Carmelo Iriarte was the father of former American basketball player Carmelo Anthony. He was born and raised in Manhattan, New York, to Puerto Rican parents. Carmelo was not only Puerto Rican; he had a Venezuelan ancestry. He was part of the Young Lords Association in the 1960s and 1970s as they tried to fight for Puerto Rico’s independence.
Family
Before his death, Carmelo Iriarte was married to Mary Antony. It is unclear how the two met, maybe through those civil rights marches, but they went on to forge a great friendship. Carmelo and Mary were blessed with four children, namely Wilford, Michelle, Carmelo, and Robert. However, Michelle later died, but the family did not disclose the cause of death.
He Was a Young Lord
Carmelo Iriarte was a young lord. Some people may ask, who is a young lord? Young Lords was part of a civil rights group that was trying to fight for respect for human rights and also for the independence of Puerto Rico. Carmelo was quite known, and while growing up, people kept telling his son Carmelo Anthony that he looked like his father, and this gave him the urge to want to know his father more.
Carmelo’s son kept digging as tried to find details about his father. He was proud of what his father was, and he wanted to do all he could to make him proud. He even wished that his father was around to witness his success as a basketball player.
His Son
Following his father’s death, Carmelo Anthony went on a journey as he tried to uncover his Puerto Rican roots. He first visited the country when he was in high school. As he interacted with people, he kept learning a thing about his father and ancestry. Besides his father, Carmelo has managed to make it in life as a basketball player.
He was part of the NBA for 18 seasons, and he is considered one of the most visible players in NBA history. Given the success he has attained, Carmelo Anthony has always wished his father was around to see how well his won was doing in life. In most cases, he says that given that he loved his father’s presence, he will never depart from his son’s life.
Death
Carmelo Iriarte died at a young age. His son Carmelo Anthony was just two years old at the time of his death. He died as a result of cancer that he had been fighting for a long time. Upon his death, his estate was inherited by his wife, but then she had to find a job to do so that she could support her children. At the time of his death, Carmelo Iriarte was in his 30s.
Life After His Death
Life was not easy for his wife, Mary, and his four children. Carmelo was the sole breadwinner of the family. Following his death, his wife had to take the role to ensure that her children had everything they needed. She had to do multiple jobs to ensure the children had their basic needs. Life may have been hard, but the family always stuck together and supported each other through thick and thin.