Clydene Albrigo, RN, designated driver, Cat Breeder and mom

Clydene Albrigo, 84, passed away March 6, 2025 after a long struggle with hydrocephalus.

Our mom, Clydene Albrigo, was the constant presence that made our house a home.  She touched our lives in many ways including making our clothes, cutting our hair, giving us shots, teaching us tennis and bowling, assuring we went to church and getting us to the library, school club meetings, band, and scouts.

She was a very good cook and to this day her Waldorf salad, shortbread cookies, guacamole dip, lasagne, and spaghetti are some of my favorite foods.

Clydene Albrigo was born September 1940 in Los Angeles California to Clyde and Radha Belt.

Clydene married her high school sweetheart and eventual Citrus Hall of Fame and University of Florida Professor Leo Gene Albrigo.

She interrupted her nursing school in the Los Angeles area (LPN?) for three kids and to support Gene while he completed his studies at UC Davis and Rutgers (Phd).   She got her final degree, a Bachelor's in Nursing (RN) at the University of South Florida.

Over a multiple decade career, Clydene was a nurse at a clinic, Winter Haven hospital, and the Polk County Public Health Department.

Clydene was a nationally recognized cat breeder of Exotic (short haired Persians) cats that are represented the pedigrees of many regionally and nationally awards cats such as Regional winner Floricats Starman, Regional Winner, best Exotic Brown Tabby and top 3 of breed nationally Floricats Nsync, and Regional Winner (DM – designates a cat who had many champion offspring) Floricats Painted Doll of Ladiluck.

After and during a decade of breeding cats, Clydene participated in several women's groups that promoted citrus (Citrus Circle) or expanded the knowledge of the members through visits to museums, duck tours, etc. (Homemakers – including past President) where she was typically the designated driver.

Clydene and a semi-retired Gene moved to Daytona Beach Shores in 2015.

She was also fortunate to be able to travel extensively with Gene to Hawaii, Europe, China, the Caribbean, Brazil, Columbia, and Sri Lanka.

Clydene was preceded in death by two of her children, Ruaun and Chris, and her husband Leo Gene.

She is survived by her son Thomas R. Albrigo; Ruaun's kids: Kyle, Jordan, Michael, Lauren. And Trevor; and, Chris's kids: Carrie, Susan, and Jennifer.

If you would like you could donate in Clydene Albrigo's memory to one of the following:

YWCA USA. Dedicated in memory of Clydene

Mayo Clinic Jacksonville                                                                                                                                    Mary Rethlake Memorial fund                                                                                                                      Barrow Neurological Institute of Phoenix – tribute to Clydene