Raymondo “Rondo” Ruben Estrello

Rondo Estrello, a creative and fun-loving force, passed away on December 5 at the age of 44. Anyone that was fortunate enough to meet or know him has a story to tell about how he made them laugh and probably helped to create some sort of mischief all while leaving an everlasting impression. He was a self-taught creative genius whose work and connections in the Dallas music and arts scene will be forever remembered.

Rondo was born and raised in Garland, Texas. He and his twin brother, Raymo, were the youngest of 5 siblings. Everyone that knew them growing up, referred to them as "the boys". There were so many 'Ray' related names in the family, that his older sisters created the nicknames that stuck forever - Rondo and Raymo.

After high school, Rondo had no idea what profession he wanted to pursue. Unlike many of his friends that were headed off to various universities, he decided to give a local community college a shot to see if he could find anything interesting to pursue. That didn’t last too long with his creative mind. He then focused his energy on developing from his affinity for computers that he and Raymo had as the Internet was becoming a real thing. Rondo taught himself how to use them, troubleshoot them and even build them from scratch. He had no intention for this to become a career, but he developed a highly in-demand skill. Along with the hardware side of computers, he also mastered design software applications.

This is when he and Raymo decided to start their own production company, Digital187, where they produced events, headliners and local openers. Their company had a website that served as an “online magazine” and even had an e-commerce component – WAY before online shopping was mainstream – where they sold local and mainstream music. While that business didn’t last long, it left a positive impression and remains an unforgettable part of the Dallas music scene.

Rondo then went on to work in the corporate IT field with his first job at MCI Worldcom then Texas Instruments for about 5 years. He remained involved in the Dallas music scene and culture – which led him to investing in his first digital camera. He then became very interested in the branding/design world and eventually landed his first “webmaster” role and his official career in the creative field began.

Rondo never stopped learning. Never. He also self-taught himself studio photography during this time and always had a side hustle to develop his skills and passions. His passions were clear – technology and design. He then served as Art Director at various agencies in Dallas, and then transitioned to freelance work and refocused on his career goals. This led to his dedication to micro-content and building a new arsenal of gear and skills – which then led to his work for Dallas’ own Grammy-winning artist, Erykah Badu, who was in need for a videographer for some small projects. They worked on a few projects together, then she asked him to join her crew to document her world tour, Badu vs. Everythang. This project filled most of the remainder of 2017 and took Rondo and his equipment around the world!

The most incredible lesson of this is an example of his life over and over – in less than two years, he didn’t know the first thing about editing a video, and then had a thriving video business. He knew if you had internet access, ambition and an idea, you can start a business, with or without a college degree.

Rondo is survived by three children, Caitlin Estrello (22), Benjamin Estrello (18), and Cameron Estrello(14), as well as his mother, Violet Estrello and 4 siblings, Raymo Estrello Jr., Priscilla Bell, Cynthia Kelley and Michelle Wilk. He is preceded in death by his father, Raymond H. Estrello Sr.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent in his name to Pasos for Oak Cliff/Rondo For Pasos (In Memoriam Donation link is down below), a non-profit organization that was created by two educators that are fellow sneakerheads that gifts new shoes to students in need in order to build confidence and hope.

There will be a celebration of his life in 2021 that will be fitting to what Rondo would want - one full of music and visual arts. In the meantime, the family asks that you use this site as a living memorial to honor him and share stories.