Enrique Santos San Gabriel

Enrique Santos San Gabriel, known to many as Henry, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, passed away on June 13, 2026, at the age of 70.

Henry was born on July 15, 1955, in Bocaue, Bulacan, Philippines, to Pablo and Rolanda San Gabriel. He was the fifth of six children: Ramon, Cristina, Antonio, Gerardo, Enrique, and Victor. He grew up in Bocaue, where he was raised with the values of faith, family, hard work, and perseverance.

As a child, Henry was raised in the Catholic faith and served as an altar server. His faith remained an important part of the foundation he passed on to his family. He made sure his children attended Mass and, together with his wife, made the sacrifice to send them to Catholic school from kindergarten through twelfth grade. He valued the sacraments, especially confession and communion, and wanted his children to grow into people of faith, character, and responsibility.

Henry studied at the University of the East, where he pursued Business Management with a major in Marketing. He was often described as a “jack of all trades,” a fitting phrase for someone who was resourceful, capable, and always willing to figure things out.

On August 30, 1980, Henry married Nelida Gonzales at San Ildefonso Parish Church in San Ildefonso, Bulacan. Their love story began when one of Henry’s co-workers was courting Nelida’s roommate, and Henry came along for a visit. That meeting would become the beginning of a life and family built together.

In 1981, Henry came to the United States. He first stopped in California, where his sister Cristina lived, before making his way to Maryland, where Nelida had already begun her work as a nurse. Like many immigrants, Henry made sacrifices in pursuit of a better future for his family. He and Nelida worked hard to build a life rooted in love, faith, and opportunity for their children.

Henry’s first job in the United States was as a driver for the Embassy of Bahrain. He later worked as a night auditor at Hotel Harrington in Washington, D.C., where he eventually moved into payroll. He went on to work in the travel industry, including Affordable Elegance Travel, SATO Travel, and Carlson Travel, where he worked the longest as a travel consultant. His work reflected his dependability, attention to detail, and commitment to providing for his family. After many years of hard work, he stepped away from full-time work in 2013 due to health challenges.

Above all, Henry was proud of his wife and children. He wanted the very best for his family and worked to give them a good life. He hoped his children would become good citizens, faithful family members, and people who cared for others. His greatest joy was his family, especially his grandchildren, whom he loved dearly.

Henry showed love through action. He was caring, dedicated, and generous with his time and talents. He enjoyed Filipino cooking, a skill he learned from his mother, and took joy in preparing food for others. He was also skilled with cars, repairs, and practical work around the home. Family and friends knew him as someone who could fix things, solve problems, and help when help was needed.

He will also be remembered for his humor. Henry loved to make people laugh, and those who knew him will remember the way he brought joy and lightness into everyday moments. He was loving, funny, caring, and dedicated, a man whose personality left a lasting impression on those around him.

Henry’s life was marked by faith, sacrifice, service, and devotion to family. He will be remembered for his love for Nelida, his pride in his children and grandchildren, his humor, his resourcefulness, and the many ways he gave of himself to the people he loved.

He is survived by his wife, Nelida Gonzales; his children, Christopher San Gabriel, Katherine DeGuzman and her husband, Greg, and Phillip San Gabriel and his wife, Kathryn; his grandchildren, Alexander, Noah, Grayson, Elijah, Lillian, Henry, Celeste, and Haley; his brothers, Gerardo San Gabriel and Victor San Gabriel; and many loving relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Pablo and Rolanda San Gabriel; and his siblings, Ramon San Gabriel, Cristina Soson, and Antonio San Gabriel.

Henry’s memory will live on through the family he loved, the faith and values he passed down, the laughter he brought to others, and the many lives he touched.