Jacinto "Jesse" Torres

Jacinto "Jesse" Torres was born in Puerto Rico on April 25th, 1942. He was the oldest child of Juana Rivera and Jacinto Torres. He was the older brother to Iris Alicia (Ali) and Luis (Papito) and had eleven half-siblings (the wolf pack). At the age of four he came to New York City with his mother and sister. He lived in East Harlem on 110th street and attended the Manhattan Vocational High School. In 1960 he met Tuli, and together they formed a family. They were together for over 50 years and always supported each other. For example, knowing his wife did not like beans, Jesse would remove them from her food. Out of that union, he gained more than a mother-in-law, he gained a best friend, Ma. He also gained sisters in Terry, Rose and Alice and a brother in George. Jesse and Ma always enjoyed watching their favorite team, The Yankees, while sharing a cup of bustelo. He often went to concerts with George and his nephew Danny, and was able to see his favorite singer Tito Rojas.

Jesse and Tuli settled down on 119th street where they started their family. In 1966 their first child Michelle was born, followed by their son Jesse in 1968. The family grew further in 1974 with the birth of their daughter Cindy and in 1994 when their youngest Gina joined the family. He taught his children many important lessons, including encouraging them to always stand up for themselves. He shared many beautiful moments with his children, creating everlasting memories for them to recall. His son Jesse remembers going to the Cosmo every Thursday with his father, where they would watch two movies and a cartoon together. His daughter Cindy remembers him fondly, sharing: "My cherished memory of my father is our unspoken bond. He always took me school shopping for clothes and supplies. He covered my books with paper bags and they looked professional. He taught me how to wrap gifts as if they were done at Macy’s! He was the one to take me out to buy clothes for special occasions and we went food shopping together every Thursday. Any family announcements that I ever made about me, he knew first! He really knew how to keep a secret and never betrayed that trust. Anywhere I invited him he obliged me up until the end! We’ve been to the movies, dinners, amusement parks, pools and the beach. Although he was a man of few words his presence was known. He was my first love, genuine and true. He showed me by example how I’m supposed to be treated and never hurt my feelings. I will always love him, cherish his memory and honor his legacy."

In 1989 he became a grandfather with the birth of his granddaughter, Ashley. His love for his granddaughter was evident when they would both cry when being separated. Unable to properly say abuelo, Ashley gave him the name Guelo and it is the beloved title his grandchildren would call him. Joseph followed in 1993 and Briana in 1995. The memories they created with Guelo are filled with love and joy and many instances of being called jackasses. Guelo had more grandchildren with the birth of Bryson in 2004, Ethan in 2011, and Jojo in 2015. Guelo enjoyed teasing Bryson and would sometimes surprise him by picking him up from school unexpectedly. He also accompanied him on many school trips that Bryson remembers fondly. Whenever Ethan was in Guelo's arms no one else existed. The two engaged in active conversations about basketball games, stats, and players. Guelo was impressed with how knowledgeable Ethan was about basketball at such a young age. Although Jojo was born while Guelo began to struggle with his health, Jojo's passionate energy encouraged Guelo to keep active. According to Jesse, the best thing that ever happened to him was becoming Guelo. The love for his grandchildren was so strong that he would often refer to them as his own children. He played an important and loving role in the lives of his grandchildren.

Born in the Silent Generation, Jesse was mild-mannered but always available when people needed him. He loved being in Puerto Rico with his wife, where he would sit in his rocking chair listening to salsa while doing a word search puzzle. He also loved his car, and bragged about washing it by hand. He loved to eat pig's feet, and enjoyed eating ox tails with his granddaughter Briana. He enjoyed hanging out with his friends in the barrio and attending the old timers festival. He remained active throughout his life, and set an example for his family as an independent and self sufficient man. Jesse inspired those close to him to fight to overcome any obstacles in their way. While the world may not know him, Jesse was the WORLD to those who knew and loved him.