Fuente General Manager Sam Méndez Found Dead In Dominican Republic

[OZCUBAN]

Fuente General Manager Sam Méndez Found Dead In Dominican Republic | News & Features

Longtime general manager for Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia., Samuel Arturo Méndez Carrasco, 44, was found dead yesterday. Reports say that he committed suicide via a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

"He was my right hand," said Carlos "Carlito" Fuente Jr. to Cigar Aficionado. "He was my assistant, he was my shadow."

According to official accounts by Dominican news sources Listin Diario and Diario Libre, Méndez's body was discovered in Santiago in a parked Ford Explorer SUV yesterday afternoon. Inside the car, local authorities also found a letter addressed to his family.

Besides being an instrumental part of Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia. (makers of Arturo Fuente and Fuente Fuente OpusX cigars), Méndez was also a second army lieutenant in the Dominican Reserves.

"Sammy was such a charming guy," added Fuente. "He loved tobacco. He was with me since he was a young man. He was so bright. Sammy knew about everything. He was a scientist. A perfect gentleman. Never had anything negative to say about anyone. He's been my right hand for many, many years."

Méndez had worked for Fuente since 1995 and oversaw everything from factory production to tobacco fermentation and classification. After years of training, Méndez became the general manager in 2000, improving quality control and manufacturing techniques in the Fuente factory.

Méndez was a spokesperson for the Fuente company, giving walking tours of the Fuente factory to many international visitors. He also represented Fuente at major cigar events like the ProCigar Festival and the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers trade show.

"In my heart, he was a Fuente," Fuente said. "He was like my son, my brother. It's a loss that's impossible to replace. There won't be another Sammy."

He is survived by his wife, Brenda, and two children, Camila and Diego.

[JohnS]

I couldn't believe it when I read this yesterday....such sad news. That's why it's important to let others know how you feel, especially if you have depression and/or anxiety. It's much more common than one would think.

[IcedCanuck]

He just left his family high and dry; I feel bad for his children.

[jmg]

RIP. sad day for the Fuentes and their company. one of the best NC cigar companies out there

[Mattygukas]

Horrible news. My prayers (sorry Ken) will go out to his family and friends.

RIP

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[oliverdst]

depression is a b#tch

[El Presidente]

Condolences

[Olga]

RIP

[MIKA27]

depression is a b#tch

I couldn't believe it when I read this yesterday....such sad news. That's why it's important to let others know how you feel, especially if you have depression and/or anxiety. It's much more common than one would think.

Depression is a silent killer but it doesn't have to be silent.

Reach out to family, friends or anyone you know even on this very forum. So many people here, most you will never meet but friendship stretches far beyond. I went through a horrible experience late last year and whilst I had family and friends, I also had a number of good friends on this forum who messaged me their support. Ray (Pigfish) JohnS, OzCuban.

Don't let anything take your life early, we're supposed to die old in our beds surrounded with loved ones. Horrible legacy to leave being found dead in an SUV but rationale doesn't come into frame when one's mind is unwell.

[luv2fly]

Very sad. I have had 2 people close to me who made that decision. I never knew they were having trouble. Don't know if I could have helped had I known.

My heart hurts for the family. Its the loved ones who have to carry this with them and from experience it is very painful. I will never get over it but as time goes by, I have come to accept it.

[Optic101]

Condolences to family and friends !

[Ken Gargett]

Horrible news. My prayers (sorry Ken) will go out to his family and friends.

RIP

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

not in the least.

my "prayers" may be in a slightly different form to some but the ultimate intent is largely similar. at least, i believe that.

read this a few days ago and thought how very sad.

[Ken Gargett]

He just left his family high and dry; I feel bad for his children.

there was a time when i believe i would have shared that sentiment but, as someone who has lost a number of friends to depression, a couple of them extremely close, i now think that it is not as simple as that.

the first time, i was genuinely angry that they had done this - and this was a friend who to the outside world had it all. she was loved by everyone who met her, truly stunning, warm and generous, terrific family, incredibly smart (at 25, she had been sent to london to open and run a stockbroking office). complete shock to us all. could not work out why. i thought it such an awful thing to do.

but having subsequently seen how horribly depression can affect someone, and how they have so little control when it gets bad, i have a different view now. it is truly awful for the family and friends but i think that blaming the person suffering is harsh.

a tragedy all round. depression so often is.

the tough thing is getting them to open up about it and to accept help.

[madandana]

Very successful man. Gos to show,depression shows no prejudice.

[LGC]

Those who have been in his shoes truly know what depression can do to a person. It's never as simple as viewed by outsiders. It is easy to judge and make presumptions. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

[Fuzz AI]

I know the effects of depression firsthand, and at the time, I too refused to acknowledge it. Lucky for me it was only a relatively mild case of depression that I managed to work through (took me 2 yrs to get over it). Those feelings of hopelessness and that everything is your fault are very hard to shake. For some, even when they get better, those feelings can creep back in at any time. I liken depression to mental cancer; it eats away from the inside, with little visible signs.

For those who think he took the coward's way out, you just don't understand what depression can do.

RIP

[Mattygukas]

not in the least.

my "prayers" may be in a slightly different form to some but the ultimate intent is largely similar. at least, i believe that.

read this a few days ago and thought how very sad.

No offense meant Ken. Just thought you were not into that kind of thing.

So sad that things come to this and I really hope his family gets the help they need now.

[luv2fly]

I know the effects of depression firsthand, and at the time, I too refused to acknowledge it. Lucky for me it was only a relatively mild case of depression that I managed to work through (took me 2 yrs to get over it). Those feelings of hopelessness and that everything is your fault are very hard to shake. For some, even when they get better, those feelings can creep back in at any time. I liken depression to mental cancer; it eats away from the inside, with little visible signs.

For those who think he took the coward's way out, you just don't understand what depression can do.

RIP

Thank you for that Fuzz!

[Ken Gargett]

No offense meant Ken. Just thought you were not into that kind of thing.

no offence at all.

i am more than happy for us all to concoct whatever fantasies make us happy.

[Mattygukas]

no offence at all.

i am more than happy for us all to concoct whatever fantasies make us happy.

LMAO! You are too funny!

[sactochris]

Very sad news.

[helix]

Scary Stuff . RIP.

[MrGTO]

no offence at all.

i am more than happy for us all to concoct whatever fantasies make us happy.

Your posts always make me laugh.