Felipe Prieto

Felipe Prieto, our beloved father, abuelo, bisabuelo, brother, uncle, and friend passed away peacefully at home and has been reunited with Herminia, his precious wife of 68 years. Felipe was born December 26,1928 in Havana, Cuba. As the lone boy in a family with three sisters, he was spoiled and admired.

Felipe was an intelligent, hardworking, and ambitious student, always graduating at the top of his class. He graduated from La Universidad de la Habana and began his career as an accountant and financial manager in Havana. For several years during that time he courted the love of his life, Herminia, and they married in 1957. They began their long life together in Havana with their three children. In 1962 the Prieto family fled Havana and the Castro regime and eventually settled in the United States.

Felipe realized that in order to succeed in his adopted country he needed to obtain his degree from an American university. While working full time, Felipe studied and obtained degrees in accounting and business administration. When he restarted his career as an accountant in Tampa, Florida, he decided to make things a little easier for his American colleagues and changed his name to Philip. In 1968 he was presented with a promising job opportunity and was excited to start a new life and move his family to Houston, Texas.

Philip worked for 20 years in Houston with the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word as the CFO of their extensive health care system. With his leadership, this system grew into what is now Christus Health. Philip retired early and spent many years traveling throughout Europe, South America, and Canada with Herminia. He was a lover of good food, good wine, and good music. And mostly, he loved his family.

Felipe’s legacy of integrity and hard work will live on in those left to cherish his memory. They include his daughter and son in law Ana and Gregg Anderson along with granddaughters and their husbands Taylor and Garrett Galloway, and Kelsey and Christian Tekell; his son and daughter in law Philip and Dee Prieto along with granddaughters Alexandra and husband Jon Lemieux, and Lauren Prieto; his daughter Victoria Hoffman along with grandchildren Alex and wife Rachel Hoffman, and Sophia Hoffman; 8 great grandchildren; his sisters Conchita Prieto and Gloria Ramos.

The family would like to thank Vanessa, Angie, and Rogelio, the caregivers who lovingly cared for Don Felipe during his last year. We are also grateful to Elida and John who were loyal longtime friends. Felipe did not want a service on his behalf and preferred instead to be celebrated simply with joy and companionship.