Jorge Rey

Jorge de la Caridad Rey was born on November 2, 1928, and lived a remarkable 99 years before leaving this world on January 13, 2026. He is survived by his daughters, Maria Rojas and Marta Garcia, and his son, Jorge Rey. He had 5 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

In 1966, he left communist Cuba for Spain in search of a better life for his wife and daughters, carrying with him the dream of one day reaching the United States. He arrived in the U.S. in 1968 and, alongside his wife, worked seven days a week to care for his family and put all of his children through school. When they first arrived, they owned only one mattress—which they gave to his daughters—while they slept on the floor. That was the kind of man he was: Selfless, tireless, and quietly heroic.

He eventually because a successful businessman, owning a restaurant, a grocery store, a laundromat, real estate, and a check cashing store.

He loved his native Cuba and his adopted United States. He spent the last 58 years of his life expressing his gratitude to the U.S. for accepting him as an immigrant and for all of the opportunities it showered on him and his family. In return, he gave this country two attorneys, two firefighters and paramedics, two accounting and human resources professionals, a Marine, an IT specialist, and a special education teacher.

Jorge was a student of history. His favorite presidents were Franklin Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan. He admired Winston Churchill and his strength during World War II. He loved classical art and the work of Velázquez, Rembrandt, and Renoir. He loved classical music, especially Johann Strauss II. The Blue Danube was his favorite piece. He appreciated human innovation and loved planes, often watching them take off at airports. Jorge loved poetry and could still recite his favorite poems at 99. He adored the Cuban poet José Martí and the comedian Álvarez Guedes. Above all, he loved to laugh—and he loved making others laugh.

He was blessed to have been hospitalized only twice in his life—once to replace a heart valve, and the second time to replace the heart valve he outlived.

He was an amazing father who called his children and grandchildren every day, and who loved his family deeply, tirelessly, and unconditionally.

The hearts of his family are broken, but they are endlessly grateful for the years they shared with him, and for the love he instilled in their hearts and souls.