Santiago Legaspi Ravelo

Santiago Legaspi Ravelo, fondly known as Ted, was a leading light whose presence allowed him to take control of various situations with ease. Equipped with a clear and cunning focus, he also possessed a strong leader attitude. He had the ability to make even routine situations seem exciting, and he was at ease with the role of playing problem solver. Ted always sought out the scene of where the action was. Sociable, analytical and pleasant, Ted was an individual who enjoyed life and all of its challenges.

      Ted was born on July 22, 1936 at home in Gigaquit, Surigao Del Norte, Philippines. His parents were Monico Ravelo and Paulita Ravelo Lores. Always able to express himself well, Ted possessed strong interpersonal skills. He was optimistic in his outlook on life and was able at all times to be open and direct in his communication. Armed with a great wit, Ted was raised to be accepting of others and to implement a strong personal work ethic.

      Blessed with a balanced attitude, Ted was able to relate well with others. He was raised with five siblings. He had three younger sisters, Corazon, Carmen and Consuelo and two younger brothers, Ramon and Don. Ted had a strong desire to be treated fairly and would readily offer others the same fairness in return.

      When the goal of college was in sight, it became important to Ted. He was able to absorb complex concepts and had an acute sense of how things worked. He studied Pre-Law from the University of Santo Tomas then continued enrollment in Law School, earning his Bachelor of Law from The Manuel L. Quezon University in 1963.

He migrated to the United States in 1978 and settled in North Miami, FL where he was active in the Filipino-American Community, North Miami Mayor's Task Force, Miami-Dade American Advisory Board and the Asian-American Federation of Florida for over 15 years.

       He used logical analysis of his retirement options in order to ensure his retirement would be fulfilling. Still, he was able to easily adapt to possible changes and enjoyed just having fun and socializing. His new life involved relocating to Sunny Isles Beach to remain in the South Florida area.

      Ted passed away on April 13, 2023 in Aventura, Florida from natural causes. He is survived by 8 children and 13 grandchildren. Services were held at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church and he was laid to rest in North Miami, Florida.

      Ted was the kind of person who could win others over easily. A concrete communicator, he relied on his senses to increase his involvement and awareness of others. He was always able to provide amusing repartee to his friends and acquaintances, offering a seemingly endless supply of quips, anecdotes, jokes and stories. If Ted had a theme song written about him, it might as well have been Sinatra's “My Way.” He enjoyed his life and the experience of living it. This is how everyone will remember Santiago "Ted" Legaspi Ravelo.