Robert Santos' Obituary
Robert Domingo Santos Sr. bravely fought a lifelong battle of heart disease. He transitioned on Friday, May 6, 2022. Born on November 7, 1953 during a family emergency visit to Utuado, Puerto Rico, Robert was the only one of his eight siblings to serendipitously be born in the country of his parents Juan and Elba Santos’ origins. Upon his family’s return to their home in New York City, Robert spent his childhood in Brooklyn during some of our nation’s most strenuous social and political battles. In this time Robert developed a heart condition and he proved to be a survivor despite living in a challenging environment with the help of his powerful spirit as well as the powerful loving spirit of his family and community: they had lemons and made lemonade. Around 1968 his father, a Diamond Cutter with devout work ethic, bought the family a home in Long Island where Robert spent his adolescence and most of his adulthood. He worked hard and became one of the first people in his family to obtain a collegiate degree. He was employed by New York state as a Registered Nurse who specialized in Psychiatry for 6 years and worked in the mental health sector for 15 plus years. In 1978 his golden hearted son Robert D. Santos Jr. was born whom Robert Sr. affectionately called Bobby. In 1988 he married his beloved angelic wife Sarah Santos of 33 years and in 1996 his pain in the a** daughter Kailah Santos was born (this obituary’s composer). In 2001 Robert underwent major open heart surgery with a 50% chance of survival. After a miraculous recovery he retired and moved to Wesley Chapel, Florida where he had 21 more years to spend and share wonderful memories with his wife, brothers, sisters, cousins, and tons of nephews & nieces. He was able to travel, experience milestones in the lives of his son and daughter, and witness his talented granddaughter Zophia Santos (born in 2006) grow up; she inherited his knack for storytelling. He was a family man, that guy that would drop everything to help someone he loved. He was a car dashboard percussionist, proud out-of-key singer, Seinfeld series binge watcher, Carlos Santana fanatic, and one of the o.g. family comedians. His cardiologist of 20 years Dr. Hal J. Applebaum called Robert his miracle patient. Robert’s life was truly a miracle. Let’s celebrate the gift he was to many: Memorial Service will be held on Friday, June 10 at 1 pm at Trinity Memorial Gardens.
Click Here for Service’s Zoom Live Stream / Meeting ID: 817 4335 2010 / Password: 399055
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