Carmelo Colon

Carmelo Colon Jr. was born on July 2nd, 1931, in Santurce, Puerto Rico. He is the son of Julia Santiago and Carmelo Colon Sr. Carmelito grew up in Puerto Rico and at 20, he enlisted in the Army. He valued his service highly and attained the rank of Private. As part of his service, he was awarded the Korean Service Medal with Two Bronze Stars, the United Nation Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. After his service he returned to his dearest Isla, Puerto Rico where he continued service as a police officer but eventually, Carmelo made his way to New York.

Carmelo was widowed to our adored mother Margarita Colon who passed away on January 23, 2018, at the age of 91. Margarita and Carmelo happen to meet in their apartment building in the Bronx, New York. Carmelo used to leave his door open, playing his music aloud and my mother, being the forward woman she was, enter his apartment, sat down, and told him she was interested and had seven children. To which he responded, “that’s exactly the kind of woman I am looking for, a woman with children.”

Carmelo and Margarita were happily married on December 27th, 1973. This is where our story begins. Instead of running away, Carmelo rose to the challenge with open arms. Having been separated from his biological children for unknown reasons and Margarita’s children missing the love of a father given our father passed away in June of 1966. Sometimes two broken hearts find their way to each other and become one. We were both in need of love and we found it in each other; this is when we became a family.

Carmelo legalized our mother’s status in the United States of America, fulfilling her dreams, but in many ways, Carmelo felt that his life begun when he met Maggie; as he used to endearingly call her. Together the two of them petition for the youngest children to come to America; Jonathan, Alcides, Magdalena, and I arrived in the United States in 1976 and 1977. We were finally reunited with our mother in the Bronx.

Carmelo Colon Jr. is survived by seven stepchildren; Candida Pineda 75, Gladys Umana, may she rest in peace (71), Aura Marina Cosme 68, David Jonathan Urrutia 65, Maria Magdalena Paglia 62, Alcides Dianeth Marquez 60, and Anna Rebecca Mendez, 57.

His beloved granddaughter Priscilla E. Mendez, who cared for him and loved him for six years as well as many, many grand and great grandchildren which would take hours to name.

He is also survived by his nephew Julio Antonio Rosado Colon, who is here with us today and his sister Aurea E Colon Santiago and brother Juan Ruben Colon in Puerto Rico. His son-in-law Wesley Marquez, who cared for him and loved him. His son-in-law's brother Anthony Mendez, who brought him his coffee and breakfast every morning and made sure he took his medications on time every day.

Carmelo passed away very peacefully at home, in his bed, in the early morning of March 2nd, 2024. He was surrounded by his two youngest daughters Alcides and Anna, his son-in-law Wesley and Anthony. He was loved and will be missed dearly; we are so grateful that our paths crossed. Thank you for being the key to the American dream for all of us. May he rest in peace and be eternally reunited with Maggie.