Dr. Victor Rivera Cortes

HANDS OF LABOR, HEART OF CARE

Beloved husband, father, brother, well-regarded physician, and devoted family man, Victor Rivera Cortes passed away peacefully on June 10, 2025, in Webster Groves, Missouri, surrounded by loved ones.

Family was always at the center of Victor’s life. His greatest joy came from the love he shared with his wife, children, and extended family - relationships he nurtured with devotion and pride across decades. Those closest to him knew him as a man of deep affection, unwavering loyalty, and boundless generosity.

Born on May 11, 1936, in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, Victor’s life was marked by dedication, warmth, and an unwavering passion for medicine.

With a spirit that radiated joy and compassion, Victor completed his medical education at the University of Salamanca - an institution renowned as the oldest university in Spain and one of the oldest in Europe. After earning his medical degree, he returned to Puerto Rico, where he completed his specialization in obstetrics and gynecology and began serving the people of his homeland.

Victor went on to devote more than forty-five years to his calling as a physician. His distinguished career eventually brought him to St. Louis, Missouri, where he continued his medical journey in private practice. He served at several respected institutions, including Lutheran Medical Center, St. Alexius Hospital, St. Anthony's Medical Center, Deaconess Hospital, and Des Peres Hospital.

Victor took immense pride in the many children he helped bring into the world. In each institution, he left an indelible mark - respected by his colleagues and deeply loved by countless patients who experienced his gentle and compassionate care. Many parents of the newborns he delivered affectionately spoke of him as a “guardian angel,” a tribute to the deep bonds he formed through his calling.

His devotion to family extended well beyond his profession; he was a joyful, loving, and constant presence in the lives of those he held most dear. As a husband, father, and brother, he nurtured a home filled with warmth, laughter, and unconditional love - values he passed on to his children and family.

Victor’s life was also filled with many passions. He was a talented dancer who delighted in music, a loyal Cardinals baseball fan, and someone who infused every moment with joy and laughter. He also took great pride in his Puerto Rican heritage, sharing its rich culture through music, food, and traditions with family and friends.

Victor also served his country with honor as a member of the Puerto Rico National Guard, carrying with him a profound sense of duty and compassion throughout his life. One of his most cherished personal commitments was his Faith and a promise he made to God during a critical time in his mother’s life. After her recovery, and upon completing his medical studies, Victor remained true to his word - walking the month-long pilgrimage from Salamanca to Zaragoza, Spain - a powerful testament to his faith, devotion, and character.

Victor was preceded in death by his father, Victor Rivera Perez; his mother, Emilia Cortes; and his sisters in life, Emma Cortes and Olga Cortes.

He leaves behind a legacy deeply woven into the hearts of those who loved him. He is survived by his devoted wife, Maria Dolores Vega Rivera, with whom he shared a loving marriage of 65 years; his daughter, Maria Victoria Rivera Vega; his son, Victor Luis Rivera Vega; and his brother, Cesar A. Rivera Cortes.

The memory of Victor Rivera Cortes will forever resonate in the lives he touched. His family will forever cherish his kindness, laughter, and unconditional love.

Friends and family are invited to celebrate his remarkable life during a visitation on Monday, June 23, 2025, from 4 PM to 8 PM CST at Newcomer Funeral Home of West County in Chesterfield, Missouri. A funeral service will follow on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at 12 PM CST at the same location, with internet / online access via 'Livestream' available for those unable to attend in person beginning at 11 AM CST (access under section titled Victor Rivera Cortes' Tribute below). Interment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.

May Victor’s extraordinary journey inspire us all to embrace life with the same passion, warmth, and love that he shared generously with the world!!!

We warmly invite family, friends, and all whose lives were touched by Victor to share a memory, story, or tribute in the online 'Guestbook' at the very bottom portion of this page - a lasting space to honor and celebrate the remarkable life he lived.