Carlos Juan Pérez-Meléndez

Born in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico, he was the youngest son of Miguel and Inés. Known as “Johnny” to his parents and siblings, Pérez-Meléndez throughout Puerto Rico, Don Carlos to many, and simply Papa or Abuelo to those closest to him, he lived a life defined by integrity, humility, kindness, and an unwavering love for his family.

A proud Puerto Rican and American, Carlos attended University High School (UHS) in San Juan and earned both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Electrical Engineering (BSEE and MSEE) from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. He served as an officer in the U.S. Army Signal Corps, spending time in Europe, where he met Ann, the woman who would become his wife of 62 years.

Carlos built a distinguished career as an electrical engineer with the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA), rising to Deputy Executive Director. A proud member of the Colegio de Ingenieros y Agrimensores de Puerto Rico (CIAPR), he remained connected to Puerto Rico’s engineering community. Following his retirement from PREPA, he founded Southern Power Resources, a Miami-based engineering consulting company through which he served clients throughout the Caribbean. Respected for his honesty, work ethic, and principled leadership, he held himself and others to high standards.

With Pérez-Meléndez, everyone knew where they stood. He played no favorites, treated everyone with fairness and dignity, and remained humble despite his accomplishments. He believed in hard work, doing what was right, and helping others without expecting anything in return. Yet Carlos also had an incredibly playful side. His contagious laughter, wonderful sense of humor, and endless collection of hilarious Puerto Rican refranes could brighten any occasion. He loved a good joke, warm embraces, baseball, traditional Puerto Rican trio music, and the company of family and friends. A romantic at heart, he found joy in the timeless melodies that reminded him of his beloved island.

Above all, Carlos was a devoted family man. He took immense pride in the family he and Ann built together. Nothing brought him greater happiness than time spent with his children and grandchildren, especially the close bond he shared with his grandsons. As their Abuelo, he filled their lives with laughter, affection, encouragement, and unconditional love.

He is survived by his wife, Ann; sons, Juan Carlos and Carlos Miguel; daughter-in-law, Graciela; grandsons, Diego and Lucas; sister, Chery; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Miguel and Inés, and siblings Miguel Ángel, Víctor, Cucho, Miguel, Teté, and Mario.

Carlos leaves behind a legacy of a family deeply loved, countless cherished memories, and a life lived with honor, kindness, and compassion. We will miss his laughter, his hugs, and his unforgettable refranes. Most of all, we will miss the simple joy of being with him. Descansa en paz, Papa. Te queremos mucho. Hasta que nos volvamos a encontrar.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorial contributions in honor of Carlos Juan Pérez-Meléndez to the Scholarship Fund of the Colegio de Ingenieros y Agrimensores de Puerto Rico (CIAPR), or to the College of Engineering at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, supporting the education of future generations of engineers.