Reyes represented District 4 on the Miami City Commission, including Shenandoah, Flagami, and Coral Way.
Editor’s Note: The Miami City Commission will meet on Thursday April 17 at 10 a.m. to decide how to fill the District 4 commission seat left vacant by the death of Commissioner Manolo Reyes.
Miami City Commissioner Manolo Reyes has died at the age of 80 after being hospitalized earlier in the week. Reyes’ family announced his death Friday morning.
“With profound sadness we announce the passing of City Commissioner Manolo Reyes,” the family said in a statement on Instagram.
Reyes had battled cancer in recent years, and was increasingly absent from the dais during City Commission meetings in recent months. Earlier this year, he had announced his intention to run for mayor in the City of Miami in November.
A native of Victoria de Las Tunas in Cuba, Reyes left the island with his family in 1959. He studied economics at the University of Florida, and later served as the principal budget analyst for Miami-Dade Public Schools.
Reyes was first elected to the Miami City Commission in November 2017 to represent District 4, including Flagami and Coral Way.
In a campaign statement that year, Reyes said, “I have lived in the same house for 48 years with my wife and our growing family. I am no stranger to our neighborhood, our city and its very vibrant past. I am truly concerned about its future but inspired by the fact that so many still have hope and a desire for a better Miami.”
Reyes was reelected most recently in November 2023 with 86% of the vote.
The City of Miami Charter gives commissioners 10 days to appoint someone to fill the District 4 vacancy. Alternatively, the commission can call a special election.
In a statement Friday, Miami District 2 Commissioner Damian Pardo called Reyes “a friend, a colleague, but most importantly, an exceptional role model.”
“I will remember him for his intellect, passion, humility, strength, love of community, family and service,” Pardo said. “May we all aspire to follow the principles, values, and actions that made Commissioner Manolo Reyes such an outstanding elected public official.”
Mayor Francis Suarez posted a tribute to Reyes on Instagram saying, “Every time I saw Manolo, he greeted me with a warm smile, a heartfelt hug, and a laugh that could light up any room. Even in his toughest moments, he never gave up – on himself, on his community, or on the fight against the illness that ultimately took his life.”
Reyes is survived by his wife Selva “Chacha” Reyes, two adult children and three grandsons.
The City of Miami will honor Reyes at a memorial service on Wednesday at 11 a.m. at City Hall, 3500 Pan American Drive, followed by a funeral procession to St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, 2987 West Flagler Street, where a mass will begin at 12:30 p.m. Visitation hours at Caballero Rivero Westchester funeral home, 8200 Bird Road, are Tuesday from 4 p.m. until closing, and Wednesay from 7 to 10 a.m.
