Juan José Santana de León, the former mayor of Haría and a historic member of Coalición Canaria, has passed away at the age of 81 in the early hours of Thursday at his home due to illness.
Santana was born in the village of Máguez, within the municipality of Haría, and trained as a teacher. Although his first posting as a teacher was on the island of Gran Canaria, he later returned to Lanzarote, where he directed the San Juan school in Haría for a considerable period.
He was widowed from Lourdes Martínez Fernández and is survived by two children, Lourdes and Bruno Santana. He also had four siblings, one of whom has passed away, and five grandchildren.
Initially, he served as a councillor in the municipality and eventually held the position of mayor for over a decade, from 1971 to 1983. The Lanzarote native balanced his role as mayor with that of a councillor at the Cabildo of Lanzarote, where he assumed responsibilities regarding water management.
After leaving the mayoral office, he withdrew from political life for eight years, returning as a councillor in the early 1990s. Subsequently, he became a councillor at the Cabildo of Lanzarote again from 1995 to 2007.
Additionally, he was a former president of the insular Centre for Democratic and Social Action, a past president of the Canarian Nationalist Centre, and a previous president of the insular branch of Coalición Canaria.
After retiring from public life, Santana was appointed honorary president of Coalición Canaria in Lanzarote.
Simultaneously, he presided over the José Clavijo y Fajardo foundation and the Association of Friends of Wine and Cheese in Lanzarote.
In recognition of his efforts to recover the agricultural, cultural, and heritage values of the land, Juan Santana was awarded the Haría Prize in 2013.
Funeral Arrangements
The funeral chapel is set up at the Haría Funeral Home and will remain open on Thursday from 16:00 to 22:00. Additionally, it will reopen at 09:00 on Friday, 29th August. Meanwhile, the funeral mass will take place on 29th August at 11:30 at the Church of Our Lady of the Incarnation in Haría.
Condolences
The president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Oswaldo Betancort, expressed deep sorrow on behalf of the entire insular corporation regarding the passing of Juan José Santana de León (May 1944 – August 2025), whom they described as “a key figure in the public life of the island for several decades.”
Betancort highlighted Santana’s “deep commitment to his land, its people, and its identity,” emphasising that his legacy will endure in Lanzarote’s historical memory and in the thoughts of those who shared projects and endeavours with him for the island’s welfare.
The insular corporation has extended its condolences and support to the family, friends, and acquaintances of Juan José Santana de León, trusting that his example of public service will continue to inspire future generations of Lanzarote residents.
Coalición Canaria Lanzarote, through its general secretary Pedro San Ginés, has conveyed its heartfelt condolences on the passing of former councillor and party member Juan José Santana de León (May 1944 – August 2025). The party pointed out that he was a “prominent figure in Lanzarote’s public life and a pillar of the nationalist formation” for decades.
“Juan embodied a profound commitment to Lanzarote, its people, and its identity. His work as a public servant and teacher has left an indelible mark on our collective memory and the spirit of commitment of Coalición Canaria,” the party stated in a release. The insular executive has conveyed its condolences to the family, friends, and acquaintances. “We trust that his exemplary dedication and public service will continue to inspire future generations of Lanzarote residents,” it concluded.
