Overview
- Ortiz, whose death was confirmed Tuesday, had been in San Juan’s Hospital Ashford since May 1 with his wife Sylvia Ríos and daughter Neira by his side.
- The passing followed a years-long fight with colorectal cancer that he disclosed in 2023, after which he had surgery and a 2025 relapse that prompted a federation call for blood donations.
- He represented Puerto Rico in four Olympic Games and helped deliver the Athens 2004 win over a U.S. team made up of NBA players.
- His club career included the Utah Jazz and leading roles in Europe with CAI Zaragoza, Real Madrid, and FC Barcelona, and he entered the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2019.
- Tributes poured in from Puerto Rican sports leaders and the national federation, and most outlets report he was 62, though one lists his age as 63.