Miguel E. Sanson

Manuel San Miguel Griffo “Manolo” passed away quietly into the loving arms of the Lord at his Winter Springs home on Saturday, June 29, 2019. He was 88 years old. He was born in Guayama, Puerto Rico on September 29, 1930 to parents (Manuel San Miguel Nazario and Luisa Griffo Monserrat) who were distinguished in the arts. In addition to being known as an internationally renowned painter, Mr. San Miguel Griffo has also been recognized as a historian, a composer of popular Latino and classical music, as well as a poet. After graduating from the University of Puerto Rico, as an ROTC officer, he was drafted in 1951 and saw Korean War action with the 65th Infantry Combat Regiment, Third Army Division (the “Borinqueneers”) who were awarded the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal in 2016 for their outstanding and dedicated military service. He received an Honorable Discharge with decorations from the US Army. He pursued graduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania and at the reknown New York Art Student League. Mr San Miguel Griffo was close colleague of the modern painting masters in the resurgence of the plastic arts in Puerto Rico and was a principal leader in the establishment of the cultural art movement that still influences daily life on the Island. Mr. San Miguel Griffo exhibited his works in numerous art galleries and venues in Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, the United States, South America, and Europe. He was a member of the prestigious International Academy of Arts and Sciences and served as Executive Secretary of its chapter in Puerto Rico. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Island’s main cultural center, Ateneo de Puerto Rico, and was a consultant to the Puerto Rican Institute of Culture. He co-established the Caribbean Art Gallery as the first art gallery opened in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Mr. San Miguel Griffo was also instrumental in co-founding the Museo de Arte Oller-Campeche in New York City. During his career as a historian for the U.S. National Park Service, he designed and initiated the museums at the national historic site fortifications of El Morro de San Felipe and San Cristobal also located in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico He also was instrumental in the restoration of the colonial fortification in Cartagena, Colombia, SA and the St Augustine, Florida fort. Upon his early NPS retirement in 1964 due to a military related physical disability, he was recognized by the NPS for his outstanding historical interpretive work with the Commendable Service Medal and Citation. Although less recognized as a poet, his poetic style has been appreciated by many and published in magazines and newspapers, as well as applied to his own music that were highly popular songs of their day. Mr. San Miguel Griffo’s poetry received recognition when it was selected in 1987 for Volume III of the Antología de Poetas Latinoamericanos. Manuel San Miguel Griffo has received many honors during his long and distinguished life. Among these are biographical references in La Gran Enciclopedia de Puerto Rico, The Encyclopedia of Living American Artists, Artists USA, Personalities of America, International Book of Honor, Marquis Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in the World, as well as a medal from Cambridge, England signifying his inclusion in 2000 Outstanding Artists & Designers of the 20th Century. He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Sandra Bonilla-San Miguel, his son Manuel San Miguel Hernandez (Sarai Morales); his daughter Ana Victoria Newsome (Joseph); three grandchildren (Felix Manuel, Anna and Sara). "We rejoice in the extraordinary life he was privileged to live, and we feel grateful and blessed to have been loved by such an amazing human being."

Miguel E. Sanson

December 17, 1950 - September 28, 2017