Gerardo “Andy” Andreu, 81, of Amarillo, passed away on December 24, 2024.

A Rosary will be recited at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 4, 2024, at St. Hyacinth Catholic Church, 4500 Westhills Trail, Amarillo, Texas. A Memorial Mass, honoring Andy’s life will follow at 11:00 a.m. Andy will be laid to rest with his sons during a private burial at a later date with Llano Cemetery.

Gerardo “Andy” Andreu was born May 24, 1943, in Santiago de Cuba, Oriente Province Cuba to Gerardo Andreu and Ana Maria Vallabriga. Gerardo was raised on a ranch in Cuba where his love for the beach, fishing and gardening started and never left. Gerardo arrived in the United States on July 19, 1961. One of the proudest days of his life was the day he became an American citizen. Shortly after his arrival to the United States he joined the United States Air Force. While in the Air Force he completed studies and duties as an organizational and supply specialist and aircraft mechanic which led him to Amarillo Air Force Base. Andy served a two-year tour and was honorably discharged. Upon leaving the Armed Forces he joined McCarty Hull Inc in Amarillo as a warehouse and delivery clerk in 1963. He served the organization in several positions including warehouse manager, general manager, and Vice President of Sales and Operations. In 1981 he assumed the position of President and Chief Operating Manager where he remained for a duration of years. He spent later years in positions including Latin American Operations for United States Tobacco Company (UST) and Human Resources Director for Toot-N-Totum and Maxivolt. After retirement Andy worked part time for Amarillo College assisting students with disabilities to achieve their education goals.

Education was of utmost importance to Andy, and he strived to never stop learning. During his lifetime he completed undergraduate work and studies at Amarillo College and West Texas State University. He completed the N.A.T.D Executive Management Marketing and Merchandising program held on the campus of the Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration. Andy was awarded many accolades during his career including the recipient of the Texas Association of Candy and Tobacco Distributors Candy Man of the Year Award in 1976. In 1978 he was awarded Tobacco Man of the Year by the same association. In 1978 he was awarded by the National Association of Tobacco Distributors the Kolodny Young Executive Achievement Award, the highest honor bestowed by the industry on executives under the age of 40. In 1986 Andy was the recipient of the Lorillard Tobacco Company Citizenship Award. In 1989 Andy was also appointed President of the Texas Association of Wholesale Distributors. Andy also served as President of the National Association of Tobacco Distributors Young Executives and on the Board of the Executive Management Division of the same organization.

Andy was an active member of the community serving as coach of Little League baseball, football, and basketball in his younger years. He was a member of the Amarillo Rotary Club and served on the Board of Directors of numerous organizations including Boy Scouts of America, Rotary Club, St. Hyacinth Church, and the Amarillo Catholic Education Foundation and served as the chairperson of the Financial Committee for St. Hyacinth Catholic Church. Andy was a public speaker for the Step Up to Success Program in Amarillo where he spoke to and encouraged Hispanic youth to continue their education. He was active in Los Barrios De Amarillo and the Knights of Columbus. Andy was interviewed multiple times and had articles published in the Amarillo Globe News about his immigration journey from Cuba to the United States. He remained active and devoted to his faith with St. Hyacinth Catholic Church serving in any capacity needed into his retirement years.

Andy had a deep love for fishing and the mountains. Red River New Mexico holds countless great memories of time spent with family at the cabins of Tall Pine Resort, fishing at the private lake and stream fishing. Anyone who knew Andy would hear of his stories of his various catches from that lake and stream but also deep-sea fishing in the oceans of Aruba, Cayman Islands, Puerto Vallarta, Jamaica, Hawaii, Mexico, and Florida. Andy loved to travel and took pride in providing his family with opportunities to make memories in beautiful places around the world. He was an avid lover of the sport of golf and spent many years serving and playing in tournaments benefiting the community of Amarillo. Andy was also known for his cooking abilities, mostly the food of his home country of Cuba. Food was a passion for Andy and his warm smile was recognized and welcomed at many restaurants around Amarillo that he frequently visited. His love for Cuban coffee ran deep and his multiple daily shots of espresso were known at Roasters Coffee & Tea.

Andy will always be remembered for his unbreakable strength, steady faith, shining personality, beautiful smile, hard work ethic, ability to never meet a stranger, respect for his country and most of all his unwavering love and commitment to his family. The amount of business associates and friends he made in his lifetime is something to be admired. The impact and example he set for his children and grandchildren will live in their hearts for eternity.

Andy is preceded in death by his former spouse and mother of his children that they adored Gloria Jean Andreu, parents, Gerardo Andreu and Ana Maria Soca, sister Leah Andreu and sons Gerardo “Jerry” Andreu and Robert William Andreu.

Andy is survived by daughter Janette Garza and former spouse Armando Garza of Amarillo, brother Angel Soca of Miami Florida, grandchildren Cristian Andreu Quintanilla and fiancé Eva Herrera, Kye Garza, Mason Garza, and Berkley Andreu, all of Amarillo, Morgan Grebe and spouse Jered of Arizona, Taylor Andreu and spouse Meghan of Arkansas, six great grandchildren, many beloved nieces and nephews, and adopted daughter Sydia Aguilar of Amarillo.