Jacinto Santiago, better known as "Jack" or “Ito" was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico. He was one of 8 siblings and the youngest of his brothers. Always mischievous but full of life, ambition, and energy, he moved to the mainland at age 17 after graduating high school. He settled in New Jersey where he received several certifications including auto mechanic, A/C, and heating repair. Always an avid dancer, music lover, and Jack enjoyed "painting the town." It was on one of those evenings that he met an Irish, "Jersey Girl" and she forever changed his ways. Muriel and Jack shared 50 plus years, creating beautiful memories together. Always the loyal man we came to love, he began working for Hayward Pool Industries in 1978 and followed them through to North Carolina in the late '90s. He retired from Hayward in 2005 after making friends that became more like family.
Jack knew every word to every song, from a wide range of genres, no matter how much time had passed since he had heard it last. He loved music, the Mets, golf and playing the harmonica. However, he loved nothing more than his beloved Muriel and Kevin. He never grew tired of telling stories about them. He collected baseball cards, coins, and National Geographic magazines. He never forgot the punchline to the million jokes he kept up his sleeve.
Jack knew everything about anything according to him (but truthfully he did know a lot about a lot). He was always right (even when he wasn't) and most of us "didn't know what we were talking about". He was stubborn but kind; loud at all the wrong times and places...never bothered by what others thought and was extremely generous. He was very opinionated but somehow managed to let you be you and live your life free of judgment. He loved to cook, and no dish was complete without his "sofrito." He had a huge sweet tooth, especially for New Jersey cheesecake, ice cream, and Oreos. You could always count on him to show up, always on time (or annoyingly early) with flowers, chocolate or that newspaper article he knew you had to read. He knew how to make an entrance, and he was a fighter. He fought his whole life to get where he wanted and to be a good man. He fought cancer and the doctors, until the very end--dying on his own terms, where he wanted.
Jack is survived by his stepson, Edward A Siebert Jr. and his wife, Kerry; granddaughters, Dawn McElroy and her husband Donald, Donna Delia and her husband Raymond, and his great-grandchildren DJ, Kevin, Julianna, and Jake. He is survived by his loving sisters, Judith, Irma, and Rosa and his many nieces and nephews on both sides of the family. He is also survived by his very best buddy and doggy Rusty, and an adopted family who considered him a best friend, father and grandfather figure. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him. Ito, Muriel, and Kevin are reunited and together forever.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for the Santiago family may be shared at www.McCrackenFuneralHome.com
