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NC State University University of Texas

Juan Santos Obituary

Juan Santos, 60, a resident of 3632 Sleepy Hollow Road, died Sunday, January 6, 2008, at Duke University Medical Center after an eight-month battle with cancer.
Born in Laredo, TX on April 16, 1947, he was a veteran of the United States Air Force, graduated from the University of Texas in 1973, and attended graduate school at North Carolina State University.
Mr. Santos was the Communications Director for the North Carolina Department of Labor, and was a former reporter with the Greensboro News & Record and The News & Observer.
A memorial service will be held 3:00 p.m. Sunday, January 13, 2008 at St. John's Episcopal Church in Wake Forest by the Rev. Jerry Fisher.
He is survived by his wife, Laura Seifert Santos and their son, Michael of the home; his son, Jon and daughter, Linda, both of Austin, TX; brothers, Antonio Santos and Guadalupe Saldana of Laredo, Texas and Carlos Saldana of Dallas, TX; sisters, Maria Contreras, Viole Trevino, and Nora Sanchez all of Laredo, TX, Norma Martinez of San Antonio, TX, and Silvia Travaglione of Washington, DC; three grandchildren.
The family will receive friends 6:30-8:00 p.m. Wednesday night at the J. M. White Funeral Home in Henderson.
In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorial contributions be made to: Tri-Area Ministries in Wake Forest, P.O. Box 1394, Wake Forest, NC 27588, ACTS, 305 S. Chestnut Street, Henderson, N.C. 27536, or to A.C.I.M., P.O. Box 398, Oxford, N.C. 27565, or to a charity of one's choice.
Arrangements are by the J. M. White Funeral Home of Henderson.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The News & Observer on Jan. 8, 2008.

Memories and Condolences
for Juan Santos

24 Entries

Dave Simpson

January 2, 2020

Wow. Juan would be 72 on Jan. 6th, 2020. And still, very few days go by that I do not think of Juan Santos, one of the finest, kindest and gentlest souls. A great family man, writer and carpenter and friend. I love to think back on how when we would "shoot the bull," as we often did, it did not take long before Juan, so full of life and humor, would literally get tears in his eyes from smiling/laughing. We miss you my Brother. More than you may ever know -- but I choose to believe you do! Peace...

Lynn Little

January 25, 2008

Dear Laura and Michael, Jon and Linda, I was thinking about Juan the other day and wondering what he was up to. I guess we haven't been in touch in almost 20 years. I was shocked and saddened to find this obituary as a result of my Google search just now. Please accept my deepest sympathies.

Joshua Steadman

January 22, 2008

Juan Santos was an unadorned talent, someone who elevated whatever situation he found himself in, whether that was being a reporter at the N&R, a man battling cancer or just being a friend to others.

He was simply sincere, and I'm lucky to have known him. I will always remember him as my friend and someone who influenced my life.

Tahia Roberson

January 13, 2008

Dear Laura The Memorial service for Juan today was beautiful. We were so touched from the words of his friends. Please know that we will be thinking of you in the days to come. Love from us both. Tahia and L.H.

Judy Dixon

January 13, 2008

Dear Laura,
So many years since I have seen you from the Henderson Dispatch days but will never forget the happiness and love that you and Juan projected and shared. How saddened I am to read of your loss. I have read the beautiful tributes in this guestbook, how I wish I had known Juan all these years since I have seen you. I just will never forget the looks of love on both your faces. May you lean on God for His comfort and strength and He will guide you through all the days of your life as I'm sure He has already. May you be comforted as well by those who love you and minister to you with these beautiful words of tribute.
Your old buddy
Judy Strop Patterson Dixon
Smithfield NC

Rick Benton

January 12, 2008

To Juan's family: May God give you peace in your time of loss. I worked with Juan at the Energy Division several years ago. He was a good friend and person. May God again give you peace to move on with your lives.

Pattie Smith

January 11, 2008

Laura,
I am so sorry for your loss. I just heard the sad news and wanted to get in touch with you. You are one of the toughest women I have ever met. Just remember to lean on all the people who love you during this time of grief.

Lisa Tirk

January 11, 2008

My deepest condolences to the Santos family. Jon and Linda, I am truly sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your families. May God bless and keep you.

Seek the LORD, and his strength. (Psalm 105:4)

With Love Your Cousin,
Lisa & The Tirk Family

Isabella Pina-Hinojosa, Ed.D.

January 10, 2008

My condolences to the Santos family. To Jon and Linda on the loss of their father. I also extend my sympathy to his grandchildren: Joanna, Jon, and Justin as well as his daughter-in-law, Lisa. May time and prayer bring peace to your heart. You had your father for 40 years of your life. This is a blessing in itself. May your Dad rest in peace. We love you,

Pina-Hinojosa Family
Aunt Chavela

Jacob Villarreal

January 10, 2008

I never met Mr. Santos but I am fortunate to have his son Jon as one of my dearest friends. As I have read these guest entries, I can't help but smile as so many have described the fine attributes of this man who was so obviously loved and respected by many.

I have witnessed and can testify to many of these fine attributes as I see them exuded so proudly through his son Jon.

Jon, I grieve for you and your family and tonight I pray for you all.

Mr. Santos, your legacy lives strong!!

Donna Steadman

January 9, 2008

Juan... what a sweet and gentle man he was. Easygoing and caring, always wanting to hear about what was going on in your life and ever ready to find something to laugh about. And Juan had such a great laugh. One of those laughs that was real and came from his pleasure in being around his family and friends. Just pleasure in living. I think that God must have a soft spot for a man like Juan to have blessed him with the creative gifts he had and the love of so many.

I will miss you so much, Juan. And I'm glad you got to meet Olive. Love you.

Vera Turner

January 9, 2008

Lawson and I were so sorry to hear of Juan's passing. Donna Steadman is our daughter and we met Juan while visiting Donna and Tommy in Greensboro. I remember Juan's ready smile and laughter and it was evident that he and Donna and Tommy shared a special kind of love and friendship. Laura, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. May the memories of special times you and Juan spent together and times spent with the many friends you made through the years be a comfort to you.

Mark LeGwin

January 9, 2008

Juan Santos came into my life through two of his co-workers (Tom Hayes and Allen McNeely). The four of us gathered on a couple of occasions to work on a vacation home on Core Sound.
Juan impressed me right off the bat with his knowldge and ability at all levels of carpentry skills.
He had the uncommon skill to work hard, keep everyone laughing , and actually make work enjoyable. The occasional beer and constant "picking" we did at each other (or maybe it was the constant beer and occasional "picking") made the time go by so fast that we worked until late into the night every day.
Juan told me of his cancer one night while we were having a drink and cigar. We discussed his love for his family and how that love is what kept him going. I don't think i'll ever meet another person that wanted to live more than Juan.

I wish i had spent more time with him, but we talked on e-mail daily.
He also had that ability to make the person he was talking to feel special. My memories of him will always be of him with cigar in hand , right at the corner of his mouth , with his mout gapped open with that look of disbelief at what i was telling him. He may have heard the story you were telling a million times, but always made me feel "special" for telling it again.

The toughest man i have ever known. I loved him and will miss him dearly. My deepest sympathy to his family in his paasing. I will have a beer or two this weekend and a good cigar overlooking Core Sound in his memory.

Tahia and L.H. Roberson

January 8, 2008

Dear Laura and family We are so sorry about Juan. The first time I met him, I knew what a good man he was. He was a friend and a great man to know. The memory of him will always be with my family. He was a strong man and fought a hard battle but HIS SRIRIT IS SOARING. WE love you All.

Jamee Lynch

January 8, 2008

I am so sorry to see of Juan's passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you, Laura, my Alpha Chi sister and friend.
In the Bond--
Jamee Osborn Lynch

Tom Steadman

January 8, 2008

Juan was a treasured friend and a talented journalist. I consider him the bravest reporter I've ever had the honor of working with. He was honest, dogged, idealistic and true to his craft and himself.
As a friend, he was loyal, dependable, nonjudgmental, always willing to listen and help in any way he could. This is a man who cannot be replaced, can't be forgotten. A special person who bore his trials without complaint. I loved him so.

Rita Lewis

January 8, 2008

I just heard the news of Juan's passing, and I send my most sincere condolences to his family. Juan and I were employed at the State Energy Office some years ago. When I told him that I was beginning to practice yoga and showed him the "props" needed, he offered to build me two yoga blocks. I had seen his beautiful woodwork in pictures and a nice jewelry box he was working on at the time. To my surprise and delight, a few weeks later Juan delivered the yoga blocks to my office. It was great knowing such a kind-hearted soul as Juan Santos. The world needs more of the human race like him. God bless the Santos Family, Rita Joyner Lewis

Violeta Trevino

January 8, 2008

Our deepest sympathy to you and your family. We will treasure his memories and laughter forever. Please keep in touch with your family in Texas (Viole, Norma, Nora, Pito, and Charlie).

Alberta Hall

January 8, 2008

I am sincerely saddened at the loss of Juan. He will be missed at the Dept of Labor.

Nick Vincelli

January 8, 2008

I'm extremely sorry that Juan passed away. Juan was my supervisor for several years and he was very kind and positive.

David Boul

January 8, 2008

Juan Santos was one of the most remarkable men I have ever known. He was honorable, he was wise, and he was sincere. His dear family and friends are lucky to have had him in their lives. We will all miss him dearly.

Dave Simpson

January 8, 2008

Juan Santos was perhaps the finest friend I'll ever know. He had an easy smile, was humble, kind and compassionate, an incredible listener, one of a kind. His passing, to a much better place, will bring him the peace he so richly deserves. His love for Laura and Michael was unsurpassed and beautiful. Just before his passing, I will never forget how Juan could not take his eyes off Laura, how he reached out to her, a requited love for which words cannot adequately describe. My thoughts and prayers, and those of my wife Denise and family, are with Laura, Michael and Juan – and his many friends and family, as the world now has a void that never can be filled.

Michael & Julie Daniels

January 8, 2008

Laura,Michael and Family

We are so sorry for loss. Juan was a good man, friend and boss. He will be missed by all that knew him. You and your family are in our prayers.

Ed Williams

January 8, 2008

I have this big, heavy bench on the screened porch, grown heavier over the years with layers upon layers of varnish I've dutifully slathered.

Today, it could withstand a nuclear blast and visitors always remark: "Geez, that's a big sucker."

I wanted Juan to see how I was keeping up his bench, the bench he made me many years ago.

That bench served to remind me how Juan loved to work with his hands, get out puttering in his shop out back, often surprising a friend with his wood work.

That bench also served to remind me of an enduring friendship, one that continued long after Juanito and Laura and Mikie left Greensboro.

No matter how much time might pass, Juan and I would fall into our easy routine of exchanging barbs and taunts, the good-natured horsing around that guys do, the salty joshing that causes our wives' eyes to roll.

I'd poke Juan about NCSU basketball. He'd poke back about UNC football. I'd boast about UNC basketball and he'd respond with Texas football. He'd tease me about my girlie Chardonnay. I asked when his single taste bud might mature beyond a Bud.

Our banter went beyond sports and in minutes we'd both be giggling and howling like grade school boys, trading more faux insult.

More than anything, that bench out back serves to remind me of that laughter.

Our laughter was always therapy for me. That bench brings a smile and then a chuckle when I remember him.

I could get all moribund and say how there will be a little less laughter in this world without Juan in it.

But that wouldn't be true.

Because all Juan's friends - and I know they are legion - must do is think back to a time when he had that signature Tall Boy in his hands, swapping tall tales and taunts.

That should bring a smile and, I hope, the laughter will come.