Obituary of Carlos Manuel Lago

Carlos Manuel Lago passed away on July 11, 2023 in his home at 82 years old. Born on August 18, 1940 in Havana, Cuba to Armando and Bellita (Giberga) Lago. The middle of three brothers, Armando and Enrique, Carlos attended the De La Salle Academy in Vedado, Havana.

Carlos came to the United States as a young college student and never returned to his birthplace due to the Cuban revolution.

He attended the Colorado School of Mines and received an undergraduate degree in engineering where he enjoyed the brotherhood community of Tau Kappa Epsilon. He would later go on to get a Masters in Metallurgy from University of Missouri Rolla. Following graduation, Carlos worked at John Deere in Iowa and US Steel in Chicago.

At age 27, he answered the call to serve his new country when he served for two years in the US Army during the Vietnam War, supporting research at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, DC. It was in Washington that he reconnected with Carolina Martinez, whom he had known in childhood. They shared the same birthday and were in fact born at the same hospital only hours apart. They were married in 1970 in Puerto Rico and it was there that their daughter Suzanne was born.

Carlos and his young family returned state-side so that he could attend Harvard University in pursuit of a Masters in Business Administration. They later relocated to New Jersey where their son David was born and eventually settled in Alexandria VA. It was there that Carlos began his twenty-four year career with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Carlos and Carolina were happily married for forty-two years and watched their children marry and have children of their own. Carlos loved his garden and the view from his mountain property in Front Royal, VA. He developed a passion for the craft of writing during the COVID pandemic, culminating in four books that he self-published.

He is survived by his brother Enrique Lago, his children Suzanne Lago Arthur and David Lago and his four grandchildren: Alexander Arthur and Delaney, Elizabeth and Peter Lago.

A Mass will be celebrated  at St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Reston VA on July 18th at 11 am. In lieu of flowers please donate to the Sierra Club.

Link for the live broadcast of the Mass https://boxcast.tv/view/funeral-mass-for-carlos-lago-mvupbd8xtzqb6idrlkdm?_gl=1*1f14qzg*_ga*NTA5NzU0MDk0LjE2ODkzNjE0MTI.*_ga_PXBBF7HVWQ*MTY4OTM2MTQxMi4xLjEuMTY4OTM2MTY5MS4wLjAuMA..