Leah Jene (Jenie) Blanco-Bebeau

Jenie was born on Oct 7th, 1928 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She is the daughter of Professor Juan P. Blanco, noted Puerto Rican educator from Vieques PR, and Leah Bebeau Backey, a longtime school teacher from Sturgeon Bay WI.

She was a graduate of Academia del Perpetuo Socorro in Miramar PR and also completed a two-year secretarial course at the Academia del Sagrado Corazon in Santurce PR. She was the Executive Secretary for the President of the Puerto Rican Development Bank.

Jenie was a stunning beauty who was Queen of Carnival in Puerto Rico. She also did commercial modeling. She lit up a room with her smile, was very popular, loved to dance, and was a joy to be around.

In 1952 she married Lt. Col. Tomas Carrillo, US Army, with whom she had two children: Mark Dennis and John Richard. Mark Dennis married Sheri Rackley and they had two children prior to his death in 2018: Taylor Lee and Coleman Tomas. Taylor recently graduated from Montreat College in NC and Coleman is a recent High School graduate.

Jenie and Tomas were married for 66 years and as an Army wife traveled extensively throughout the world.

She was an avid gardener, ballroom dancer, loved cruising, was a serious physical fitness enthusiast and, above all, a devoted grandmother. She also was a very spiritual person who went to Mass and Communion faithfully and said the Rosary daily.

For the last few years she lived in Jacksonville Fl at Fort Caroline Gardens Assisted living. The family is very grateful for the loving care and support that she received there.

She is survived by her son John Richard, Mark’s widow Sheri Rackley, her grandchildren Taylor and Coleman, her sister Joan Blanco Negroni, her brother-in-law Hector Andres Negroni, her sister-in-law Camena Carrillo, her niece Josefina Korber Cardona, her nephews William Korber, Hector Emilio Negroni, Xavier Andres Negroni, multiple first and second cousins, grandnieces and grandnephews, and other family members.

Funeral arrangements are pending but she will be laid to rest at Jacksonville National Cemetery alongside her husband.