Jose L Menendez

(May 15, 1934 – December 30, 2020)

It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our beloved Dad, Jose L. Menendez, on 12/30/2020. He passed away peacefully at home in Elizabeth, NJ surrounded by and in the care of the family.

Jose was born on May 15, 1934 in Havana, Cuba. He excelled in school, especially in math. So, when he graduated high school, he attended la Universidad de Havana, majoring in engineering.

As a result of communism, the Cuban schools/universities were closed. So, Jose, known to many as Pepe Luis, came to the United States to earn his degree. He attended Louisiana State University and, in 1959, earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. Thereafter, he returned to Cuba and, on June 21, 1959, married Ana M. Albacete. They were blessed with 3 daughters. Realizing that his beloved country was headed toward a totalitarian, Marxist regime, he immigrated to the United States in June 1969 with the family to make a better life for all.

Upon arriving in the United States, they settled in Elizabeth, NJ. Soon after and thankfully, Jose was able to secure a job with

G.A. Kleissler Company, Edison, NJ that provided security and stability for the family. During his tenure with Kleissler, he held the company’s accounts in Mexico and Puerto Rico which he enjoyed as he liked to travel. When the company relocated to Florida, Jose moved to Lakeland, Fl. He retired after 30+ years of service.

Through his life, Jose was a hands-on Dad/Abuelo. He was the PTA President at Lafayette Middle School under the leadership of Principal Mr. Eason. He enjoyed going to the Elizabeth High School Marching band competitions to partake in his daughters’ extracurricular activity. When the grandchildren began to participate in sports, he looked forward to going to as many as possible baseball/softball games of all his grandchildren.

Jose enjoyed traveling, golfing, pig roasting, playing dominos with his grandchildren and sons-in-laws. He often traveled to Puerto Rico and reunited with a friend from Cuba, Dionisio Canellas. Cancún, México was another favorite travel destination. As a tradition, a pig was roasted for 4th of July and Nochebuena(Christmas Eve), ending the celebration with playing dominoes and cigar smoking. Many wonderful memories were made throughout his lifetime.

From a young age, Jose and Ana instilled in their daughters the love of God, the value of good moral character, and the ethics of hard work. They understood and projected that these qualities and principles were the key in succeeding in life.

Leaving Cuba, his birth country, and coming to the United States, the land of opportunity, Jose worked hard and exceled. He was blessed with a good and healthy life. He will always be thankful to God for the life given and this country for the opportunities it afforded him.

Jose was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Ana M. Menendez. He is survived by 3 daughters, Maria Castellanos and son-in-law, Joe Castellanos, Sílvia Magadan and son-in-law Aldo Magadan, and Rosa Marsal and son-in-law Alberto A. Marsal. He has 10 grandchildren (Gregory, Nicholas, Joseph, Anthony, Kristofer, Christopher, Alberto F., Kaelyn, Gabriel, and Amanda) and 2 great grandchildren (Adelaide and Zion).

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of the following charities which Dad supported: St. Jude (stjude.org) or Wounded Warrior Project (woundedwarriorsproject.org/donate).

God bless you and God bless the United States of America

A visitation for Jose will be held Thursday, January 7, 2021 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Krowicki McCracken Funeral Home, 2124 East Saint George Ave, Linden, NJ 07036. A funeral mass will occur Friday, January 8, 2021 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at St. Catherine RC Church, 1000 N Broad St, Hillside, NJ 07205.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.krowickifuneralhome.com for the Menendez family.