Humberto "Pancho" Cintron passed away, returning home on October 15, 2024 at the tender age of 88. He is survived by his wife, Luz Marina Rodriguez-Cintron, his son, Nick Vasquez, his daughter, Amanda Schramm, his sister, Milagros Cooper along with 6 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren. 

Humberto’s dedication to his community made history. In 1972, he became executive producer and host of Realidades, the first series by, for, and about Puerto Ricans in the New York area. By 1975, Realidades had grown into the nation’s first bilingual series, revolutionizing portrayals of Latinos on television. At the same time, Cintrón was active in founding key advocacy groups—the Puerto Rican Media Action and Educational Council and the National Latino Media Council—that worked to ensure fair and accurate portrayals of Latinos in the media.

Before Realidades, Cintrón’s work as executive director of the Community News Service in Harlem providing an important training ground for Black and Latino journalists who delivered community-driven news to major media outlet subscribers, including the Daily News, New York Times, CBS, and NBC. Prior to his work in media, Cintrón was the executive director Massive Economic Neighborhood Development, an East Harlem anti-poverty organization, served as executive director of Galeria de la Raza in San Francisco. After earning a JD in his 50's, he served as an attorney for immigrant artists, obtaining visas to travel and exhibit in the U.S.

Cintrón also wrote prolifically, including the novel Frankie Cristo (1972) and a New York International TV and Film Festival award-winning teleplay, No Orphans for Tia (1971), for WNBC. His collected essays and 2010 book El Barrio capture vital narratives about Puerto Rican identity and community.

Affectionately known as Pancho, he was loved and cherished by many for his loving kindness, his wise mentorship, his steadfast dedication to social justice and his gentle way of bringing joy to everyone he touched. He writes, "The day is gray ofay, but I've got sunshine up my sleeve"

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