Born and raised in San Juan, PR amongst 7 Brothers and 5 sisters - he moved to New York in aspirations of a better life on the “mainland”.
Hector was raised a Christian and continued to follow his faith once in New York, while a member of La Primera Iglesia Bautista on Pacific Street in Brooklyn there he met a young lady by the name of Alida Colon. He joined the US Army and asked Alida to wait for his return from the service to marry. He was shipped to Korea, where he earned the Korean War Medal W/3, Bronze Service Star, United Nations Services Metal & National Defense Service Medal. As promised upon his return they married. Shortly after they began to grow their family.
A member of the Amalgamated Lithographers of America Union, he worked for Case Paper Company as a Machine Operator for over 20 years. He was one of a handful of men in the late 1960’s who was trained to operate their multi-million dollar machine called a “Slitter”.
In search of what was best for his children he moved to Hempstead, LI for 15 years where family gatherings took place on a weekly basis for the Sanchez family. He later moved to Deltona, FL where he would spend over 33 years in retirement.
He loved to sing, swim, fish and was a storyteller to his children, grandchildren & great-children and anyone who would listen to his tales. He was also a Jokester – if he asked you to pull his finger you were in trouble. He pulled that trick on anyone given the opportunity.
He is survived by the love of his life and adoring wife of 65 years, Alida Sanchez, his daughters Myrna Barba, Cynthia Santiago, Yvette Hall, 7 grand-children (Paul, Danielle, Nicole, RJ, Christina, Christine & Ethan) & 12 great-grandchildren. He is predeceased by his son Hector Sanchez Jr.
Most importantly - he loved his family with all his heart! Whenever he sat down to eat, he would always say “someone is missing from my table!” even though we were all there.
He loved Life and lived it his way always, to the fullest till his last breath.
In lieu of flowers the Sanchez’ family is requesting donations to the American Heart Association: https://www.heart.org/
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