice recipes, developing “Dr. B’s Wings” and perfecting his tender honey bourbon ribs. He loved electronics, listening to a wide variety of musical styles on his stereo equipment or watching movies in the latest format, whether VHS, DVD, or Blue Ray. In his retirement to NC, he enjoyed weekend grocery shopping trips with his now late son-in-law Jonathan Phillip ‘Phil’ Sanders who preceded Exe in death by less than four months. Many loved Exe for his warm, thoughtful, expressive and humorous demeanor. He attended to others in detail, with genuine hospitality. He loved the camaraderie of group get togethers, breaking out in laughter over silly stories or anecdotes. Often thinking ahead, he anticipated the needs of others and tried to meet them. Exe is survived by his wife Lois, daughter Kirsten, son Eric, daughter in law Kelly, grandchildren Ian, Hannah, and Sophia, brother Eddie and sister-in-law Virgilia, brother Rafy, and sister Vicky. Exe wished to be cremated, and his family will host a small informal gathering on his birthday at their home to honor him. Heritage Funeral and Cremation Service-Weddington Chapel is honored to serve the Bravo family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Exe’s memory to the Community Shelter of Union County, 160 Meadow Street, Monroe, NC 28110.

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Exequiel "Exe" Rivera Bravo

April 10, 1929 - February 16, 2021