Sept. 19, 2007 – Staff Sgt. Gregory Rivera Santiago of Calqohoun, also known as "Pito" or "Tommy," died on Sept. 10, in Baghada, Iraq. He was 26 years old.
He is survived by his spouse, Brooke Rivera; mother, Carmen Santiago; father, Gregorio Rivera; stepfather, Rafael Colon; grandparents: Carmen Rodriguez and Gregorio Santiago; daughters: Ayani and Xiomara; and son, Gregory IV. He is also survived by sisters: Inia Rivera and Jeannette Rivera; brother, Ommi Rivera; aunts: Angelina, Lourdes, Jenny Maria de los Angeles, and Ineabelle, Luz Esther, Ana Maria and Virgina Colon; uncles: Victor Rivera and Hector Luis Marin; godparents: Aliandrina Santos and Emmanuel Taylor; mother-in-law, Penelope West; and father-in-law, Tony Bowling. Other survivors include special friends: the Bulerin family, Jose and Maria Rivera, Clara Santos and family, Augustus and Moses; Master Sgt. Anthony Wady, Sgt. Jessie Cannon, Sgt. Board, Cpl. Tim Cosellos, as well as many other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.
A viewing will be held at 11 a.m., on Thursday, Sept. 20, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, followed by a funeral service at 11:30 a.m. Interment will follow at Kingshill Veteran Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to James Memorial Funeral Home Inc.
