Agustin Munoz-Santiago

June 12, 1927 - June 19, 2020

Ret. Col. Agustin Muñoz, MD, FACC passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family, music, prayer and song, on Friday, June 19th 2020 - one week after his 93rd birthday. Agustin was born in San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico but his formative years were spent in Santa Isabel, a coastal town on the southern part of the island on the shores of the Caribbean Sea. He loved the ocean, church rituals, music, dancing, reading, traveling, history, family and the love of his life and best friend of 70 years, Carmen Gladys Torres de Muñoz. Agustin met Gladys at a dance hosted by her sorority while they both attended the University of Puerto Rico. Agustin would frequently say: "we have been dancing ever since..." Gladys and Agustin spent a lifetime loving each other. His passing is bittersweet as we will miss him greatly, but we rejoice in knowing he has finally joined his eternal love Gladys, who passed away in 2016. During his life, Agustin approached all things with contagious joy, optimism, incredible dedication, commitment, passion, sense of duty, compassionate care and selfless love. Agustin graduated from the University of Puerto Rico with a Bachelor’s degree in Science and at the same time was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the US Army Reserve (R.O.T.C.) He served in the Korean War and then studied medicine at the Central University in Madrid, Spain. Dr. Muñoz specialized in Pediatrics and Pediatric Cardiology at the University Hospital in Rio Piedras. For over 25 years he practiced his profession which he saw as a ministry, until he retired from his professorship in the School of Medicine and private practice. He served as Medical Director of the University Pediatric Hospital. He served as President of the Puerto Rico Heart Association, Puerto Rican Society of Cardiology and the Pediatric Medical Association; and of the Medicine and Religion section of the Puerto Rico Medical Association, Founding Member of the Latin Society of Pediatric Cardiology, and Honorary Member of the Dominican Society of Cardiology. During those years, he participated in national and international scientific conferences. Dr. Muñoz published several articles in Medical journals. He was a member of the PR Medical Examiner Tribunal. He was Commander of two medical units of the US Army Reserve first in Puerto Rico and then in Gainesville, Fl. He was Command Surgeon of the Reserve in Puerto Rico and Fellow of the American College of Cardiology. Dr. Muñoz retired as a Colonel of the US Army where he received many US decorations, among them the Legion of Merit Medal, Congressional Gold Medal, Korean War Veteran "Ambassador For Peace Medal" and a special Presidential recognition as a member of the legendary 65th Infantry Regiment of the US Army, also known as the "Borinqueneers". He is survived by his five daughters, Gladys Maria, Carmen Margarita, Maria de los Angeles, Maria del Rosario and Mirya Teresa; three sons- in-law, 13 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren, his youngest sister Estrella Riefkol, and a large extended family that he loved. Agustin was an active member of St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church in Rio Piedras, PR as well as at Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Gainesville, FL and a beloved member of the Hispanic Catholic community in Traverse City during the last few years of his life. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, June 25 at 11 am at Saint Francis Church in Traverse City, MI. A graveside committal service with proper military honors will take place Tuesday June 30, 2020 at 1:00pm at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, FL. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left to support the Justice and Peace Advocacy Center (JPAC) - Traverse City, MI www.justiceandpeaceadvocacy.org or in support of Hospice of Michigan at 10850 E. Traverse Hwy., Suite 1155, Traverse City, MI 49684. Please visit www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com to share your memories with the family. The family is being cared for by the Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.