Ramon Rivera

Obituary For Ramon Rivera

Ramon Rivera Obituary To Remember our beloved patriarch of the Rivera Family, Ramon Ventura Rivera Santiago, (AKA) Papi. Papi was born in Cidra, Puerto Rico on July 114, 1920 to Pablo Rivera and Maria Santiago. He grew up with six brothers and two sisters and is survived by three siblings Victor, Tonita, and Lydia. He was naturally intelligent and with only a third grade education he could solve an equation faster than most and taught himself how to read and write English. Papi served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946 and was a veteran of World War 11. He sought a better life for his family, so he relocated to New York City in 1951. He lived most of his life in the St. Nick housing, located in Harlem, with his late wife Placida Rivera. Papi had 15 children and 226 grandchildren spanning more than four generations. Papi learned to cook in the service and his motto was “in order to fight good, you have to eat good”. This trade inspired his passion for cooking and feeding the local community. His pastels were renown beyond the borders of New York. Papi was a passionate individual with a great sense of humor. His smile was contagious and he believed that laughter was the true secret to living a long life; a 101 years! We are go grateful that when the Almighty was ready for Papi that He let him depart this life peacefully in his sleep while listening to the music that he loved. The family is truly blessed with a strong foundation provided by Ramon and Placida Rivera.