Miguel A. Estrella Diaz

Written by his wife, Susan Estrella

He was the love of my life and I will miss him every day. He was smart, funny, engaging, thoughtful, witty, talented, artistic, handsome and full of life. He lived through tragedy and triumph in his 83 years and loved his family dearly. He led an incredible life full of many things most of us will never experience. My love, Miguel Angel Estrella, also known as – Mike, Miguelito, Mikey, Mickey, G-Dad – will be remembered for his spontaneous wit, his incredible smile and his scrumptious Cuban cooking. Our neighborhood nicknamed him the Mayor of Yellowwood which explains his personality in a nutshell. He loved talking to people whether he knew them or not. And if they had a dog, well, all the more reason to strike up a conversation. Traveling with him was pure joy as he often took us off the beaten path to explore the real, true culture of the places we visited. We all have so many stories to share that his memory will surely live on forever. He had four beautiful sons from his first marriage, one of whom, Michael, passed at a young age. I have been fortunate enough to have inherited an amazing family who I proudly call my own, our sons – Tony (Anthony) and wife Nancy Andreoli, Ron (Rolando) and wife Julie Szabos and Travis and wife Erika Hale. They in turn have given Mike and I six delightful grandchildren, Izabela, Michael, Carly, Kaitlyn, Gabrielle and Melanie. I have been blessed with a wonderful sister-in-law, Carmen, and her warm, loving husband, Pablo, along with their three grown children, Grace, Paul and Nick, who welcomed me, the gringa, with open arms into their boisterous Cuban/Ecuadorian family.

Mike worked many years for The Washington Post, starting as an artist and working his way up to systems administrator before retiring. Not long after that, he started a second career in law enforcement, practicing in both North Carolina and Florida. Our lives took us from Virginia to North Carolina and then to Florida, inching closer to his native Cuba with each move. Though he is not here physically, I feel his presence every so often. Some of his favorite Latin songs have spontaneously played from my phone and I just know he is near. Thank you, my sweetheart, for the best years of my life and the amazing memories that will comfort me and our family for years to come.

For all who have expressed their sympathy in so many thoughtful ways, thank you on behalf of our entire family. Your kindness has touched each one of us. Some have asked about donating to a cause in Mike’s memory. Our family has chosen the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at https://www.lls.org. Use my name, Susan Estrella, or email address as the recipient email ([email protected]).