Luis Suarez

Luis Suárez passed away peacefully surrounded by his children, on May 25, 2023 in Gretna, Louisiana. He was born in Guantanamo, Cuba to Andres Alfonso Suárez and Cecilia Esperanza Rodriguez on February 24, 1933.

He was the second of four children, his brothers are Juan Suárez, who is known by Pupin, Rafael Suárez, who some knew as Ralph and his sister Maria Caridad Suárez, known as Cachita.

He married his childhood sweetheart Maria Josefa Goméz on December 18, 1955 in Guantanamo, Cuba. In 1958, they welcomed their first daughter Maria Josefa followed by their first son, Luis in 1960; both Cuban born. In Cuba, he worked in his family automotive business, representing Chrysler, Jeep Willys and other automobile parts as well as pharmacy supplies and home appliances, also supplying to the Guantanamo Naval Base.  In Guantanamo, he was a Knight of Columbus and a volunteer fire fighter.

In 1961, when turmoil ensued on the island, Luis uprooted his young family of four from Cuba to the United States. Since relocating to the United States, Luis lived the rest of his life in New Orleans, La., where he welcomed his three youngest children, Maria Elvira in 1963, Andres Alfonso in 1964 and Lisa Maria in 1966.

Luis was a devout Catholic devoted to St. Jude and The Virgin Mary. Luis was a proud Cuban man, proud of his Cuban heritage and what family meant to him. But as proud as he was of being Cuban, he felt an even greater sense of pride of what the United States of America stood for. In his eyes, while Cuba was the land to see his birth, the United States was the land to see him free. He was extremely proud of the men of service in his family. He felt that this great nation had welcomed him with open arms and allowed him to prosper.

Over the years, Luis continued his involvement in the automobile industry through his ownership of several auto parts stores and a gas station. He also co-owned Musica Latina with his siblings, a Latin American music store; a venture that allowed him to bring contemporary musicians in the seventies, eighties and nineties to New Orleans. He was supportive of Latin American causes in the city such as the annual Azucar Ball. He served as a translator to the Jefferson Parish Sherriff’s Office under Sherriff Harry Lee.

He loved music and was a wonderful dancer. He was always in good spirits and cared for everyone. He was always ready to lend a helping hand, no questions asked. He was a loving and supportive husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather who will be terribly missed. We thank God for 90 wonderful years of enjoying his wonderful humor, warm sensibility and storytelling.

Luis is preceded in death by his wife Maria Josefa (Gomez) Suárez and brother Rafael Alfonso Suárez.  He leaves behind to cherish his memory his children Maria Josefa Alvarado known as Mapy (Miguel), Luis (Robyn), Maria Karpaitis known as Marietta (Lenny), Andres, and Lisa Pertuit (Jim); grandchildren; Kevin, Richard known as Richie (Morgan), Steven, Luis Anthony known as Tony (Danielle), Cristina known as Mimi, Erik (Ginger), Taylor, Jason, Julia, Sara, Matthew and Michael; great-grandchildren; Indie, Emory, Jackson, Quinn, Asher, Elijah, Shelby and Layton; as well as many nephews, nieces grand-nephews and grand-nieces.

Visitation is 9:00 am Thursday June 1, 2023, followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00am at Jacob Schoen Funeral Home with Father Jose Espino, Rector of the National Shrine Ermita de la Caridad officiating. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery.

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