Carlos R. Hortas

Carlos Rafael Hortas, 84, of Hamden, CT, passed away peacefully on March 4, 2024, at Connecticut Hospice in Branford, CT, surrounded by his family.

Carlos – known by many as “Charlie” – was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on November 3, 1939, to the late Mercedes Moragon and Rafael Hortas. Carlos moved with his family to New York at the age of 11, where he attended PS 132 and Humboldt Jr. High before moving to Miami, Florida, at age 14. After his graduation from the University of Miami, he became a Spanish teacher, working at Coral Gables High School from 1962 to 1964. In Miami he met his wife and love of 59 years, Jan Dougherty Hortas, who also pursued a career as a teacher. Carlos and Jan were married on September 5, 1964, and moved to Syracuse, New York, for Carlos to pursue his master’s degree at Syracuse University. They later moved to New Haven, Connecticut, where he received his PhD at Yale University. At Yale he became dean of Branford College, as well as the director of Undergraduate Studies and an assistant professor in the Spanish Department. He loved teaching and his students loved him, as evidenced by his selection as one of the best teachers at Yale in the 1974-75 academic year. He then moved to Hunter College in Manhattan where he served as chairman of the Department of Romance Languages and dean of Humanities and the Arts. As a Professor of Spanish at Hunter College, he continued teaching throughout his career, including literature courses and specialized courses on the early Spanish settlers, explorer navigation, and philology, until his retirement.

Carlos is remembered for his love of teaching, for his skills as a gardener, for playing the guitar and for storytelling. In his 40s, he enjoyed running and twice participated in the New York City Marathon. In his 70s, he studied classical guitar as a student of Joe Tinari at the Neighborhood Music School. His love of reading and lively discussion continued throughout his life, and he enjoyed belonging to a book club of like-minded readers. He was a loyal fan of the Philadelphia Phillies, an avid “Trekkie” and lover of travel. Much of his travel was by train as he commuted to New York City for more than 30 years, becoming a keen observer of commuter behavior. He loved jokes and making people laugh, always bringing cheer to any situation. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend to those who knew him.

He is survived by his wife, Jan; his daughters, Laura and Sarah, his son Carlos, his sister, Wilma; his grandchildren, Robert Blue, Mercedes Hortas, Emma Harris and Ethan Harris; his niece Darlene Giol and her family; and many cousins and extended family in Florida and Puerto Rico.

A memorial service celebrating Carlos’s life will be held on Saturday, April 13th at 11:30 a.m. in Beecher & Bennett Funeral Home, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests those who desire to remember Carlos to make donations to the American Brain Tumor Association or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.