Obituary of Rosalio G. Duran

Rosalio “Rabbit” Duran, 87, passed peacefully on Monday, August 17, 2020 due to complications from heart surgery. Rabbit was proud of his deep local heritage, born to Ezekiel Duran and Eva Gonzales Duran on May 18, 1933 in Austin, Texas.

A political and social pillar in East Austin, Rabbit grew up playing youth sports and was the first Hispanic to play on the Austin High School football team. Although he was only 5’5”, he was fast as a ‘rabbit’, and ran circles around other players as a running back, graduating in 1952.

Rabbit was a Korean war veteran. He enlisted in 1952 along with several of his closest friends, among them Richard Bernal, Richard Arechiga and Sylvester “Silver” Velasquez, as was his way, he maintained close friendships with them for the duration of their lives. During the Korean War, he proudly served in the U.S. Navy as a supply and logistics specialist onboard the aircraft carrier, USS Oriskany (CV-34) until 1956.

Rabbit returned to Austin and worked in the community, eventually opening several businesses. He met his beautiful wife in 1969, married her and moved his business to his legendary east side corner. Rabbit and Mary raised her three children and had two more children together. They also looked after many children over the years. Some moved into their home, some that lived in the neighborhood, and others that he would ‘adopt’ from around his bar.

Rabbit and Mary spent most of their young married life working and raising kids but also loved to travel and socialize with their close friends Kenneth and Virgina Wedeikes and they often traveled with Charles and Lois Villasenor to Las Vegas, Laredo, or San Antonio. Each Memorial and Labor Day holidays, Rabbit took his kids and maybe a neighborhood friend or two, to Houston and Corpus Christi so they could vacation while he attended the men’s fast pitch softball tournaments that he sponsored. Although he worked 7 days a week, he always came home early on Sunday to spend a fun evening with his family. He always attributed being able to take any time off at all to his friend Ruben Torres, who he trusted with the bar during his rare absences. In 1974, Ruben started working at the bar, and continued his employment there for more than 25 years. Rabbit loved him like a son. Rabbit’s other trusted assistant, Johnny D, helped him with everything from bartending to yard work. He fixed his cars and built him furniture. Rabbit would say over and over that “Johnny D can do anything!”

Rabbit was a most proud Grandfather. He took his grandchildren with him to work and loved to take his boys to Dan’s to get their hair cut. The kids always looked forward to when it was time for Grandpa to take them shopping for school clothes at the end of the summer. He never missed a graduation or a game and attended AHS football games even after everyone graduated. In their eyes, Grandpa was as solid as they come and he was everything they ever needed him to be.

Rabbit talked about traveling the country to eat a hot dog at every professional baseball stadium and visited many of them. He sponsored and supported all manner of teams. He loved sports, especially the ones you could bet on. Horses, football, basketball, women’s softball, he even sponsored women’s roller derby.

He loved traveling to the casinos in Louisiana, Oklahoma and Las Vegas and did so frequently in his retirement with his daughter Catherine and friends, Rey T, Sarge and Johnny Rios, just to name a few.

Many people know him from his iconic business, Rabbit’s Lounge on East 6^th and Chicon. Rabbit’s opened in 1969 and was not only a neighborhood bar where all were welcomed, it also became a cultural and political hub that supported the East side community. 

Rabbit’s Lounge, ‘the place’, was often filled with Judges, Senators, City Councilmen, and Capital Staff. If you were running for Office, Rabbit’s endorsement came with a sign placed on his corner. The community need only drive by to know who to vote for to support east Austin.

Countless fundraisers were held throughout the 40 plus years of operation for many up-and-coming politicians and for countless families and friends.  If you needed help, you could call Rabbit, he would make a few calls and the community would come together for the cause.

Retiring in 2012, Rabbit maintained ownership of the legendary corner in east Austin. He thoroughly enjoyed his partnership arrangement with Scranton Twohey, owner of Whisler’s, which was orchestrated by his son, Ryan. He would constantly share its history and success with anyone who would listen. Whisler’s continues to honor the legacy of Rabbit’s.

Rabbit’s departure leaves a monumental void, not only in the hearts of his loving family, but also in the hearts of the vast number of friends and community members who Rabbit considered his extended family. He is preceded in death by his parents Ezekiel and Eva, his wife Mary, son Ryan, and 2 sisters Ina Mahnick and Yolanda Duran.  He is survived by his sister Elma Duran Lafuente, daughters Angela Duran, Catherine Ferrell (Doug), Lisa Blonkvist (Tim), son George Fancher III, 7 grandchildren, Alicia Roberts (Jimmy), Mark and Jonathon Gault, Gabriel Maroney (Rachel) Jacob Duran, Stephanie and Douglas Ferrell. Three great grandchildren, Jasper Roberts, France Maroney, Jayden Melby. And countless nieces, nephews, and cousins that knew him as ‘Uncle Sonny’ and that he adored.

Services to honor Rabbit are carefully planned to accommodate the current COVID restrictions.  All services will be live streamed for those who would like to participate and pay their respects safely from home.

COVID Safe Service Option:

Lie in Repose Monday, August 24th from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

There will be a public viewing allowing only one family at a time.

Mission Funeral Home 6204 S.1^st Street, Austin TX 78745

Monday, August 24th, 7:00 p.m.

Attend the Rosary via Live Stream. Follow the Link or Search for

Mission Funeral Home South Side on Facebook Live to join.

 

Tuesday, August 25th, 11:00 a.m.

Attend the Mass of Christian Burial via live stream.

RG Duran Funeral Mass to join live.

Please check back often for updates.

 

For Those Attending In Person:
 

Please note that there is limited seating and all attendees must wear masks and follow social distancing guidelines.

Monday, August 24th

5:00 p.m. viewing followed by Recitation of the Holy Rosary at 7:00 p.m.

Mission Funeral Home - South Side

6204 South First Street, Austin, Texas 78745

Tuesday, August 25th

11:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church

1206 E. 9th Street, Austin Texas 78702

Interment to follow.

Please visit www.missionmemorials.com to leave condolences and order flowers.