BAYAMON, Puerto Rico — Juan Baez Santiago, president of Bayamon-based TUCO Tires, died Aug. 4 in Bayamon at age 70 after battling cancer.
Born in Bayamon Jan. 9, 1948, Mr. Baez was "the father of the used tire industry in Puerto Rico," according to his friend Howard Levy, proprietor of the Deerfield Beach, Fla.-based website usedtires.com.
Mr. Baez was one of the first used tire importers in Puerto Rico and for many years the largest, Mr. Levy said.
In addition to having his own business, Mr. Baez was Lakin Tire's representative in Puerto Rico in the late 1980s, and also was affiliated with the Spanish retreader Insa Turbo, Mr. Levy said.