Miguel Angel Sanchez, Sr., 72, of Durham, NC passed away peacefully on November 23, 2019 after a long illness, surrounded by his loved ones. Miguel, son of Jose and Elena Sanchez, was born on May 6, 1947 in Arecibo, Puerto Rico; he was the fifth of ten children. The family relocated to Newark, NJ when Miguel was around five years old, and would eventually set up permanent roots in East Orange, NJ. In 1966, Miguel enlisted in the US Air Force where he would serve a tour of duty that would find him stationed in Japan teaching Spanish to Japanese children. During this time, Miguel married his first wife, Anne and would have three children – Michele, Yvonne, and Michael. After being honorably discharged from the Air Force ranked as Sergeant and returning to East Orange, NJ, Miguel began a new phase of his life with his current wife, Virginia, whom he married on July 23, 1976. This union would produce eight children. Miguel was preceded in death by his son, Franco Juan; his siblings, Eddie, Gilbert, and Esther; and his parents, Jose and Elena. He is survived by his children, Michele Angela Delligatti (Michael) of Galena, OH; Yvonne Marina Marston (Paul) of Dover, NH; Michael Commenator (Amanda) of Derry, NH; Elana Virginia of Middletown, CT; Christina Hunt (Gerard) of Jackson, NJ; Miguel Angel Jr. of Durham, NC; Jose Manuel of Durham, NC; Fransine Marie of Durham, NC; Connie Elizabeth of Raleigh, NC; Diana Angela of Morrisville, NC; his fifteen grandchildren; siblings, Ruth, Louie (Miriam), Freddie (Esther), Lucy (Albert Sr), Edwin and a multitude of devoted nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. A visitation service will be held at 6:00 pm on Sunday, December 1, 2019 at Renaissance Funeral Home, 7615 Six Forks Road, Raleigh NC 27615. Funeral service will be on Monday December 2, 2019 at 11:00 a.m., also at Renaissance Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Miguel to the Wounded Warriors Project https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/