Obituary for George M. Cabrera
Feb. 28, 1977 – Jan. 30, 2022
George Cabrera was a young man of many talents. At 44, he was an entrepreneur, business consultant, theater producer, music promoter and community leader. He was also a loving husband, caring father, devoted son and grandson and a loyal friend.
What may have been his greatest gift was his ability to attract people. George was a natural-born influencer, someone who made people feel that he cared about them – and they cared back.
George’s ability to influence others started at an early age. He was born and raised in Passaic, New Jersey, where he lived with his single mother, Miriam de la Grana, and his maternal grandparents, Manuel and Josefa de la Grana. His mom worked as an emergency coordinator for the city, his grandfather had a job at a local factory. The family worked hard, but in their free time, they visited a neighborhood Cuban social club, where George developed his love for Latin music and dance.
George was in grade school when entered a student talent show. He danced to Afro-Cuban rhythms as he invited the audience to embrace his culture. After the show, the school principal told George’s mother that her son was a leader who would accomplish great things. Miriam never forgot those words.
George went on to achieve great things.
Arguably, George’s proudest accomplishment, as a theater producer, was “The Amparo Experience,” an immersive theatrical production that took Miami by storm in the Spring of 2019. George served as co-executive producer under the Broadway Factor, a production company he helped launch. Amparo was a surprise hit that ran for 9 months – from March to November – attracting rave reviews and selling out 250 performances.
George felt a special connection to the play, which told the story of the “Real Havana Club” rum, transporting audiences to 1957 Havana on the cusp of the Cuban Revolution. For George, it was the story of his and countless other families that fled Cuba after the communist takeover.
Broadway producer Jim Kierstead, who also worked on Amparo, recalled George as a consummate professional who was always ready to help and resolve any issue that might arise.
“His dedication to his work, colleagues, and all who knew him was incredible and inspiring,” said Kierstead, a Tony, Emmy, Olivier-winning producer who lives in New York. “He will be missed greatly by all of us in the entertainment world as we have not only lost a wonderful colleague, but a dear friend.”
George also served as co-producer of the Broadway revival of the Tony Award-nominated “Frankie and Johnny,” which opened in the summer of 2019 at the Broadhurst Theater in New York, starring Audra McDonald and Michael Shannon.
Over the years, he worked with some of the biggest names in the Latin music industry including Roberto Torres, Eddie Palmieri and Cuban roots singer Albita. This past Halloween, he produced a concert starring Albita and her band at the new Westchester Cultural Arts Center in Miami.
Lately, George was working on several projects at the Westchester Center including “Not Ready for Prime Time,” a play about the original Saturday Night Live cast. NRFPT, originally set to run in January, was postponed because of COVID concerns.
In the past year, George had assisted the Roxy Theatre Group, a non-profit performance academy that runs the county-owned Westchester Cultural Arts Center. The Roxy’s artistic director Charles Sothers recalls that George was excited to help offer programming in the Westchester area so that people didn't have to drive beyond their community to enjoy the arts.
“His passing is an immeasurable loss to the Miami entertainment community. We haven't met anyone who didn't like George and we found ourselves blessed having him join our little Roxy Family,” Sothers said. “He quickly became such a big force for the arts with us, that he has left a very large hole in our hearts and lives. And although he's no longer a phone call away, he will always be a part of all that we do at The Roxy.”
After graduating from high school, at 18, George moved to Miami, where he attended college. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in International Business Administration from American Intercontinental University in South Florida and a master’s degree in International Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University
After a brief stint in the corporate world, he became the Chief Financial Officer for Aspira of Florida, a national education-focused non-profit that served at-risk youngsters. George took his business acumen with him. He was fond of saying that “not-for-profit” did not mean “no profit.” After a few years, in 2012, he become Aspira of FL’s youngest CEO.
While running a major nonprofit, George was recognized for his innovative use of the federal New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC), which he used to secure private financing for the construction and renovation of three charter schools in Miami Dade County. He obtained an additional $25 million via industrial development revenue bonds that enabled his organization to refinance existing debt and finance capital improvement projects.
In 2017, George left the nonprofit world to launch his own business: Cabrera Consulting Group, a multi-services business development company. His clients included charter schools, business executives, theaters, artists, among others.
While his workday was consumed with spreadsheets and budgets, George always found time to pursue his passion for music and theater, and weave these into his professional and personal life.
While working at Aspira, he organized a fundraising concert series that headlined former Fania All-Stars musicians, at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts. The series became a big hit with salsa fans.
Dancing to classic salsa and Afro-Cuban music was one of his great passions. He did this on his “date nights’ with his wife of 11 years, Violeta Miranda. His love for dancing has been passed down to his youngest son, Carlos Manuel, who shares his dad’s passion.
While George deeply loved his Cuban heritage, he “fully embraced” Violeta’s Nicaraguan roots and, when they first married, his new Nicaraguan family. Violeta recalls how they “cherished cultivated and celebrated” each other’s culture and how they shared a passion for traveling and how they trotted the globe together. Their travels included countries like Egypt, Greece, Turkey, Scandinavia and Russia, to name a few. George loved to tell stories about his “Indiana Jones” adventures with Violeta, the love of his life.
George was constantly on the move. But no matter how busy he got, he always found time for his “abuela,” who he visited almost every day and took her grocery shopping on Sundays. He joked that he knew where all the bargains were for Cuban goodies.
Sadly, George passed away due to heart-related complications early Sunday, Jan. 30, at the Kendall Regional Medical Center.
He is survived by his wife, Violeta Miranda, his sons, Carlos Manuel, 9, and Nicholas Cabrera, 21, his mother, Miriam de la Grana; his sister, Jenilyn Gonzales and his grandmother, Josefa de la Grana, and the family pets: dog, Irene; cat, Azulita, and rabbit, Lolita.
Funeral services are as follows:
Thursday 2/3/22
6:00 PM -11:00 PM
Maspons Funeral Home
7895 SW 40th Street
Miami, Florida 33155
(305) 269-4901
Friday 2/4/22
10:30 AM Mass
Good Shepherd Catholic Church
14187 SW 72nd Street
Miami, Florida 33183
Friday 2/4/22
12:30 PM Burial
Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Cemetery
11411 NW 25th Street
Doral, Florida 33172
In lieu of flowers,George's family and friends would appreciate donations made in his honor to these organizations:
https://miami.seedschool.org/donation-page
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=GZZJH66TENSP6
George Cabrera was a young man of many talents. At 44, he was an entrepreneur, business consultant, theater producer, music promoter and community leader. He was also a loving husband, caring father, devoted son and grandson and a loyal friend.
What may have been his greatest gift was his ability to attract people. George was a natural-born influencer, someone who made people feel that he cared about them – and they cared back.
George’s ability to influence others started at an early age. He was born and raised in Passaic, New Jersey, where he lived with his single mother, Miriam de la Grana, and his maternal grandparents, Manuel and Josefa de la Grana. His mom worked as an emergency coordinator for the city, his grandfather had a job at a local factory. The family worked hard, but in their free time, they visited a neighborhood Cuban social club, where George developed his love for Latin music and dance.
George was in grade school when entered a student talent show. He danced to Afro-Cuban rhythms as he invited the audience to embrace his culture. After the show, the school principal told George’s mother that her son was a leader who would accomplish great things. Miriam never forgot those words.
George went on to achieve great things.
Arguably, George’s proudest accomplishment, as a theater producer, was “The Amparo Experience,” an immersive theatrical production that took Miami by storm in the Spring of 2019. George served as co-executive producer under the Broadway Factor, a production company he helped launch. Amparo was a surprise hit that ran for 9 months – from March to November – attracting rave reviews and selling out 250 performances.
George felt a special connection to the play, which told the story of the “Real Havana Club” rum, transporting audiences to 1957 Havana on the cusp of the Cuban Revolution. For George, it was the story of his and countless other families that fled Cuba after the communist takeover.
Broadway producer Jim Kierstead, who also worked on Amparo, recalled George as a consummate professional who was always ready to help and resolve any issue that might arise.
“His dedication to his work, colleagues, and all who knew him was incredible and inspiring,” said Kierstead, a Tony, Emmy, Olivier-winning producer who lives in New York. “He will be missed greatly by all of us in the entertainment world as we have not only lost a wonderful colleague, but a dear friend.”
George also served as co-producer of the Broadway revival of the Tony Award-nominated “Frankie and Johnny,” which opened in the summer of 2019 at the Broadhurst Theater in New York, starring Audra McDonald and Michael Shannon.
Over the years, he worked with some of the biggest names in the Latin music industry including Roberto Torres, Eddie Palmieri and Cuban roots singer Albita. This past Halloween, he produced a concert starring Albita and her band at the new Westchester Cultural Arts Center in Miami.
Lately, George was working on several projects at the Westchester Center including “Not Ready for Prime Time,” a play about the original Saturday Night Live cast. NRFPT, originally set to run in January, was postponed because of COVID concerns.
In the past year, George had assisted the Roxy Theatre Group, a non-profit performance academy that runs the county-owned Westchester Cultural Arts Center. The Roxy’s artistic director Charles Sothers recalls that George was excited to help offer programming in the Westchester area so that people didn't have to drive beyond their community to enjoy the arts.
“His passing is an immeasurable loss to the Miami entertainment community. We haven't met anyone who didn't like George and we found ourselves blessed having him join our little Roxy Family,” Sothers said. “He quickly became such a big force for the arts with us, that he has left a very large hole in our hearts and lives. And although he's no longer a phone call away, he will always be a part of all that we do at The Roxy.”
After graduating from high school, at 18, George moved to Miami, where he attended college. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in International Business Administration from American Intercontinental University in South Florida and a master’s degree in International Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University
After a brief stint in the corporate world, he became the Chief Financial Officer for Aspira of Florida, a national education-focused non-profit that served at-risk youngsters. George took his business acumen with him. He was fond of saying that “not-for-profit” did not mean “no profit.” After a few years, in 2012, he become Aspira of FL’s youngest CEO.
While running a major nonprofit, George was recognized for his innovative use of the federal New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC), which he used to secure private financing for the construction and renovation of three charter schools in Miami Dade County. He obtained an additional $25 million via industrial development revenue bonds that enabled his organization to refinance existing debt and finance capital improvement projects.
In 2017, George left the nonprofit world to launch his own business: Cabrera Consulting Group, a multi-services business development company. His clients included charter schools, business executives, theaters, artists, among others.
While his workday was consumed with spreadsheets and budgets, George always found time to pursue his passion for music and theater, and weave these into his professional and personal life.
While working at Aspira, he organized a fundraising concert series that headlined former Fania All-Stars musicians, at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts. The series became a big hit with salsa fans.
Dancing to classic salsa and Afro-Cuban music was one of his great passions. He did this on his “date nights’ with his wife of 11 years, Violeta Miranda. His love for dancing has been passed down to his youngest son, Carlos Manuel, who shares his dad’s passion.
While George deeply loved his Cuban heritage, he “fully embraced” Violeta’s Nicaraguan roots and, when they first married, his new Nicaraguan family. Violeta recalls how they “cherished cultivated and celebrated” each other’s culture and how they shared a passion for traveling and how they trotted the globe together. Their travels included countries like Egypt, Greece, Turkey, Scandinavia and Russia, to name a few. George loved to tell stories about his “Indiana Jones” adventures with Violeta, the love of his life.
George was constantly on the move. But no matter how busy he got, he always found time for his “abuela,” who he visited almost every day and took her grocery shopping on Sundays. He joked that he knew where all the bargains were for Cuban goodies.
Sadly, George passed away due to heart-related complications early Sunday, Jan. 30, at the Kendall Regional Medical Center.
He is survived by his wife, Violeta Miranda, his sons, Carlos Manuel, 9, and Nicholas Cabrera, 21, his mother, Miriam de la Grana; his sister, Jenilyn Gonzales and his grandmother, Josefa de la Grana, and the family pets: dog, Irene; cat, Azulita, and rabbit, Lolita.
Funeral services are as follows:
Thursday 2/3/22
6:00 PM -11:00 PM
Maspons Funeral Home
7895 SW 40th Street
Miami, Florida 33155
(305) 269-4901
Friday 2/4/22
10:30 AM Mass
Good Shepherd Catholic Church
14187 SW 72nd Street
Miami, Florida 33183
Friday 2/4/22
12:30 PM Burial
Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Cemetery
11411 NW 25th Street
Doral, Florida 33172
In lieu of flowers,George's family and friends would appreciate donations made in his honor to these organizations:
https://miami.seedschool.org/donation-page
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=GZZJH66TENSP6