Efrain Reyes 82, passed away peacefully on 7/26/22 in Orlando, Florida with his two eldest sons, Orlando and Franky by his side—after battling cancer for over a year. Even though his soul has left this earth, his footprint, and tremendous family legacy remains with us all. He will live in our hearts and thoughts forever. Tito is survived by his wife of 63 years, Maria, and his 4 children, Orlando, Margie, Efrain, Jr. (Franky), and Fernando (Tato), and his 10 grandchildren Kateri, Juliet, Jessica, OJ, Justin, Adam, Candice, Ashley, Marcus, and Gabriella—and his 3 great grand-children, Naomi, Jayce, and Imani.
Tito and Maria came to the United States—settling in New York—from Puerto Rico, in 1958, where he worked for the City of New York for 29 years, eventually retiring in Orlando, Florida in the mid 1990s.
An avid, self-taught acoustic guitar player, he relished playing the classic songs of Puerto Rican culture of the 40s – 50s from groups such as Trio Los Panchos, Los Condes, Los Tres Reyes, Trio San Juan, and innumerable others. Over the decades, he amassed an extensive music collection which he was most proud of and would play for any and every person who would come to visit him and Maria—to say nothing of the guitar and singing serenades he would break into without hesitation. He loved his music with a passion.
We will be honoring his life and legacy Tuesday, August 2nd, 2022 from 5pm to 8pm at DeGusipe Funeral Home -West Orange Chapel, 1400 Matthew Paris Blvd. Ocoee, Florida, 34761, followed by a service and burial on August 3rd, 2022 at 11 am.