Joseph A Unanue

One of four sons of Prudencio and Carolina Unanue, who founded Goya in 1936 to sell olives, olive oil, sardines and other food to local Hispanic families. Andy Unanue said his father started working at the company as a boy, delivering food and running errands during the summer and on weekends. He served in the Army in World War II and was awarded a Bronze Star. After the war he attended the Catholic University of America and graduated with an engineering degree before joining the family business. The company was founded as a storefront business in Lower Manhattan by Prudencio Unanue, who had moved to the United States from Puerto Rico after emigrating there from his native Spain as a young man. He died in 1976, leaving the company to his sons, Joseph, Charles, Francisco and Anthony. Joseph was named chief executive in the mid-1970s and had increased revenue to more than $1 billion, from $20 million, by the time he left in 2004. Under his watch, Goya struck up a relationship with Walmart and a number of grocery chains. Mr. Unanue and his son, who became chief operating officer, left Goya Foods after a disagreement with other family members about the company’s direction. Still, Mr. Unanue, a major shareholder, retained a seat on the board. He was also an adviser to the private equity firm that Andy Unanue started after leaving Goya. In addition to his son and his wife of 58 years, Carmen, Mr. Unanue is survived by three daughters, Mimi Unanue Guggenheim, Maribel Unanue and Mari Unanue; and 18 grandchildren. Another son, Joseph F., died in 1998, and a daughter, Mary Ann, died in 2009.