Jose Santos, passed away quietly at home on Tuesday December 7, 2021 at the age of 89 after several years of struggling with dementia.
Jose was a small business entrepreneur with a love for people, food and travel. Born in the small village of Alvorninha, Portugal, he left home in his late teens and spent the next 15 years working for a Dutch oil company as a sailor on an oil tanker. He loved to recount stories of traveling from port to port, experiencing the local food and culture. He was particularly fond of the Netherlands, Germany and of course the US where he found a small taste of home in the Portuguese community of the Ironbound in Newark, New Jersey where he went on to build his life and legacy. Very determined and a strong believer in the value of hard work, he established a successful truck and automotive repair business and invested in the local community. In addition to spending time with his family and friends, Jose loved spending time at his home in Florida, fishing off the pier, enjoying the beautiful sunsets over the shimmering Gulf of Mexico and sharing that experience with all who visited. He left a lasting impact on the many lives he touched and will be deeply missed by his family, friends and all who knew him.
Predeceased by his youngest child Antonio Santos in 2020, Jose is survived by his wife, Maria Ofelia Santos; his son, Victor Santos; his daughter and her husband, Celia and Matthew Iovine; his grandchildren Isabel Santos, Katie Iovine and Nicholas Iovine; and his great grandchild, Juliette Santos.
Visitation for family and friends will be held at Higgins and Bonner Echo Lake Funeral Home in Westfield NJ on Monday eveningDecember 13 from 6-9 with a private service and burial the following morning. Condolences may be offered at 1329 Summit Lane, Mountainside, NJ 07092.
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