Man of Avon: Jorge H. Consuegra ’51
Avon Old Farms Tribute to Jorge
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Jorge's memory to the MIRIAM L. AND JORGE H. CONSUEGRA '51 SCHOLARSHIP FUND at Avon Old Farm School at: www.avonoldfarms.com/
During the re-emerging years of Avon, Jorge Consuegra '51, and his wife Miriam, welcomed generations of boys to the Avon Family. Open door, open heart, from one student to the next, the Consuegras lived and breathed the Avon way. To know him was to be in the family. It was common to find his four children co-mingled with the Avon boys; Jorge’s love and care for every child made it indiscernible who was a direct member of the family and who was passing through. To put your child in Jorge’s hands, was to know that he would belong and matter.
Jorge Consuegra graduated from Avon in 1951 where he excelled as a student, football player, swimmer, and baseball player. At Old Farms, he won the “Buckley Cup”—signifying excellent team leadership and athletic ability. Following his graduation from the University of Havana in 1956, political upheaval in Cuba forced Jorge and his family to exile to Miami in 1960. In 1963, Jorge returned to Avon to teach Spanish. He headed the language department for many years and also served as head of Eagle Dormitory. He dedicated his professional life to the educational mission of Avon Old Farms.
From 1968 to 1981, Jorge guided his varsity swim team to numerous winning seasons and league championships. Many of his swimmers still hold school records and many went on to stunning collegiate careers. During the mid-seventies, his swim teams won three Connecticut Independent School Swimming Association Championships. The 1975-76 squad was the first undefeated swim team in school history (12-0) defeating traditional powerful swim programs such as Loomis Chaffee, Suffield, and Hotchkiss. In addition to varsity swimming, Jorge used his magic touch and infectious winning attitude to produce an outstanding won-loss record in the Avon Old Farms football and baseball programs. He was inducted into the Avon Old Farms School Hall of Fame in 1994.
Jorge and his wife Miriam received the Alumni Order of Old Farms in 1981 as well as the Adams Parents Medal in 2006. In 2001, Jorge was honored with the Mendell Medal, awarded to an alumnus who has committed significant and long-standing service to Avon Old Farms as a member of the alumni body. Jorge was the beginning of a family legacy at Avon: his sons also graduated from Old Farms, Jorge class of 1977 and Andreas class of 1980. His grandsons Eddy, class of 2011, and Luis class of 2014, followed in step. Jorge remains a favorite among the alumni, an inspiration to generations, and a true Man of Avon.
Obituary for Jorge H. Consuegra
CONSUEGRA, Jorge H., 86, of Havana, Cuba, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on December 9, 2019 at his residence in Key Biscayne, Florida. He is survived by his beloved wife Miriam Consuegra; his children Jorge E. Consuegra (Maria); Andres Consuegra (Mercedes); Ana Cummins (Cameron); Julie Islami (Jahan); his grandchildren Jorge Nicolas, Eduardo, Claudia, Tomas, Andrea, and Luis Consuegra, Grace, Ian, and Carolina Cummins, Alec, Eric, and Natalie Islami. A mass for the eternal rest of his soul will be celebrated on Thursday, December 12, 2019 at 12:00 pm at St. Agnes Catholic Church located on 100 Harbor Drive in Key Biscayne, Florida. He will forever be missed and loved by all those who knew him.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Jorge's memory to the MIRIAM L. AND JORGE H. CONSUEGRA '51 SCHOLARSHIP FUND at Avon Old Farm School at: www.avonoldfarms.com/