Juan Manuel Palazon Villarreal

A flag was flown at half-staff at the beach in Fire Island, NY over the weekend to memorialize the life of Juan Villarreal who died tragically in a motorcycle accident on Thursday, May 20. He was 61.

Juan was born in Manila, Philippines to Jesús Morales Villarreal and Maria Teresa Palazon de Villarreal on October 3, 1959. After graduating from the esteemed International School, he moved to the United States to attend Ohio Wesleyan University where he would earn a bachelor’s degree in international economics.

A success in the world of finance, Juan held director level positions with such notable firms as CRT Capital Group, BNP Paribas, Nomura, RBS and ABN AMRO Bank. His work would take him to live in cities around the globe including London, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Tokyo, where, in 1990 he met event producer Ariadne Glimidakis of San Francisco, California. The couple would marry a year later. After returning to the United States in 1998, they set up house in Connecticut, with their young son Andreas in tow.

Juan’s easygoing nature and effortless charm made him an easy fit in just about any setting. On an afternoon in the summer of 1998, while accompanying Ariadne to Fire Island Pines (where she was producing a dance event), Juan was taken by the island’s natural beauty. The couple bought a summer home there and quickly assimilated themselves into their new surroundings. Over the years, Juan and Ariadne would tirelessly lend their talents and become instrumental in growing many of the philanthropic fundraising events held annually in the fabled beach community.

Never one known to sit still for an extended period, Juan’s passions included photography, travelling, and collecting art. A lifelong sports enthusiast, he was a member of the Filipino sailing team competing in the Tempest event at the 1976 Summer Olympic Games in Montreal. He would maintain an active lifestyle, and in later years became an avid runner. But what Juan loved most was family. He took tremendous pride in his son, Andreas.

Juan’s untimely death occurred while he was enjoying his life’s second act. In 2015, while enjoying a birthday weekend in the Hudson Valley, Juan fell in love with the area and embarked on a multi-year venture to find just the right upstate home. In 2019, he and Ariadne moved into a barn they built in Red Hook. Like they had done before on Fire Island, the couple quickly became part of the Hudson Valley community. Retired from finance, Juan shared his love of the area with others and helped many find homes while working as a realtor.

Predeceased by his father, Juan is survived by his wife of 30 years, Ariadne; his son, Andreas (New York City); mother Maria Teresa; sisters Maria Teresa, Natalia, Victoria, numerous in-laws, nieces and nephews.

A private gathering of friend and family has been planned.

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