In Loving Memory of Gustavo Miguel Garcia January 19, 1943 – September 19, 2026 Gustavo Miguel Garcia, lovingly known as Gus, was born on January 19, 1943, in Havana, Cuba, to Maria Ofelia and Gustavo Garcia. He grew up alongside his brother, Jorge, and sister, Silvia, surrounded by family and the traditions of a Havana he would remember and speak about throughout his life. Gus attended Los Hermanos Maristas in Havana and spent weekends with his family at El Club Náutico. His memories of growing up in Cuba—his family, school days, the sea, and the Havana of his youth—always remained close to his heart. As a young man, Gus left Cuba with his family, traveling first through Venezuela before eventually making his way to Miami, where he would build his life and make his home. He loved his parents deeply and continued to share stories of their life together in Cuba throughout his life. Becoming an American citizen was a source of great pride for Gus. He was equally proud of his brother, Jorge, and his service in Vietnam. Gus never forgot where he came from while deeply appreciating the country that became his home. Gus was particular—he liked things a certain way and wasn’t afraid to stand his ground when something mattered to him. He was meticulous, determined, and strong-minded. But beneath that exterior was a deeply sentimental man, especially when it came to the love of his life, his wife, Eolia—his beloved “Ellie.” Gus and Ellie were married for 43 years, and she was, quite simply, his true love. With her, that tough exterior melted away. They traveled, cruised, camped, laughed, and built a lifetime of memories together. Brazil held a particularly special place in their hearts, and they loved their camping trips to the American Outdoors in Key Largo. Gus loved boating and being on the water. So when he had a boat of his own, there could really only be one name for it: Ellie. Music was woven throughout Gus’s life, and his taste was wonderfully eclectic. A drummer himself, he especially admired his favorite drummers, Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich. He could go from jazz and the sounds of Frank Sinatra, The Ink Spots, and Engelbert Humperdinck to Neil Diamond, Buena Vista Social Club, Orquesta Aragón, and the old Cuban music that connected him to his roots. Songs like “Forever in Blue Jeans” and “Sweet Caroline” became part of the soundtrack of family life. At home, music wasn’t something you simply listened to—it was something you experienced. The volume would go up, Gus would get behind his drums, and before long the house became its own concert, with everyone singing and dancing along. Those wonderfully loud and spontaneous moments became some of the memories his family will treasure most. Gus loved being active and outdoors. He played golf, squash, and frontón, enjoyed gardening, and never lost his love of boating and the water. He also loved animals, especially dogs, and had a particular affection for fox terriers and their spirited energy. Professionally, Gus worked as a truss draftsman. He had a genuine love of architecture and took great pride in his work. His meticulous nature and attention to detail were reflected in everything he did. He also appreciated life’s simple pleasures: a good joke, good food, his music, a glass of whiskey, his sardines, and some of his own rather interesting culinary concoctions. Family meant everything to Gus. He loved and respected Ellie’s parents, who lived with them for a time, and he loved his own family deeply. He was proud of his stepchildren, Ninette and Tommy, and of the lives and careers they built. He was also proud of his nieces and nephews and loved having everyone together for family gatherings and reunions at the house—with plenty of food, music, laughter, singing, and dancing. Gus shared his January 19 birthday with his granddaughter, Michelle, making the day even more special. Somehow, their birthday celebrations would often find them at one of their favorite restaurants, Cancun, wearing matching mariachi hats and being serenaded together with “Happy Birthday.” And then came the great-grandchildren. There was Ethan, who could pretty reliably count on Gus quietly slipping him five dollars whenever he saw him. There was Mikey, with whom Gus could be found dancing to “Baby Shark.” And there was little Emma, whom he watched in amazement as he recognized so much of Ellie in her—including a spicy little personality all her own. Those little moments perhaps reveal Gus best. He could be particular. He could stand his ground. He definitely knew exactly how he liked things. But when it came to Ellie, his family, the children, and the animals he loved, Gus had an exceptionally tender heart. Gus was predeceased by his parents, Maria Ofelia and Gustavo Garcia, and his siblings, Jorge and Silvia. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 43 years, Eolia “Ellie”; his stepchildren, Ninette and Tommy; his granddaughter, Michelle; his great-grandchildren, Ethan, Mikey, and Emma; and his extended family, including the nieces and nephews of whom he was so proud. After a life that began in Havana and carried him through Venezuela to Miami—a life filled with family, architecture, gardens, boats, dogs, travel, drums, Cuban music, laughter, and love—Gus left this world peacefully at home on September 19, 2026. He was sitting in his favorite chair. And beside him, until his very last breath, was Ellie. The woman he adored. For those who loved Gus, there will be songs that forever bring him back—the first notes of Sinatra or Orquesta Aragón, “Forever in Blue Jeans,” or “Sweet Caroline.” There will be memories of drums playing loudly in the house, everyone singing and dancing, a boat named Ellie, matching mariachi hats, sardines, a five-dollar bill quietly slipped into a little hand, and a man who loved his family in his own unmistakable way. And somewhere in all those memories, we can almost hear Gus raising his glass and giving us one more familiar toast: “I’ll drink to that.” Rest peacefully, Gus. You are loved, and the music you left behind will play on. Funeral Services Family and friends are invited to join us as we gather to remember and celebrate the life of Gustavo Miguel Garcia. Thursday, September 24, 2026 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM Bernardo García Funeral Home 8215 Bird Road Miami, Florida Burial — Friday, September 25, 2026 We will depart from Bernardo García Funeral Home at 11:00 AM and proceed to: Caballero Rivero Dade South 14200 SW 117th Avenue Miami, Florida 33186