Virginia Perez-Santalla

Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Cuban Immigrant, and Renowned Spanish Interpreter and Translator Dies at age 83 in Summit, NJ

Virginia Perez Santalla, a remarkable woman of resilience, talent, and love, passed away on May 30, 2025, in Summit, New Jersey, at the age of 83, following a courageous years-long battle with her third cancer diagnosis. With her trademark steely strength, she had triumphed over two prior diagnoses, showcasing the unyielding spirit that defined her extraordinary life.

Born on May 21, 1942, in Havana, Cuba, to parents Mario Fiallo and Concha Fernandez Riquer, Virginia was an only child but never alone. Surrounded by loving grandparents and over a dozen aunts and uncles, she was doted on as “Virginita” or “Villy.” She forged especially close bonds with cousins Alberto and Teobaldo Fernandez, and maintained ties with her Fiallo cousins, attending reunions whenever possible over the decades.

At a young age, Virginia learned finger spelling, the sign language used in Cuba, to communicate with her father, who became deaf at 9. Her bilingual skills in Spanish and English blossomed through her education at St. George’s bilingual school in Cuba and frequent trips to the United States with her father for his business ventures. Her love for the arts emerged early, too. She began studying ballet as a young girl, performing in a televised production under the prominent ballet instructor Alicia Alonso - a moment of immense pride. Academically gifted, she excelled while nurturing her passions for art, dance, and song, often singing with joyful abandon, if slightly off-key.

On July 3, 1959, Virginia married her first husband, Jesus Perez Santalla, the father of her children. They welcomed their firstborn, Javier de Jesus, on July 1, 1960. When Fidel Castro’s Communist regime took hold, Virginia fled Cuba on a plane with her infant son on her lap, smuggling $100—a wedding gift—inside a tube of toothpaste with Jesus joining her shortly thereafter. Arriving in Miami, they hoped for a temporary stay, but the dream of returning faded. In December 1961, their second son, Guillermo Miguel, was born. The family moved to New York City in 1962 for better opportunities, welcoming Carlos Alberto in 1963, Laura Margarita in 1965, and Eduardo Enrique in 1967. Seeking green space and a strong community, they settled in Mountainside, New Jersey, in 1970. Six years later, they welcomed their second daughter Rebecca Maria.

After decades of raising her brood in their modest, idyllic home, Virginia turned to a career in language. In 1980, she enrolled at The Berlitz School of Language in Summit, NJ where she quickly excelled and became a professor. Encouraged to pursue professional translation, she earned certification from the American Translators Association (ATA) while simultaneously resuming her education which had been interrupted by Cuba’s political upheaval. In March of 1988, she obtained her high school diploma before pursuing a college degree. In 1990, she was initiated into the Phi Theta Kappa Society, an international scholastic honor for two-year colleges, and earned her Associate in Arts degree from Union County College in May 1991, surrounded by her proud family at the age of 50.

Virginia and Jesus divorced in 1992 after 33 years. In 1994, she married Professor Anthony Signorelli. They enjoyed travel, dining, and the arts, balancing work and life. In 2004, Virginia was named Director of the ATA where she served for 11 years.

In 2009, Tony sadly succumbed to cancer. Her quiet strength sustained her as a mother, grandmother, and professional, translating and interpreting for the FBI, DEA, United Nations, and federal and municipal courts. Even-so, one of her proudest roles was serving as Den Mother for her son’s Boy Scout troop.

In 2010, Virginia welcomed her great-granddaughter, Aurora and met artist, jazz enthusiast, and funnyman Richard Stein. After two years of travel, art, humor, love, and family, they married in May 2013. When Richard died suddenly in August 2023, Virginia donned her armor of resilience once more.

Virginia is survived by her six children: Javier Perez-Santalla (Donna), Guillermo Perez-Santalla (Aymee), Carlos Perez-Santalla (Marlene), Laura Perez-Vitollo (Steve), Eddie Perez-Santalla (Francine), and Rebecca Lorenson (Mike); 18 grandchildren: SMA Nicholas Perez-Santalla (Iolanda), Christopher Perez-Santalla, Marianna Newman (Sean), Isabella Perez-Santalla, Gabriella Perez-Santalla, Marc Perez-Santalla, Stephen Perez-Santalla, Adrianna Perez-Santalla, Victor Perez-Santalla (Jess), Andre Perez-Santalla, Vienna Vitollo, Lucas Vitollo, Veronica Vitollo, Christian Perez-Santalla, Matthew Perez-Santalla, Livia Perez-Santalla, Mario Lorenson, and Thomas Lorenson; and six great-grandchildren: Aurora, James, Ryan, Emmanuel, Noah, and Ella. Her legacy of strength, love, and achievement lives on.

Virginia's Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 10:30AM Thursday June 5, 2025 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 300 Central Ave. Mountainside. Her inurnment will be in the Mausoleum of St. Teresa of Avila Cemetery, Summit, NJ. Memorial contributions in Virginia's memory, may be made to St. Jude Shrine, at www.stjudeshrine.org.  Arrangements by Gray Funeral Directors of Westfield. Please go to: www.grayfuneralhomes.org to offer condolences.