Mr. Hector Luis Santiago-Otero

Hector Luis Santiago-Otero, age 85, passed away on Thursday, November 30, 2023. He was born in Cayey, Puerto Rico on November 16, 1938. He was the son of the late Jose Santiago and Elena Santiago-Otero. Mr. Santiago served in the United States Army for over 20 years, fought in the Vietnam war, and received many awards for his distinguished and exceptionally meritorious service. He was also a member of the Dentsville Masonic Lodge for over 45 years and was known as a Grand Mason. Mr. Santiago and his wife sponsored 12 children from El Salvador and Honduras in their home for 4 to 6 months to allow them to have open heart surgery in the United States. This involved picking them up at the airport, being in the hospital during their surgeries and follow up appointments afterwards until they were fully recovered and able to go back home. He also founded a nonprofit organization called Sociedad Hispana de Charleston that aided and helped migrant workers by raising money via food drives, car washes, volunteer work, and hosting events. Mr. Santiago lovingly became known as “Papa Hector”. At the very core of his being, Hector Santiago was a man of service not just to his country, but to his community, family, friends, or anyone who needed him. He was selfless and would give the shirt off his back, no questions asked. He would always say “My doors are always open” and if you ever walked through them you were always greeted with a “looking good”, delicious food as he was a fabulous cook and you probably witnessed his fancy footwork and hops as he loved to dance and drag you alongside with him. That’s how he lived throughout his entire life. He was loved by so many and will be dearly missed. Hector Luis Santiago-Otero is survived by his wife, Esilda Isabel Santiago; sisters Yolanda Santiago, Margarita Santiago, Maria del Carmen Santiago, and Lucy Mendoza-Otero; brothers Jose M. Santiago and Juan Mendoza-Otero; children Itzel Alicea (Angela), Livinia Santiago (Teresa), Hector L. Santiago Jr.(Samantha), Hector G. Santiago (Melissa), Maribel Santiago, Nannette Santiago (Ariel), Annette Santiago, Fernando M. Lopez, Cecilia Taylor (Robert), and Jacqueline Miller; grandchildren Danny, Larissa, Marianna, Christopher, Trey, Alex, Sofia, Gladyxa, Jorge, Taryn, Zachary, Desire, and Gabriela; great-grandchildren Logan, Roman, Maddox, Emmit and Evie. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers Cesar A. Santiago and Jose N. Santiago. The service for Hector Santiago-Otero will be held at 1:30pm, Friday, December 8th, at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, 7600 Trenholm Road Ext., Columbia, SC. Burial will follow in Fort Jackson National Cemetery. The family will receive friends prior to the service at the funeral home beginning at 12:30. Members of the Dentsville Masonic Lodge are invited to serve as honorary pallbearers. In Lieu of flowers, Memorials may be made to https://dementiasociety.charityproud.org/donate

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Mr. Hector Luis Santiago-Otero

November 16, 1938 - November 30, 2023