After 100 remarkable years of life, Angel Rivas, of Mount Pleasant, SC, passed away peacefully on September 30, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of strength, perseverance, optimism, and, above all, love for his family.

Born January 8 th , 1926, to Dilia Rivas in Pontevedra, Spain, Angel learned early that life would not always be easy. He never let difficult circumstances define or deter him.

At the tender age of 19, he emigrated to South America. After winding his way through Brazil and Uruguay, he ended up in Montevideo where he later met and married his beloved wife, Alba. Together, they shared 67 wonderful years and a devoted son, Luis Angel.

Angel was a skilled stone mason who completed projects on multiple continents, including Australia. He emigrated to the United States in 1976, settling in suburban Maryland, just outside of the nation’s capital. His expertise was instrumental in the construction of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Freedom Plaza, restoration of the U.S. Supreme Court and U.S. Capitol steps, American History Museum, and multitudes of residential projects throughout the Washington, DC region. His work: still standing.

He was a survivor in every sense of the word; a hard worker, strong in both body and character, and possessed a remarkable ability to meet life as it came. He worried little about what he could not change and found a way to enjoy what life had to offer. His greatest legacy isn’t what he built with his hands, but the family he built his life around.

As a grandfather, he became a joyful fixture in the lives of his grandchildren, Stephen and Alexa. He was there for the celebrations and milestones and, just as importantly, for the ordinary times in between, like school pick-ups and Sunday dinners. His presence became woven into the fabric of their childhood and into the memories they will carry with them forever. In his waning days, they were there at his bedside.

After the passing of his wife, Alba, he moved in with his son and daughter-in-law, bringing him even closer to the family he loved and deeply embedded in the daily lives of his three great grandsons, Camden, Liam, and Nolan.

He leaves behind his son Luis Rivas; daughter-in-law Jan Rivas; grandchildren Stephen Rivas and Alexa Hamby (Zach); great-grandchildren Camden, Liam and Nolan Hamby; as well as a host of loving family, friends and neighbors.

One hundred years, eight months, 22 days. A life well lived. A man well loved.