Ana Maria Crespo

Born in Havana, Cuba, on November 5, 1933, Ana came to the U.S. with her husband and two small children as a Cuban exile. They made their way to Tampa, FL in 1961, where she spent the remainder of her life and had a significant influence on local affairs. She was married to Luis Crespo, MD, and had three beloved sons: Luis Enrique, Jorge Luis and Enrique Luis.

A devoted mother who gave her sons everything she had, Ana’s love was unconditional and unwavering. Her children were her proudest accomplishments and she would light up whenever they were around.

Elegant and well-heeled, Ana had a sophisticated sense of style. Her charisma was palpable and her vivacious personality could charm anyone she encountered. She loved to travel and was the life of any party.

Perpetually kind and interminably generous, she was the first to help and had the largest of hearts. Her incredible work ethic led her to have multiple successful careers throughout her life. Ana received her Bachelor of science in education, Masters Degree in Psychology and a PhD in Education. Ana worked for many years as an educator and went on to manage her husband’s medical practice. After her husband passed away, she pursued a career in real estate and became one of the top agents in the area.

Ana’s philosophy in life was to always try her best, and try her best she did, in every endeavor. Her commitment to community service led to multiple achievement awards including three times being named the Hispanic Woman of the Year. A groundbreaker, she was the first Hispanic woman to earn many local honors.

Ana dedicated her time to dozens of organizations including (but not limited to) Club 15, the Cuban Civic Club, the American Cancer Society’s Sword and Hope Guild, the National Education Association, Hillsborough County Medical Association Alliance, Pan American University Women, LifeLink, Southern Medical Association, Tampa Women’s Club.

Over the years she held honorary positions with Hillsborough Community College’s Hispanic Advisory Board, Hillsborough County School Board’s Multicultural Task Force, International Immigrants Foundation Cultures Mission United Nations, H.B. Plant Museum, Latin Community Advisory Committee University of South Florida, LifeLink Board of Governors, Mayors Hispanic Advisory Council City of Tampa, Cuban Club Foundation, Democratic task force on Hispanic Issues National Advisory Board to the Us Senate.

Ana was predeceased by her husband Dr. Luis Crespo; her brother Enrique Gutierrez; and her parents Dr. Enrique Gutierrez Alberdi and Dr. Ana María Rodríguez Gutiérrez.

She is survived by her sons Enrique Luis Crespo, Luis Enrique Crespo, MD and Jorge Luis Crespo, MD; her grandchildren Luis Ariel Crespo, MD, Adriana Maria Crespo and Alejandro Luis Crespo; her great-granddaughter Lola Tanner; her brother Ariel Gutierrez; her nieces

Ana Cristina Gutierrez-Rodriguez, Ana Victoria Morse and Tessie San Martín; and her nephews Fernando Enrique Gutierrez and Ariel Enrique Gutierrez.

Ana’s generous nature, tenacity and selflessness will be missed by all those who knew and loved her. In the words of Thomas Campbell, “To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.”

A visitation will take placed on Saturday, February 5, 2022 from 9:30AM to 10:30AM at Christ the King Catholic Church, 821 S. Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa FL 33609 with the funeral mass beginning at the church at 10:30AM. Interment will follow at Centro Asturiano Memorial Park in Tampa.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.gonzalezfuneral.com for the Crespo family.