Victor Mitrani

Victor Mitrani, who was the youngest of five children of Roberto and Susana Mitrani, died in Miami, Florida on Monday, January 22, 2024. He was two months shy of his 104th birthday. He was sharp, witty, and vigorous until his last breath. Throughout his life, Victor was a devoted husband of nearly 75 years to the late Fortuna Mitrani, a loving father to Julio (Elisa) Mitrani and to the late Susana Mitrani, a cherished grandfather to Susana (Albert) Marroquin and Judith (Michael) Mitrani-Reiser, and a beloved great-grandfather to Adina, Amira, Aviva Susana, and Miri Fortuna. He will be missed tremendously by all who loved him.

Victor was born in what is now Turkiye, and was part of a Sephardic family who found refuge for hundreds of years in the Ottoman Empire after their expulsion from Spain. The dissolution of the Ottoman Empire early in the 20th century forced a mass migration of these Ladino-speaking Jews. Victor’s family found asylum in Cuba, a beautiful tropical island where their assimilation was facilitated by a familiar language and a vibrant Sephardic community that was integrated into the fabric of the island's life.

Victor was a reserved man who closely studied the world around him. Under different life circumstances, and based on his self-taught interests, he could have thrived as a scientist, engineer, or poet. However, Victor was forced to drop out of school in the fourth grade to sell chewing gum in the streets of Havana to help support his family. He was a savvy young man, reinventing and expanding his sales jobs until he eventually purchased and drove his own taxi.

Victor fell madly in love with Fortuna, the sister of a close friend, when he was just 21 years old. He courted her for years and was eventually allowed to date her three times per week, under the strict supervision of a chaperone. He was persistent and was able to finagle sometimes more than eight weekly visits, wooing her with many romantic poems that he authored. Fortuna and Victor eventually married, had two children, and created a thriving business of selling fabrics and tailored goods. From modest beginnings, Victor’s work ethic and dedication provided his young family with vast opportunities.

Victor endured several harsh challenges in his long life, including losing his precious daughter at a very young age to meningitis, navigating oppressive conditions under a new regime, and leaving everything behind in Cuba to search for a better life for his family in the United States. At an age when most retire, Victor worked two jobs including a physically taxing factory job and helping his wife launch a new clothing business. Fortuna’s personal shopping and styling business saw early and consistent success, allowing Victor to solely focus on supporting her entrepreneurial ambitions until he was well into his eighties. When not at work, Victor loved tending to his tropical fruit grove, being introspective while sitting outside in his rocking chair, singing Ladino melodies and reciting poetry to his bride, helping to prepare elaborate Turkish and Cuban delicacies, and most importantly, sharing his huge heart with his family.

A graveside service for Victor will be held Sunday, January 28, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Lakeside Memorial Park and Funeral Home, 10301 NW 25th Street, Doral, FL 33172.