Sergio Quintana Obituary

Quintana, Sergio Antonio "Tony"

On Monday, August 11th, Sergio A. Quintana-Rodriguez (aka "Tony"), passed away surrounded by his family at Edward Hines VA Hospital. He is survived by his wife of over 58 years, Ana Ilia, his three daughters and their spouses, Ana Matilde (Jim Allenson), Ana Georgina (Jorge Beltran) and Yolandita (Frank Gomez) and his grandchildren, Julian, Jacqueline and Aiden "AJ". Tony is preceded in death by his parents, Sergio and Matilde and his brother, Efrain.

Born in Naguabo, Puerto Rico in 1937, Tony emigrated to Chicago on August 11, 1955 upon graduating from high school. He was an Army Veteran, who served proudly as a Drill Sergeant in the early 1960's during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Following his tour of duty, he emerged as a radio and television host/emcee/event promoter in the Chicago music scene with his "Tony's Latin A Go-Go Show". In 1967 he took over the nightclub, La Havana Madrid, located at 959 W. Belmont Ave, where as a skilled promoter, brought in headliners like Celia Cruz, Pedro Vargas and Bobby Capo as well as many emerging Latin-American artists to the city of Chicago. Thereafter, he was asked to produce his own television program via the first Spanish-language program station in the Midwest (WCIU- TV Channel 26) where he also served as News Anchor and Editor of the Spanish-Language news. In 1976-77, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Chicago/Midwest chapter nominated the "Tony Quintana Show" for Outstanding Achievement for Entertainment Programs: Series. Tony was a member-incorporator of the first Hispanic bank in the Midwest, later serving as the Secretary of the Board. He was given an acting role as a ringside reporter in the 1979 Paramount Pictures feature TV film, "Flesh and Blood". Tony was not only a major figure in the Puerto Rican community as his accomplishments as a Latino radio and television pioneer earned him honors of distinction in 1977 from the Asociación Mexicana de Radio y Televisión (AMPRYT).

He was a successful entrepreneur alongside his wife, Ana, managing the TQ Record Shop in the Uptown neighborhood in the 70's. In 1979, El Mundo Travel Agency emerged as a family-owned and operated business that served the Humboldt Park community through 2006. He led and accompanied Mayor Harold Washington's goodwill trip to Puerto Rico in the mid-1980's. In his retirement, he dedicated his time in writing and publishing three books: Empezar De Nuevo (1990), Duelos y quebrantos: Una Historia de un locutor desempleado (1993) and The Tony Quintana Story: De Naguabo a Chicago (2006), all registered with the U.S. Library of Congress. El Rican Magazine, a self-published monthly magazine, later evolved into an annual gala event where he recognized the accomplishments of prominent Puerto Ricans in the community, or "Chicago-Ricans". His books, magazine and interview were featured in the collection of DePaul University's Center for Latino Research Records, Puerto Rican Oral History Project, 1990-2010. Tony continued to produce his radio program on WIAC in Puerto Rico through 2015 and reemerged on Chicago radio, with his show, "The Tony Quintana Show/Paradigmas Iluminarias" from 2017 - 2023 on WSBC 1240 AM. In 2017, Teatro Vista's stage production of "La Havana Madrid" featured Tony as the inspiration for one of the roles.

He participated in many civic, social and humanitarian causes. He served as the emcee for the first Puerto Rico parade and pageant in Chicago and for many years thereafter. He raised funds for the Lions Club, and gave generously to St. Jude, American Cancer Society and the Disabled American Veterans.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, August 17th from 3-7pm at Alvarez Funeral Home, 2500 N. Cicero Avenue. Burial procession will begin 10am on Monday, August 18th, followed by interment services at Acacia Park Cemetery.

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