Sofronio F. Santos, a retired automotive teacher at the Bicol University School of Arts and Trade, died Wednesday morning, his family announced. He was 86.
The Castilla, Sorsogon-born Santos, left behind four children – Aline Masip, a retired bank official, sister Annie, RSCJ, Sherry Javier, Camalig-based pharmacist, and Anthony Gerry, Ontario-based pharmacist – children-in-law Dr. Erwin L. Javier, also based in Albay, Almer Masip (+), and Dr. Hermione Cabie-Santos, based in Ontario – six grandsons and one granddaughter.
His wife, the former Alice Gomez, of Legazpi, Albay, who died in 2011 aged 76, also taught at BUSAT before Santos opted to retire early on after nearly 15 years to manage the Alizon Bakery, a joint business partnership of the Santos and Mauhay families for 20 years.
Close friends have described Santos, who graduated from the erstwhile state-run Philippine College of Arts and Trade in Manila, as a “dedicated family man, a man of strong integrity with a down to earth personality.”
Others described him as “honest and well mannered person with a great sense of humor.”
He and his children have a farm in barangay Baligang in Camalig where they planted pili, caao, coconut and other fruit-bearing trees – which he was managing in his retirement years.
The wake is being held at the Santos residence in Centro, Camalig with nightly masses and will be laid to rest at the town’s La Felicidad Cemetery beside his wife.
The funeral is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept 12, after the 2 p.m. Mass officiated by Fr. John Mendoza. (Honor Blanco Cabie)
