Obituary of Francisco Monteagudo

MONTEAGUDO Francisco, 63 father, son, brother, and husband, died due to complications from colon cancer on Wednesday, August 31, 2022. Francisco was a man of many names —Frank, Cisco, Ponch, Panchi, Papo, Papi — representing all the people who loved him. Just don’t call him Francis. Born in Sagua la Grande, Cuba on August 15, 1959, Francisco spent three years in paradise before the Revolution forced his family across the waters to a new life in the United States, where he spent the majority of his life in South Florida working in the banking industry. It was there, at the American Savings and Loan Association in Miami Beach, where he met his future wife, Clara Peña, when she walked in as a customer. After pushing several employees out of the way to help her, he spent that night going through the phone book, calling every Peña just to talk to her again. He only had to dial one number. Francisco and Clara were married on July 21, 1984 at St. Patrick’s Church in Miami Beach. Their family grew with the addition of Jennifer and Jessica a few years later. They lived a blessed life, traveling often to places like Key West, New York, California, Europe, Singapore, the Caribbean, and many local sports bars. A lifelong fan of the Miami Dolphins, Francisco especially admired #13 himself Dan Marino; nearly as much as he hated the New York Jets. He’ll rest in peace knowing the Jets haven’t won a Super Bowl in 53 years, and that he outlived Fidel Castro by six. Although he never returned to Cuba in this life, Francisco’s ashes will be laid to rest in his first and spiritual home in Isabela de Sagua. Francisco is survived by his devoted wife of 38 years, his two daughters, his brother Tony Monteagudo and their mother and father, Maria and Francisco. All are happy their husband, father, brother, and son is free from pain; all their lives are emptier without him. Some of his final words were “Don’t cry baby. Go and live your normal life.” We’ll try, Papi. Celebration of Life Memorial Service Sunday, September 4, 2022 2:30 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. with a Funeral Service at 3:00 P.M. Please keep the Monteagudo family in your prayers. The Joseph A. Scarano Pines Memorial Chapel is Honored to assist the Monteagudo family with the arrangements.