Jose "Pepe" Maya

MAYA, JOSE "PEPE", passed away peacefully on November 24, 2007. He lived all of ninety-seven years, and what glorious years they were. He was born in humble surroundings in Churlu, Turkey, which he always likened to the village scenes in "Fiddler on the Roof." Because of post-WWI problems in Turkey, he and his family fled the country. The family settled in Cuba in 1920. Starting life over again was not easy. He was forced to quit grade school, and immediately went to work, doing whatever he could to survive and assist his family. Basically self-taught, he became an accomplished jeweler. Later, he turned a moribund ribbon manufacturing company into a successful business he renamed "Cintas Mayita", which supplied label trimmings to cigar manufacturers and others. Upon Castro's arrival, he was again forced to leave and start life over, in the U.S. He returned to the jewelry business in Miami. He led a well-rounded life, devoting considerable time to Jewish causes. He was active in numerous synagogues and organizations while in Cuba, including a long history of service on the Board of Directors at Comunidad Hebrea in Camaguey, and Chevet Achim in Habana. He served as president of Centro Sefaradi Synagogue in Habana, Cuba. After Castro's arrival, while still in Cuba, with the assistance of the Israeli Consulate in Curacao, he volunteered to help countless Cuban Jews in obtaining visas to leave the country, risking arrest by Cuban authorities. He was a founding member of Sephardic Congregation of Florida (Torat Moshe), and was one of its longest-serving Board of Directors members. Annually, he supported the State of Israel Bonds Campaign and several Israeli organizations, including Porat Josef Yeshiva and Misgav Ladach Hospital. More recently, he received awards for his lifetime of service at Torat Moshe, and from Instituto San Carlos. Throughout his life, despite a chronic arthritic condition, and other ailments, he expressed concern over everyone he met who was ill, and always offered good thoughts and optimistic encouragement. He neglected his own health in favor of helping others. He was a caring brother to his disabled sister Zoila, tending to her every need for many years, and she will miss him dearly. He was a trusted, sincere friend and exemplary family man. He never forgot his upbringing, and longed for life's simple things. He offered love and friendship to everyone he met, and received it in return. These attributes proved to be the success of his life. He was predeceased by his first wife, Sarah Benrey-Maya, in 1974, and later Blanca Egozi-Maya, in 2001. He leaves sons Ralph (Barbara), and Marcos, of Atlanta, Georgia; granddaughters, Sarah and Esther; brother, Isidoro; sister, Zoila, countless nephews and nieces, and his ever-loving extended family. Interment was held at Mt. Sinai Cemetery. Donations may be made to Temple Torat Moshe, 1200 Normandy Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33141. To visit this Guest Book Online, go to www.MiamiHerald.com/obituaries.