Angel Santiago Garcia, age 83, of Ponce, Puerto Rico, passed away peacefully on Memorial Day, May 26, 2025, at the Veterans Hospital in Tampa, Florida. Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, he was the beloved son of Ramona Ramon Garcia and stepson of the late Antonio Ramon.

A self-made man, Angel was a proud entrepreneur from an early age. His journey began on the corners of Spanish Harlem, shining shoes and selling paper bags as a young boy. Refusing to ever be employed by anyone but himself, he carved a remarkable path that would leave a mark on the Hispanic community and music industry.

He worked alongside iconic Salsa artists and was instrumental in producing and managing some of the genre’s household names— Hector Lavoe, La Lupe, Tito Puentes, Ray Barretto, Ismael Rivera, and Willie Colon to name a few. He brought live Salsa performances to Orchard Beach in the 1980s, a first of its kind. He owned the Cheetah Social Club, founded Ms. International Beauty Pageant, and created Latinos Magazine.

Though born in San Juan, Angel was raised in New York from the age of two and returned to Puerto Rico at age 50, reconnecting with his roots. He found joy in the simple things in life—playing handball, working with his hands in carpentry, and always, music.

Angel’s proudest accomplishment was raising his children. Despite a challenging upbringing in a poor neighborhood and limited formal education, Angel was a brilliant and streetwise businessman, building successful ventures that reflected his spirit.

He is survived by four of his five children: Angie Hanlon-Toth, Jason Quinones, Maritza Santiago, Elizabeth Santiago, and seven grandchildren: Sean, Alicia, Jason, Nyssa, Jayda, D’Angelique, and Angelina. He was preceded in death by his beloved mother Ramona, stepfather Antonio, and his cherished son Gabrielle Santiago.

Angel’s legacy lives on in his family— His daughters, Maritza and Elizabeth, and grandchildren D’Angelique, Jayda, and Angelina stood by his side during his final days.

He often spoke with deep gratitude of the friends and business partners who shaped his life—Jimmy McNair, Justo Cancella, Eddie Rosa, Henry, Izzy Sanabria, Lenny Wooden, among others.

Per his wishes, there will be no public visitation. Angel requested to be cremated and his ashes released into the Caribbean Sea—so that his spirit may live on with every sunny beach day.

A memorial gathering to honor his life and scatter his ashes will be announced at a future date.

Memorial Contributions:
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to help with cremation, memorial, and legal arrangements. Please contact Maritza Santiago directly at 813-499-6700 for more information on ways to contribute. Any amount is deeply appreciated.

Angel’s life was a tribute to determination, creativity, and love for culture and family. He will be remembered always—with music in the air, laughter in our hearts, and sunshine on the shore.