Dr. Jorge Rivera Diaz

He attended Ponce High School and the Polytechnic Institute before earning his undergraduate degree at Syracuse University and his medical degree from the Complutense University of Madrid (formerly known as the Central University of Madrid). He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Temple University in Philadelphia.

Dr. Rivera Díaz had a distinguished career in orthopedic surgery in Puerto Rico. He served as Chairman of Orthopedic Services at Doctors’ Hospital and Ryder Memorial Hospital, Medical Director at Doctors’ Hospital, and Director of Children’s Hospital in Guaynabo. He was also a medical consultant for Ramey Air Force Base, an Associate Professor of Orthopedics at the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, President of the Orthopedic Section of the Puerto Rico Medical Association, and President of the Orthopedic Section of the Latin American Association of Orthopedics and Traumatology, as well as a Sigma Nu member.

He enjoyed working with his hands, including home repairs and carpentry projects. He was an avid golfer, bowler, and bocce player. He often said that simply waking up each morning was one of his proudest moments.

He was a longtime member of Saint Peter the Martyr Church in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, and St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church in Tampa, Florida.

He was preceded in death by his father, Félix Rivera Torres; his mother, Altagracia Díaz García; his wife, Carmen Belén Colón Flores; his sister, Ruth Rivera Gago; his brothers-in-law, Víctor Gago and Evelio Otero; and his granddaughter Myrna “Mimi” Rivera.

Dr. Rivera Díaz is survived by his three children: son Jorge Rivera and his wife Maricel Micheo; daughter Lourdes Rivera; and daughter Belén Rivera and her husband Luis Garcia. He is also survived by his sister Consuelo Rivera Otero; his grandson Alex Frantzeskakis; and great-grandson Christian Rivera.

Family was everything to him. He lived by God’s word and led by example. His love for life and for people was evident in the unconditional hugs and kisses he freely shared with everyone he met. He will be deeply missed.