Michael David Cuda

Thank you to all who attended our virtual memorial service.

On August 14, 2020 Michael David Cuda, 72, fell asleep in death at home after suffering from an illness under the loving care of his wife, Miriam. 

He was born on October 30, 1947, to Steve and Catherine Cuda in Portland, Oregon.  He grew up with his four siblings Steve Cuda III, Penny Reynders, Peggy Thomas, and Barbara Orleman.  

He dedicated his life to Jehovah by water baptism on September 17, 1960.  He would be invited to serve as a volunteer at the world headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Brooklyn, New York in June of 1966 where he would serve in the shipping/trucking department from 1966 to 1971, a privilege of service he spoke fondly of his entire life. He often encouraged others to reach out for this special privilege of service.    

In the summer of 1971 he would travel to attend a district convention in Atlanta, Georgia where he met his future wife, Miriam Santamarina. They were married on April 15, 1972 and went on to enjoy 48 wonderful years together.  They would settle in the town of Hialeah, Florida and raise their four children there.  The Cuda family’s annual trips to Oregon resulted in a close relationship with their extended family there and developed in them the same love Mike had for his beautiful home state.  

In his life, Mike and his wife and children enjoyed many warm friendships and traveled to many places, including Ecuador, Chile, England, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Canada, Mexico, Jamaica, various islands in the Caribbean and U.S. Virgin Islands, along with many cities and states in the United States. A highlight of their travels was traveling to Chile on numerous occasions to deliver construction materials for the newly constructed Bethel branch there.

He is survived by his four children Mitzie Garcia and husband Mario Garcia, Micheal Cuda II and wife Beth Cuda, Moriah Herrera and husband Jared Herrera, and Mark Cuda and wife Gaby Cuda; four grandchildren Madisen Garcia, Josiah Cuda, Micaela Garcia, and Montgomery Cuda.

Mike excelled scholastically with academic achievements few would ever come to know of since he never spoke of them.  Rather, his love for divine education meant that Mike had a real love for the preaching work.  He would start a conversation with anyone, anywhere and would inevitably steer the conversation to share kingdom truths.  As a result, he helped many come to know and love his God, Jehovah.  

For those of us who had the joy of knowing Mike we are saddened to have him leave us for even a short time, but we are comforted in the knowledge that he endured faithfully to the end and is safe in Jehovah’s memory.  In the meantime, like Jehovah, we keep him very much alive in our memories until we see him soon “in the land of the living.”