Antonio de Soto Jr.

Soto, passed away in Tallahassee, Florida on March 16, 2024. He was 81 years old. He is survived by his

wife of 58 Years, Betty Andrews de Soto, his daughter, local attorney, Tammy de Soto Cicchetti, his son

in law, Charles “Chip” Cicchetti, his granddaughter, Alayna N. de Soto Cicchetti and his grandson

Nickolas M. de Soto Cicchetti. He was preceded in death by his parents Antonio de Soto, Sr.

(“Alemberte”) and Marta de Soto Delgado, and 2 loyal yellow Labradors, Bridger and Benelli.

Tony was born on November 11, 1942 in Havana, Cuba. He spent his early childhood in the city

of Havana and in the countryside of Cacajual, on his maternal grandfather’s sugar plantation, often on

horseback.

At 6 years old, he began to make regular visits to Europe and the United States with his mother

and his artist father, who began to open art studios in Lucerne, Madrid, New York, Miami and LA.

His father also played piano in the Presidential Palace in Havana, and came to believe that Cuba

would not be where he wanted to raise his son. He purchased property in Miami, Florida and the family

regularly went back and forth between Cuba and Miami, with the stays in Miami becoming longer as the

political unrest in Cuba escalated.

He last visited his maternal grandfather, Reinaldo, in Havana and at Cacajual for New Year’s

celebrations on January 1, 1959. Reinaldo was able to put Tony and his mother on a Miami bound plane

amidst the chaos. Tony never returned to Cuba and lived most of his adult life in Miami, Florida.

He graduated from the University of Miami in 1967, with a degree in architecture. He

worked in a local Miami architectural firm for several years, before becoming partner. He eventually left

the firm, and opened his own architectural firm, de Soto & Associates Architects, Inc.. He designed many

amazing commercial and residential projects for numerous clients.

He designed and built a condominium in Key West, where he absolutely loved to fish- a hobby

he had as a boy in Cuba, continued with his father in law, and maintained throughout his life. As a

member of the Miami based Rod & Reel Club, he fished many tournaments and shipwrecks with his wife

Betty and his daughter Tammy, bringing in record breaking tarpon, sailfish, shark, cobia and amberjack.

He later wanted to become a cowboy, and designed and built a home in Bozeman, Montana. He

met some of the best friends of his life while spending up to 6 months of the year in Montana learning

to ride again, to wear cowboy boots and to hunt pheasant, deer and elk.

In 1997 he designed and built a home in Tallahassee, FL, where he lived the remainder of his life.

He loved architecture, fishing, hunting, hobbies in general, especially buying all of the perfect

tools/gadgets needed to pursue the hobby, and completely believed that “he who dies with the most toys

wins”.

His ashes will be spread, by family, in Key West, at Sunset, coming through the channel, with

Jimmy Buffet playing and an open beer.