Last week, the Patch reported a house fire on Arcadia Road the morning of May 6th. What the article did not include is that this was the home of beloved Ridgewood football and lacrosse coach and mentor, Ernesto “Mickey” Santiago, his wife Marivic, and their three sons, Gabe, Zach, and Matthew.

Mickey, Marivic, and Gabe, who was home studying for his MCATs, were inside during the traumatic event, which began in the basement and slowly spread through the house. Thankfully, they were able to evacuate safely.

Now, after the shock begins to wear off, the Santiago family faces the difficult reality of what comes next. They have temporarily relocated to a hotel before finding a rental home for the next 12-24 months while their home is rebuilt. They will face countless insurance negotiations, financial stress, and the emotional challenge of rebuilding not just a house, but the place where their family built a lifetime of memories. It’s a long road for anyone, especially for two parents balancing full time jobs and family responsibilities.

A house fire is devastating for anyone. But when it happens to one of the pillars of your community, it resonates even more deeply. Mickey has always been there for his family, but through decades of coaching and volunteering, he has also been there for countless young people and families throughout Ridgewood.

Coach Mickey has dedicated more than two decades to serving the Ridgewood community since making Ridgewood home in 2005. What began as volunteering for Cub Scout Pack 33 at Hawes School evolved into years of leadership across Ridgewood football and lacrosse.

In football, Mickey became deeply involved with the Ridgewood Junior Football Association, where he coached his sons and served on the board from 2013-18. He also played an instrumental role in launching the Intro to Tackle program for second graders.

As his boys reached high school, Mickey joined the Ridgewood High School football coaching staff in 2016 as a freshman coach before moving to the varsity staff from 2017-23. He also served as the JV coach from 2018-21.

In lacrosse, Mickey coached youth teams for the Ridgewood Lacrosse Association from 2014-18 before later joining the Ridgewood High School lacrosse program as an assistant coach for the freshman and JV teams from 2019-25.

For more than twenty years, Mickey Santiago has shown up for Ridgewood families without asking for anything in return. He coached, mentored, volunteered, encouraged, and helped shape the lives of countless young men both on and off the field.

Now, after losing their home and so much of what they built together as a family, the Santiago family needs the same community support that Mickey has spent decades giving to others.

If Mickey ever coached your child, inspired your family, supported your team, or made a difference in your life, we hope you will consider helping the Santiago family during this incredibly difficult time. Every contribution, no matter the size, will help them navigate the long road ahead and remind them that the Ridgewood community stands beside them.

Thank you for supporting a family that has given so much to so many.