It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Carmen del Río de Pinies, beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at the age of 93. She died peacefully at her home in Spring Lake.
Carmen was born on November 6, 1931 in New York City to Prof. Angel del Río and Prof. Amelia A. del Río. She grew up on the Upper West Side at Columbia University, attended the Brearley School and graduated from Barnard College in 1953. While at Barnard and for many years later she performed in the Spanish Department’s productions of classic plays from Garcia Lorca’s Bodas de Sangre to Calderon de la Barca’s La Vida es Sueño.
In 1955 she married the Spanish born ENT physician Dr. Felix de Pinies. After a year in Madrid, they returned to Manhattan. In 1962 they bought their house in Spring Lake and spent weekends year round and summers at the shore enjoying the days at North Beach and the nights at favorite spots like Jack Sullivan’s, Eggiman’s and the homes of many Spaniards who followed them to the Irish Riviera! Over the years she made many invaluable friends from the Moore family to her wonderful neighbors on Ludlow Avenue. In 1997, Carmen and Felix moved to Spring Lake full time.
She served on the Board of Directors of the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute for many years and enjoyed organizing their yearly Gala. She worked in her husband’s medical practice on Park Avenue bonding with his patients and all who came in contact with her. She had a passion for the theater and for trying new restaurants with her circle of close friends. She was a stunning beauty with a wonderful, positive personality conquering old and young because she herself was so young at heart. She was a wonderful cook and a warm and entertaining hostess and loved to have any excuse for a dinner party at her home. She will be remembered for her kindness, generosity, quick wit, fantastic sense of humor, and her salty language in both Spanish and English!
She is survived by her daughter Carmen (Fabian), son Carlos, her grandchildren Isabella and Nico, her nieces Meline Dickson and Pamela del Río as well as many close relatives in Spain, particularly Tania Sopena, Jaime de Pinies and Leticia Orti. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Michael, her husband Felix of 60 years and her nephew Pablo.
Committal will be private. O’Brien Funeral Home, Wall is entrusted with arrangements, http://www.obrienfuneralhome.com. A celebration of her life will be held in late summer. The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to her physician and friend, Dr. Peter Mencel, who saved her life 30 years ago and gave us all this extra time with her. A special thanks to her hospice nurses, Marie and Nancy and caregivers Maria and Ashley, whose compassionate care and support during her final weeks is so appreciated. Also, thanks to Dan Cannon who came to her rescue many times in her beloved old house. Carmen’s memory will live on in the hearts of all who loved her. May God bless her Soul and may she rest in peace.
