Antonio Mirabel Sr. was born on November 15th, 1930, in Brooklyn, New York to parents Antonia Agosto Guadalupe of Juncos Puerto-Rico and Gregorio Mirabal Cruz of Juana Diaz Puerto-Rico. The second of three siblings (predeceased by his older sister, Alicia Mirabal and younger brother, Gregorio Mirabal). Ironically born on November 15th the following year, my father grew up under the strict supervision of his parents in the Spanish Harlem area of New York City also known as “El Barrio.” Spanish Harlem was well known as a place where Puerto-Rican migrants both entered and settled in the United States, seeking the American dream so many migrants from all parts of the world have done before them. “El Barrio” was and remains a vibrant and diverse Latino culture center, accented by the smell of Puerto-Rican food which can be purchased at “La Marketa” or the neighborhood Bodega; and echoed by the sounds of percussion instruments from Africa and the Flamenco Guitar from Spain.
My grandfather was ahead of his time as he was already a talented musician and skilled Electrician; skills that he would use to provide his family with a (better than average) quality of life. My father followed his father's footsteps as his father taught him music and the electrical trade. A gifted guitar player, but better known as “Tony Bass” because of his mastery of the bass. My father was a licensed musician who regularly performed in nightclubs and concerts among the likes of the world-renowned Fania All-Stars, he also worked as an electrician for various contractors during that time.
Tony also received 4 years of vocational studies in the electrical trade while earning an academic diploma from Maury Hill High School in Manhattan. Though my father never enrolled in college, it is worth mentioning that he was very good at mathematics and was accepted for enrollment at Ivy league Colombia University. As a young man, Tony earned his living as an electrician's helper until 1952 when he was drafted into the U.S. Army for service in the Korean War where he served as an infantryman (Boots on the ground) with the 2nd Infantry Battalion. During his combat tour, he earned The Korean Service Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars, The National Defense Medal, A Good Conduct Medal, and the United Nations Medal. In 1954 my father received an honorable discharge and returned to “El Barrio” as a hardened combat veteran.
As he got reacquainted with his friends, he eventually started dating my mother (A Neighborhood girl and fellow 1st generation Puerto-Rican he knew since they were teenagers). In 1961 their relationship was consummated by my birth in May 1962; a year later while my mother was pregnant with my brother, we moved from Harlem to the Bronx where we settled and made a life for ourselves.
In 1974, Tony eventually landed the job of his lifetime at the Mount Sinai Hospital where he earned a very good living as a high voltage electrician and retired in 1995. Not to brag but we did scratch the surface of privilege as we eventually lived in good neighborhoods and went to good schools.
I am very grateful to my father for being a good provider and protector of our family. My father a very strict disciplinarian who began teaching us to read and write while we were still learning to walk. Our mother (Lucia Ferrer Mirabel) who was also extremely intelligent taught us vocabulary, spelling and introduced us to books. At the end of the day, my parents raised two sons who never served time in prison, and both completed successful military careers. I lead the way in in academics by earning a Bachelor of Arts degree, only to be out done by my younger brother who would go further and earn his MBA. Tony was bursting with pride and bragged about us to anyone who would listen.
In 1995, retired from work life and bought my mother a house in Virginia Beach. The two of them could be seen everywhere as they were restless and loved Virginia Beach. They lived very happily in their home for over 20 years until my mother passed away in 2017 at the age of 91. My father lived alone for a few years when the onset of Parkinson’s disease began to take its toll. Eventually he required 24-hour medical attention that only medical professionals could deliver. Tony passed away May 14th, 2022, in a private hospice walking distance from where I live. I spoke to my father the night before he died. He was happy and ready to join my mother in eternal peace.
My father is survived by his sons, Antonio Mirabel Jr. and Gregory Antonio Mirabel; stepdaughter, Lucia Reyes Gonzalez; daughters-in-law, Antoinette Holloway Mirabel and Diana Estrada Mirabel; grand children, Antonio Jordan Mirabel III, Gregory Antonio Mirabel Jr., Steven Phillip Mirabel, Joseph Mirabel, Michael Mirabel, Ricky Elijah Mirabel, Sylvia Fuentes, Cristina Gerena Calas, Marco Gonzalez, and Adrienne McTague; nephew, Gregorio Mirabal, and nieces Betty Zayas and Evelyn A Mirabal.
A Celebration of Life will be conducted at 2pm, Saturday, May 2022 at Smith, and Williams Funeral Home with a visitation one hour to visit with the family. Please offer your condolences to the family during this difficult time in their lives on the funeral home website.
