Carlos Toraño Sr., 78, Passes Away
Carlos Toraño, the creator of the Toraño brand of cigars as well as a tobacco broker and cigar factory owner, passed away earlier this month at the age of 78.
Having come from a family with tobacco roots dating back to 1916, Toraño was never far from cigars. However, he didn’t join the family business initially, choosing to sell computers for the early part of his career. He got his start in the tobacco business following his father’s death in 1970 and the death of his uncle, Jaime, in 1974. It would be that year when he would join the family’s tobacco-growing company at the request of his cousins and another uncle. He would eventually pivot into being a tobacco broker via a company called Central America Tobacco Corp. In 1994, the company would move ahead with plans to distribute its own cigars, the first of which would be the Carlos Toraño Dominican, one of several cigars to bear his name.
The company would go on to own its own factories in several countries, making cigars for itself and other brands, including CAO, Gurkha, Dunhill, Sam Leccia Cigar Co. and others. It would also distribute a number of brands, including Graycliff. In 1996, Toraño would welcome his son, Charlie, into the business, and the two would become well-known as the father-son team at the helm of the family business. In 2009, the pair would go on a nationwide tour of cigar shops called the Roots Run Deep Tour, repeating it again the following year. In 2012, Carlos Toraño Sr. retired, and in 2014, Toraño Family Cigars was sold to General Cigar Co.
“My husband was a man loved and admired by many,” said Evelyn Toraño-Trinidad, via a press release. “He was always ready to offer a hug, a smile, and advice. A noble man, he was always eager to share his knowledge. As a result, a great deal of people were able to advance successfully in their careers. Carlos was irreplaceable and I miss my best friend deeply.”
The family has planned a private memorial mass in Miami; those interested in attending are asked to contact Gabriel Piñeres of Creativas Group Public Relations.
Image courtesy of the Toraño family/Creativas Group Public Relations.
Patrick Lagreid
I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for Major League Baseball, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.
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