The news is that a military officer and Free Zone executive, Samuel Mendez, took his life Thursday morning in Santiago.
Sammy was a good friend of mine and many in the DR. I've known Sam for years.
Sam was the very well-paid right hand man of Carlito Fuente of the Fuente family cigar fame, and ran the entire large operation in the Santiago Free Zone. He was a tobacco scientist, a family trade, and really the Godfather of the famous premium Opus X cigar. I remember how Sam showed us the secured Opus X curing room with 1.2 million cigars like it was his kids first grade class: pride & protection.
Sam was part of a group of my Dominican motorcycling friends. We'd ride in the MotoCaribe "off season." Sam rode a near-perfect vintage BMW 650GS that he meticulously restored from a rust bucket with love and money; such projects are very difficult in the DR. Two months ago he sold the bike to one of our friends and bought a new 2016 BMW F700GS. Sam was a strong ATGATT believer and wore excellent protection every time he put his leg over his seat.
He was married to the love of his life, an awesome lady he doted on, and had two beautiful, smart kids in grade school.
Sam was an officer in the Dominican Army, a reservist I believe, and he'd always stop in Jarabacoa for a visit coming back from weekend drills in the Capital. He didn't speak much about his Army life.
Sam was one of the nicest, happiest guys I knew, and we had a special bond on many levels. He loved his country, warts and all, and chose living here instead of Tampa where Carlito has another large operation. He was dedicated to making the Santiago Fuente operation a diamond among Free Zones companies. He's the one who set up that factory to look more like a home with numerous "hobby" rooms, instead of a factory.
We had planned to explore the NW by bikes in May, just the two of us, at our speed and not ripping through the countryside like many of our friends like to do.
He seemed to be a guy in love with life, his family, his job and his country.
I cannot describe the shock when I got the phone call from a mutual friend about what happened. We're all in shock. We heard of the note and waited until its release to maybe understand more. But all it did was create more questions.
RIP, Sammy, and Godspeed. I cannot imagine the turmoil you felt that was kept so well hidden while you sat alone in your car and ended your life. You seemed to have it all, so willing to share, so much love and joy and passion and camaraderie to spread around, never a bad word about anyone or anything...but seems that wasn't enough. I can only hope you've been released from your burden.
Grace to all who grieve.
Sammy was a good friend of mine and many in the DR. I've known Sam for years.
Sam was the very well-paid right hand man of Carlito Fuente of the Fuente family cigar fame, and ran the entire large operation in the Santiago Free Zone. He was a tobacco scientist, a family trade, and really the Godfather of the famous premium Opus X cigar. I remember how Sam showed us the secured Opus X curing room with 1.2 million cigars like it was his kids first grade class: pride & protection.
Sam was part of a group of my Dominican motorcycling friends. We'd ride in the MotoCaribe "off season." Sam rode a near-perfect vintage BMW 650GS that he meticulously restored from a rust bucket with love and money; such projects are very difficult in the DR. Two months ago he sold the bike to one of our friends and bought a new 2016 BMW F700GS. Sam was a strong ATGATT believer and wore excellent protection every time he put his leg over his seat.
He was married to the love of his life, an awesome lady he doted on, and had two beautiful, smart kids in grade school.
Sam was an officer in the Dominican Army, a reservist I believe, and he'd always stop in Jarabacoa for a visit coming back from weekend drills in the Capital. He didn't speak much about his Army life.
Sam was one of the nicest, happiest guys I knew, and we had a special bond on many levels. He loved his country, warts and all, and chose living here instead of Tampa where Carlito has another large operation. He was dedicated to making the Santiago Fuente operation a diamond among Free Zones companies. He's the one who set up that factory to look more like a home with numerous "hobby" rooms, instead of a factory.
We had planned to explore the NW by bikes in May, just the two of us, at our speed and not ripping through the countryside like many of our friends like to do.
He seemed to be a guy in love with life, his family, his job and his country.
I cannot describe the shock when I got the phone call from a mutual friend about what happened. We're all in shock. We heard of the note and waited until its release to maybe understand more. But all it did was create more questions.
RIP, Sammy, and Godspeed. I cannot imagine the turmoil you felt that was kept so well hidden while you sat alone in your car and ended your life. You seemed to have it all, so willing to share, so much love and joy and passion and camaraderie to spread around, never a bad word about anyone or anything...but seems that wasn't enough. I can only hope you've been released from your burden.
Grace to all who grieve.
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