Miguel "Mike" Perez-Colon

Miguel "Mike" Perez-Colon

AGE: 79 • Freehold

Mr. Miguel "Mike" Perez-Colon, 79, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on November 28, 2016 in Freehold, NJ after a valiant battle with Parkinson's and Diabetes. Born in Santi Espiritu, Cuba in 1937, Mike attended the University of Havana and dreamt of becoming a doctor. However, when Castro came to power, he left Cuba for the United States in 1959 with only the clothes on his back and no money in his pocket. Upon arriving in the United States, Mike met the love of his life, Silvia Perez on a blind date. Together they would marry, have three wonderful children, and live the American Dream. After serving in the U.S. Army as a clerk in the early 1960's, Mike and a group of friends opened the Club Havana San Juan, located at 138th Street and Broadway in NYC, which was said to be the birth place of salsa in NYC. Mike then moved his family from Spanish Harlem to the new residential development "Colts Brook" in Freehold, NJ in 1970. Upon closing the Night Club, Mike began a longstanding career in International Sales, first with ABC and finally with NBC. As the Vice President of International Sales for NBC, Mike would travel the world, meeting celebrities and dignitaries across Latin America, Europe, and Asia. During his tenure with NBC, Mike pursued a both a bachelor's and a master's degree in business administration from Fordham University. Later in life, as a loving husband, father, and abuelo, Mike would take his family on extended vacations abroad in hopes of sharing the same experiences that he had while travelling the world.

Mike is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years, Silvia; children, Alfred and his wife Kathryn of Toms River NJ, Mike and his wife Diane of Freehold NJ, Silvia Wage and her husband Chris of Freehold NJ; seven wonderful grandchildren; Hailee, Nancy, Dominick, Mackenzie, Lacie, Mike, and Rilee; and sister; Olga Freyre of Union City, NJ. Mike is preceded in death by his parents and his sister Lydia.

The family will receive relatives and friends for a viewing on Friday December 2, 2016 at 4PM to 8PM at Freeman's Funeral Home, 47 East Main St, Freehold, NJ http://www.freemanfuneralhomes.com. A funeral service will be held on Saturday December 3, 2016 at Freeman's Funeral home at 10AM. Entombment will follow at 11AM at Marlboro Memorial Cemetery and Mausoleum, 361 NJ-79, Morganville, NJ. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Arthritis Foundation, http://www.arthritis.org The family would like to thank Dorian "Dory" his caregiver for her compassion, patience, and loving care over the last month.