Rolando Villamil of the Charles Fairmorn Factory Passes Away

Rolando Villamil, who was known for his work overseeing the operations of the Charles Fairmorn factory in the Dominican Republic, passed away on Thursday, having just turned 70-years-old on Jan. 31.

“Everything I’ve learned about tobacco came from Rolando,” said Dean Parsons of Epic Cigars, who met Villamil in 2007 and with whom he began working on the first blends that would become the Epic Cigars portfolio. “He was a strong mentor and without his ongoing support and belief in me and Epic Cigars I never would have survived the industry. He was one of the most caring and selfless people I’ve ever met and a true family man.”

Villamil was also influential in the early days and growth of Kristoff Cigars. Glen Case told halfwheel that Villamil hd “an in-depth knowledge of the all aspects of the cigar industry,” adding that “he was a dear friend and mentor to me, (and) he will be deeply missed.”

Jarrid Trudeau, Kristoff’s vp of sales, added that Villamil ran the entire factory, from sourcing to quality control to maintaining relationships with the growers. “He was the number one guy at the factory,” he said, adding that he considered Villamil a “mentor, partner, and dear friend” whose passing is an enormous loss for Kristoff and the industry as a whole.

“We couldn’t be who we are today without his help and influence,” Trudeau told halfwheel, saying that he became “part of our families.”

Villamil leaves behind his wife, Ingrid, and their children Patricia and Jose Augusto, along with his children Guillermo and Linnette from his first marriage.

Image via Glen Case.

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