José Luis Basilio Nicolau (b.1942-d.2025) was born to Dolores Nicolau Arques and Vicente Basilio Bellver in Alicante, Spain and moved to Madrid with his family at 11 years old. He served in the Spanish army in what was then the Spanish Sahara. José and Miriam met on a blind date fixed up through mutual friends. It was love at first sight. They married in Gibraltar in 1966 and held a religious ceremony in October of 1966 in San Juan, PR. They had two daughters, Miriam and Teresa. In 1976, they moved to Punta Gorda, Florida where they settled for good. They started a furniture factory and showroom in North Fort Myers called Creative Rattan which lasted 15 years. Jose became a realtor in the early 1990’s until his retirement. José and Miriam were avid world travelers.
He was very active in his community. He was a long-time member of the Royal Order of the Ponce de Leon Conquistadors and established a sister city program with Palencia, Spain; region where Ponce de Leon was born. He took members of the Conquistadors to visit Palencia twice. He also organized a sister city program with San Juan, PR where Ponce de Leon was the first governor. He spearheaded the fundraising and design of the Ponce de Leon monument in Gilchrist Park. He was also a proud member of the Knights of Columbus where he achieved the fourth degree and served as Grand Knight.
In addition, he was a member of Rotary International belonging to Rotary Clubs of Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda. He was a parishioner of Sacred Heart Church in Punta Gorda and a parishioner of San Antonio Church since its founding. He and his family started the Easter Sunrise Mass in Ponce de Leon Park in Punta Gorda in 1978 which continues to this day. He was also a member of the Elks Club in Punta Gorda, a member of the Board of the Charlotte County Cultural Center, and a volunteer who assisted the priest from Sacred Heart to say Catholic masses for inmates at the Correctional Facility of Charlotte County to name just a few of his acts of service. He leaves behind many friends and family throughout Charlotte County, Spain and Puerto Rico.
A Funeral Mass for José will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, October 31, 2025, at St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church on Spear Street in Port Charlotte, Florida.
Friends may visit online at www.robersonfh.com to extend condolences to the family. Arrangements by Roberson Funeral Home Punta Gorda Chapel.