Jose Luis Torres-Carmona was the eldest son of six boys to the late Luis Antonio Torres-Cosme and Carmen Rosa Camona-Salamo, born March 13, 1953, in New York City, NY. 

The family returned to the homeland of his father, Puerto Rico, when he was and they settled in Ponce, Puerto Rico “La Isla del Encanto”.  His father was a social worker, and his mother trained as a nurse. Life in Ponce focused on raising their children, school, extended family and friends.

José attended La Escuela Lizzie Graham Elementary School, Hemetério Colon Middle School, and Escuela Dr. Pila High School- focusing on music, and the congas. His love of music was an important part of his life. The sounds of Cuba, his mother’s homeland, often played throughout the house. He joined the U.S. Army in 1972 relocating to Colorado Springs for basic training at Fort Carson Army Base. Serving three years with an honorable discharge in 1974.

In April 1975, he married Zakiya Blackwell in Colorado. Their first daughter, Kamilah, was born on March 19, 1977; and their second, Rashida, on March 14, 1979. They moved to the DMV area in 1980, where he eventually came to work for the Smithsonian as a Security Officer, and a Control Room Operator for over 20-years before retiring. He shared his love of every kind of music (Cher, Bette Midler, Santana to El Gran Combo) and love for patria Puerto Rico with his daughters.

José loved working in the museum, his favorite museum was the Freer Art Gallery. Through his own initiative he wore a pin, “Yo hablo espanol” to assist numerous non-English speaking visitors promoting inclusivity and diversity and demonstrate his proud heritage.  José was an avid collector of coins, stamps, promotional toys from fast-food restaurants, iconic t-shirts and Hot Wheels cars. He was a music aficionado, able to name the song, artist and musicians playing after hearing only a few bars. He was also a member and served as president for a local remote-controlled boat club.

He met his current wife, Michelle Cooper at the Smithsonian Institution, friends for 10 years before marrying in September 1996. They lived in Upper Marlboro, Maryland before purchasing a home in Washington, DC in August 1999. They loved living in the city, attending local music and food festivals, sporting events, exhibitions and programs at the Smithsonian, participating in the annual kite festival on the Mall.

Luis “Guicho” and Jorge; his daughters Kamilah and Rashida, his grandchildren Quinn, Rahnjeet, Sahmirh, Malakai, Xia, Kyra, and Indara; and his great-grandchildren Jakeem and Calix; his beloved cousin Marta and a host of family and friends.

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