Obituary of Nestor Martin Morales

Nestor Martin Morales, 66, of Miami, Florida, passed peacefully in the company of friends and family on October 14, 2022. Nestor Morales, known also by family and friends as “Nestico” or “Tico”, was born in Miami, Florida on December 29, 1955. Growing up and spending time on the Biscayne Bay, the Florida Keys, and the Atlantic Ocean, it’s not surprising he developed a lifelong love and respect for boating, fishing, and diving. When opportunities opened up in the oil and gas industry in the Gulf of Mexico, he took his love for the ocean and moved to south Louisiana finding work in the industrial diving business. Muddy bay water and life as a dive tender would be short lived, but with other opportunities in abundance, he found work as a contractor supervisor then offshore in oil production. The move to south Louisiana would kindle new friendships, many from Louisiana, but also a few from Pensacola Florida. With these Florida friends, many road trips and adventures were launched to Pensacola Beach. When the booming oil industry slowed and opportunity presented itself, he made the move to Pensacola eventually leaving the oil industry behind and shifting gears to the home building trade. The beach-bachelor life was good, but love, business, and a longing for Miami would steer him home. He reestablished residence in Miami and found work the building industry. The years to follow would present challenges. Hurricane Andrew, the death of both parents, and a divorce created a time for serious soul searching and would change the course of his life back to his first passion, the ocean. Taking a job in Key Largo with Captain Slate and making regular runs out to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park put him back on the water and created contacts in the recreational dive industry. One of these contacts would be with world renowned oceanographer Dr. Robert Ballard, leading the JASON Project off the Florida Keys where he shuttled passengers to the offshore site using his own boat, Strike-Force. It was during these dive-days, that he would meet the love of his life, a lovely California native and diving enthusiast residing in Tavernier, Florida. The relationship grew stronger and the two settled together in Homestead Florida enjoying the Keys, diving, eating local foods, and becoming NASCAR fans. Tico co-operated the dive concession in Biscayne National Park captaining boats, satisfying the park service, and taking people of all skill levels diving and snorkeling in the Atlantic Ocean. As time went by and Homestead transitioned from small agriculture town to bustling subdivisions, a desire for country living and cancer recovery took them to Fort White, FL, and several acres of land next to a 60-acre park. Four wheelers, country neighbors, and unleashed dogs became the new normal. The time of clean country living would last only a few years before opportunity steered him back to Pensacola, old friends, retirement, and a lovely home in Pace, FL. Tico lived a rich full life. He was a special and generous soul who made great first impressions, spoke only well of people, was a great conversationist with a sharp wit and a keen sense of being able to pleasantly disagree, was easy company, loved having the “local” insight, brought class to being casual, and most importantly knew Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Nestor is survived by his sister and life partner. He is preceded in death by his parents Nestor Morales and Virginia Morales. Private memorial services to be held on Pensacola Beach and Biscayne Bay.