ORLANDO, FL - Few lights burn so brightly as those like Andres “Andy” Jose Garcia, who lived many lifetimes in his 93 years. Known professionally as Andrew J. Garcia, Jr., Esq., Andy passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Orlando, Florida, on March 6, 2021.
Born January 28, 1928, in Tampa, Florida, to Dora and Cuban-born Andres Jose Garcia—one of the Founders of the Tampa Wholesale Produce Market in 1934—Andy lived a full life of many hats. In addition to being a member and mentor of the produce industry for more than 60 years, he was an athlete, lawyer, judge, ambassador, employer, coach, philanthropist, and, above all, a husband and father.
Even before he purchased Ruskin Packaging Inc. (D/B/A Lowell Distributors) from Founder Paul Dickman in 1961, Andy had been a multi-faceted college athlete whose pursuit of a Law Degree from the University of Florida was cut short a year by being drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. Upon discharge in 1954, Andy returned to work with his father in the produce import business. Much of this time was spent at their farms in Cuba and playing with the Cuban-Davis Cup Team.
Andy divided his time between Havana, his family hometown of Bejucal, and farms on the mainland of Cuba and on the Isle of Pines. It was after he was refused entry onto one of his farms that Andy returned to Tampa and completed law school at Stetson University in 1962, an experience that was instrumental in helping his entire family move to Tampa after Fidel Castro came into power.
As the produce business in Tampa grew, Andy moved to Miami to run Lowell Distributors, a branch of Crews and Garcia Produce. This business provided a gateway and first job for many of Andy’s family and friends, for whom he played an integral role in helping escape and emigrate from Cuba.
He continued his law practice with Barry Garber and Nick Buoniconti and, after serving as a legislative aide in Tallahassee, he focused his practice in Tampa. He served in private practice, as an arbitrator, and sat as a city judge.
All the while, he, along with his son, Andy III, steered Ruskin Packaging, expanding its reach and portfolio of categories, fueling a business culture that lived on service that propelled it to sell produce to the likes of Publix, Winn-Dixie, Walmart, and more.
Andy added to the brand’s history of trailblazing, which had been among those at the forefront of moves like pre-packed veggies and the development of processing machinery. He continued the family legacy his grandfather, José Garcia, began when he started a produce business in Cuba and began importing U.S. produce and exporting Cuban produce in 1916.
Today, that legacy continues on.
Andy’s son, Andy Garcia III, worked together with his father for over 19 years and is still in the industry, currently working with Altar Produce LLC as the East Coast Sales Manager.
“His legacy will live on and I will do my best to continue the tradition of having a Garcia in the produce industry,” Andy III shared, attributing his now 30-plus year career to his father’s mentorship.
Andy was a loving and generous patriarch to his family and is survived by his brother and partner in the business Ernest (“Cookie”) Garcia, two nieces and a nephew in Tampa, his wife Andrea Jo Garcia and their daughter Jennifer Hewett (Jeff), his children Mary Lou Ewing and Andy Garcia III (Cathy) and their mother Linda Valenti Christian, and his grandchildren Lauren Ewing, Allegra Garcia, Ashley Garcia, James Hewett, and Julia Hewett.
Andy also leaves behind numerous cousins, extended family, and many godchildren, most notably his namesake, actor Andy Garcia, whose parents, cousins Rene and Amelie, were like siblings to Andy during his time in Cuba. Andy was loved and will be missed by many: friends, family, and acquaintances alike.
In lieu of flowers, please make an offering of your time or treasure to a charity of your choice.
The family of Andy J. Garcia also invites those he touched to leave a message of condolence on the Tribute Wall created in his loving memory.
To such a life, with so much impact, we pay our respects.
