Roosevelt Sylvester Isaac, Sr. has honorably been licensed as Chief Angel early morning on Tuesday, November 23, 2021, with family by his side, he peacefully donned his winged uniform.  Isaac walked and skipped and ran before flying toward the heavens, partly because of his rejuvenated body and partly because the instruction manual was lost with his keys. Many knew Roosevelt as "Isaac", "Preacher" or "Izzie" and regarded him as a good man, a faith-filled man, a dreamer and an "I did it" man. His excited and exclaimed greeting "Hey! It's so good to see you! How've you been?" is a memory we will all cherish. His lively personality, tenacious spirit, kindness and pursuit for success was shaped by his parents Juanita and William Isaac after his birth on February 2, 1935 in Arcadia; where he remained a life-long resident and well-respected figure in the community. He is survived by, his exact words, "a good woman and wife", Joann Alford; his children, Cheryl Isaac and Roosevelt Isaac, Jr., whose life accomplishments filled him with pride; his brothers Edward, Theodore, John and Carl and sister Juanita, several beloved step-children, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all of which he loved deeply. He is preceded in death by his first wife, Frances Isaac (White) and son Manuel "Leon" Baber.

Those close to Isaac knew God built him differently than most. Intentionally designed to help others in any way imaginable and unimaginable complimented by a necessity to constantly in motion and action empowered his gift for improving the world through a single interaction. His first major act of selflessness and service was demonstrated immediately following high-school graduation when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Medical Corps and became a Veteran of the Korean War providing medical support to the 101st Airborne Screaming Eagles. He went on to use those skills as a 30 year employee at the former Arcadia G. Pierce Woods Mental Institution where he rose to the position of Supervisor and was renowned for calming the most difficult patients, always making time regardless of position. Isaac also attained a Business Degree from South Florida Community College which provided a foundation for his many businesses, certifications and licenses; providing 50 years of business services to residents and businesses in Arcadia and surrounding areas. On any visit you were guaranteed to hear the ecstatic pride and joy he held for a recently established business, corporation or individual he was mentoring in the community. Isaac's passion was centered on helping people to achieve success - regardless of the person's circumstances. This dedication to people was nationally recognized at an invitation-only White House Dinner.

Isaac was also a trailblazer for the African American community - being the first to open doors of opportunity for the black community. He further used his experiences to create and evangelize a blueprint for achieving success. Isaac was one of the first African Americans to become a Licensed Real Estate Agent where he bought and sold many properties and prioritized making housing and land more affordable and accessible; one crowning achievement was the development of a local neighborhood (Golden Melody). Another pioneering achievement was successfully obtaining government contracts with the U.S. Postal Service, hauling mail across the state of Florida. He was even approached to run as a State Official. These are only a few instances that he was proud of, but many times the most profound impact on him and others was his one-on-one mentorship, dedicating time and resources to help the young and willing succeed.

Isaac enjoyed traveling and exploring the U.S. and even abroad throughout his life making many memories with his children. Later in life, Isaac and Joanne could often be found navigating the highways in their motorhome and together visited 48 of 50 States in North America. Many times insisting on taking grandchildren on vacation with them - memories he cherished and enjoyed sharing the many stories with others. His love for family could not be contained and would spontaneously pack the motorhome and travel across the country for a visit, especially if a new great-grandchild was born. His love for friends and community could also not be contained. I personally recall driving around looking for Izzie with Joann - only to find him on Orange Ave with older men in the community laughing and playing checkers. He would spend hours there not just for his own enjoyment but aiming to make the day better for those older men challenged by aging and poverty. Isaac's actions say a lot about who he was; his generosity of time, attention and care is his life's most precious gift to us. He would travel to the end of earth to be there with you and for you in times of happiness, sadness, or challenges without having to be asked.

Isaac's spirit will ripple across the community and beyond for generations through the many seeds of knowledge he planted - together we are his garden of hope, light, health, wealth, and success. The seed inside of you possesses his generous spirit, passion and encouragement to enjoy the life you have now while recognizing life's endless possibilities. As he would say "it has to be your decision" - let us honor Isaac's life by watering each seed and nurturing each memory of him.

Please join us in celebrating Roosevelt S. Isaac, Sr's life on Tuesday, November 30th, 10:00 A.M at Ponger-Kays-Grady Funeral Home. Located at 50 N Hillsborough Avenue, Arcadia, Florida, 34266.