List of People from Ponce, Puerto Rico on:
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This is a list of notable ''Ponceños'', people from
Films: Under Suspicion, and ''" El último de los amantes"'' (the Spanish language version of
Founder of New York City's
Films:
A
Pioneer in Puerto Rico television. Starred in the movie ''" Lo que le Pasó a Santiago"'', directed by
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce (, , , ) is both a city and a municipality on the southern coast of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.
Ponce, Puerto Rico's most populated city outside the San Juan metropolitan area, was founded on 12 August 1 ...
. Listed here are people who were either born in Ponce or who were not born in Ponce, but who are or were longtime residents of the city – the so-called adopted sons and daughters of Ponce, and known in Spanish as "''Ponceñistas''". Ponce has also been the birthplace and the place of residence of many Puerto Ricans who became notable elsewhere. The following lists many of them as well. The list is arranged alphabetically by area of notability.
List of notable Ponceños by area of notability
The list is divided into categories and in some cases sub-categories which best describe the field for which the subject is most noted. For individuals notable in more than one field (such as "Luis A. Ferré" who is notable as a former "governor" and as an "industrialist") the entry is made under the field for which the individual is most noted. :Top
A spinning top, or simply a top, is a toy with a squat body and a sharp point at the bottom, designed to be spun on its vertical axis, balancing on the tip due to the gyroscopic effect.
Once set in motion, a top will usually wobble for a few ...
– Actors, actresses, comedians and directors, Architects
An architect is a person who plans, designs and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...
, Authors, playwrights and poets, Beauty queens and fashion models, Business people and industrialists, Civil rights and/or political activists, Clergy
Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the ter ...
, Composers, contemporary singers, musicians and opera, Criminals and outlaws, Diplomats
A diplomat (from grc, δίπλωμα; romanized ''diploma'') is a person appointed by a state or an intergovernmental institution such as the United Nations or the European Union to conduct diplomacy with one or more other states or internatio ...
, Educators
A teacher, also called a schoolteacher or formally an educator, is a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence, or virtue, via the practice of teaching.
''Informally'' the role of teacher may be taken on by anyone (e.g. whe ...
, Governors
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
, Historians, Journalists, Judges, law enforcement and firefighters, Military
A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...
, Physicians, scientists and inventors, Politicians, Sportspeople
An athlete (also sportsman or sportswoman) is a person who competes in one or more sports that involve physical strength, speed, or endurance.
Athletes may be professionals or amateurs. Most professional athletes have particularly well-develo ...
, Visual Artists
The visual arts are art forms such as painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, photography, video, filmmaking, design, crafts and architecture. Many artistic disciplines such as performing arts, conceptual art, and textile arts ...
.
Actors, actresses, comedians, directors and entertainers
*Marisol Calero
Marisol Calero (born 13 September 1963) is a Puerto Rican actress and singer.
Early years
Calero was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, on 13 September 1963. As a child, Calero participated in school performances at the Academia del Perpetuo Socorro a ...
, actressFilms: Under Suspicion, and ''" El último de los amantes"'' (the Spanish language version of
The Last of the Red Hot Lovers
''Last of the Red Hot Lovers'' is a comedy by Neil Simon. It premiered on Broadway in 1969.
Production
The play opened on Broadway at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre on December 28, 1969, and closed on September 4, 1971, after 706 performances and si ...
).
*Míriam Colón
Míriam Colón Valle (August 20, 1936 – March 3, 2017) was a Puerto Rican actress. She was the founder and director of New York City's Puerto Rican Traveling Theater. Beginning her career in the early 1950s, she performed on Broadway and on ...
, actressFounder of New York City's
Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre
The Puerto Rican Traveling Theater is a theater company based at the 47th Street Theater in New York City. It was founded as El Nuevo Círculo Dramatico (The New Drama Circuit) by Míriam Colón and Roberto Rodríguez.
It was one of the first Pu ...
* María-Elena Laas, actressFilms:
The Hot Chick
''The Hot Chick'' is a 2002 American comedy film written and directed by Tom Brady, with additional writing by Rob Schneider. Schneider stars as Clive Maxtone, a middle-aged criminal who switches bodies with mean-spirited cheerleader Jessica Spe ...
, and Suffering Man's Charity, among others.
*Walter Mercado
Walter Mercado Salinas (9 March 1932 – 2 November 2019), also known by his stage name Shanti Ananda, was a Puerto Rican astrologer, actor, dancer, and writer, best known as a television personality for his shows as an astrologer. His astrol ...
, astrologer, dancer, telenovela actor, writer
*Mario Montez
René Rivera, (July 20, 1935 – September 26, 2013), known professionally as Mario Montez, was one of the Warhol superstars, appearing in thirteen of Andy Warhol's underground films from 1964 to 1966. He took his name as a male homage to the ac ...
, female impersonator/actorA
Warhol superstar
Warhol superstars were a clique of New York City personalities promoted by the pop artist Andy Warhol during the 1960s and early 1970s. These personalities appeared in Warhol's artworks and accompanied him in his social life, epitomizing his fam ...
.
* Tommy Muñiz, television producer comedian and actorPioneer in Puerto Rico television. Starred in the movie ''" Lo que le Pasó a Santiago"'', directed by
Jacobo Morales
Jacobo Morales (born 12 November 1934) is a Puerto Rican actor, poet, writer, playwright, filmmaker, and auteur.Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
*
Film: American Gangster; TV: Battlestar Galactica * Elín Ortíz, actor, producer, comedian and screenwriter.
For many years interpreted "Relíquia", mocking political corruption in Puerto Rico. * Jeimy Osorio, actress.
Film:
TV: Nicky Jam: El Ganador. * Luis Raúl, actor, comedian and TV host
Acted in many
Starred in ''"Ante La Ley"'', Puerto Rico's first
One of the pioneers of
Film: ''" Dios los cría"'', the Spanish language version of ...And God Created Them, among others. *
Pioneer film producer. Made the first commercially successful films in the island, including ''"Romance Tropical"'', the first Puerto Rican film with sound. *
Starred in the musicals '' Jesucristo Superstar'', ''
A graduate of an American architecture university, he designed masterpieces such as Castillo Serrallés and Casa de España. *
Designer of
Designed
Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. Winner of the Henry Klumb Award 2012. * Francisco Porrata-Doría, architect
Designed the
Creator of the
Designed many buildings now in the NRHP including
Co-founder of
Award: Liberatur Prix Award,
His works include "Contornos", "Imagen y visión edénica de Puerto Rico", and "Antología poética". * Pedro J. Labarthe, poet, journalist, essayist, and novelist.
Documented the experience of Puerto Rican migration to New York. Major writings: The Son of Two Nations: The Private Life of a Columbia Student, among others. * Emilio J. Pasarell, short-story writer, novelist, and essayist. He was also an accomplished historian.
Best known for his ''"Origenes y desarrollo de la aficcion teatral en Puerto Rico"'' (Origins and development of theater in Puerto Rico). *
Co-founder of the
Major awards:
Major Awards:
Miss Puerto Rico 2001,
Model, TV host and actress
Ponce Servicios was named after him. *
Under his mayoral administration, the
First administrator of Cooperativa de Cafeteros de Puerto Rico,
Owner of Ferré-Rangel media emporium. * Luberza Oppenheimer, Isabel
Madam of a notorious brothel. * Francisco Parra Duperón, lawyer
Founder of Puerto Rico's oldest law firm in continuous operation, Parra, del Valle & Limeres. * José Miguel Rovira, industrialist
Founder of
Founded the Ponce Chamber of Commerce. Was also president of
Built the third-oldest residence still standing in Ponce and which became Liceo Ponceño, Puerto Rico's first girls-only school, and later the
Founder of Destilería Serrallés and "
Founder of
Founder of Ïmprenta Fortuño.
Instrumental in the creation of the
Donated the money for the construction of Acueducto de Ponce and what would become Hospital Tricoche. *
A hero of 1898 "El Polvorín" fire.
Served in several Commonwealth governmental positions, some of which were appointed by the president of the United States. * Carlos A. Chardón López, educator and civil servant
Chardón served twice as Puerto Rico's Secretary of Education *
Headed the launching of island-wide public electric service in Puerto Rico. * Mariano Villaronga-Toro, educator and public servant
The first Commissioner of Public Instruction after the creation of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Displaced English as the language of instruction and replaced it with Spanish.
Nationalist and political prisoner.
Self-proclaimed "Jesus Christ Man". Can be heard in 287 radio stations; founded a 24-hr TV network; has some 2 million followers in 35 countries. *
Recipient of the
Educator at the
Longest-serving bishop for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ponce in Ponce, Puerto Rico, with 36 years of service.
Wrote many compositions, including the incidental music for both A Midsummer Night's Dream by
Chavier trained Luis A. Ferré as a concert-level pianist. *
Founder of the Ponce Municipal Band. Wrote over 550 compositions before he died on stage at age 39. * Juan Ríos Ovalle, composer of danzas, prolific musician and orchestra director. * Manuel G. Tavárez, composer
Known as "The father of the Puerto Rican danza"
Best known for his work with
Co-founder of La Sonora Ponceña, a
Co-director of the annual
First director of the Escuela Libre de Música de Ponce and mastermind behind the creation of Puerto Rico's Free Music School system. * Elisa Tavárez, pianist
Pedro-Juan Vázquez Bragan better known as PJ Sin Suela has been known for his music career and his compromise with social matters in Puerto Rico. * Lorenzo S. Alvarado Santos, singer, composer, and guitarist.
With Johnny Albino and Félix ("Ola") Martínez, made up Trío San Juan during the years 1949–1957. Among his best tunes was the 1956 bolero "Siete notas de amor". *
Lead singer for the " Joe Cuba Sextet" and later with the
Won numerous awards internationally during her lifetime. Was also elected to the Puerto Rico Senate. *
Credited with starting the salsa movement in the early 1970s in collaboration with The
Director of the TV show "
Has recorded over 50 albums, DVDs, and compilations. *
Recipient of the 1966 "Most Popular Latin Singer of the Year" award at the
Multiple-time Grammy and
Known as "The woman with a thousand voices and a thousand faces". *
Winner of the fourth season of Objetivo Fama.
Trained 19th century international soprano singer
First person in world history to record an entire opera * Melliangee Pérez, soprano opera singer
Recipient of
First Puerto Rican to sing a lead role at the
Notorious 1930s outlaw.
Former U.S. Ambassador to
Established the first laboratory of child psychology at the University of Havana * Carlos Albizu Miranda, psychologist and educator
Founder of
Author of ''"Panorama de la Cultura Puertorriqueña"'', among others. * Hemeterio Colón Warens, educator, land surveyor, and mayor of
Founded Colegio Central Ponceño in 1883. * Jaime L. Drew, educator, civil servant, writer and engineer
Author of ''"Libro de Poemas en Ingles y Espanol"'', among others. * Antonio García Padilla, scholar, and civil servant
President of the
Puerto Rico National Olympic team coach * Domingo Marrero Navarro, educator and writer
Author of award-winning ''"El Centauro: Persona y Pensamiento de Ortega y Gasset"'' (
Taught music for a meager $50 per month to an entire generation of Puerto Rican children.
Also an industrialist and philanthropist. Founder of the
Two-time governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and, at 35, Puerto Rico's youngest governor ever. *
Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
First Lady of Puerto Rico (1965–1966). * Rosario Ferré
First Lady of Puerto Rico (1970–1972). *
Youngest First Lady of Puerto Rico (1973–1977, 1985–1992). *
First Lady of Puerto Rico (1969–1970).
Founding member of the Puerto Rican Association of Historians, and director of the Center for Communications Research at the University of Puerto Rico. * Francisco Lluch Mora, historian
Wrote ''"Orígenes y Fundación de Ponce y Otras Noticias Relativas a su Desarrollo Urbano, Demográfico y Cultural (Siglos XVI-XIX)"''. *
Wrote the classical work: ''"Las fiestas populares de Ponce."'' * Antonio Mirabal, political historian and poet
Author of ''"De Rosas a Trujillo: estudio histórico comparativo de las tiranías en América."'' Long-time chief archivist at Archivo Historico de Ponce * Eduardo Neumann Gandía, historian
Author of ''"Verdadera y Auténtica Historia de la Ciudad de Ponce."'' * Andrés Ramos Mattei, sugar industry historian
Said to be "the undisputed authority" on the subject of Puerto Rico's sugar industry. * Gladys Esther Tormes González, historian
Head archivist and longest-serving archivist at the ''"Archivo Historico de Ponce"''.
Columnist for New York's Daily News, and co-host the radio and television program
Emmy Award-winning New York City television news anchor. * Ramón Enrique Torres, news anchor.
Puerto Rico district judge and a First Lady of Puerto Rico (1967–1969). * Pedro Toledo,
Main negotiator during the 1987 Atlanta Prison Riots. * Raúl Gándara-Cartagena, Fire Commissioner
The first and longest-serving Fire Commissioner in Puerto Rico.
Supreme Cacique of Puerto Rico who welcomed Juan Ponce de León to the island. *
Led the
First and only Latino among the first six airmen to be awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal. *
First Latino to serve as commander, Air Force Security Assistance Center, Air Force Materiel Command. *
Co-founder of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard. * Horacio Rivero, admiral, U.S. Navy
First Puerto Rican and second Hispanic to become admiral (four-star) in the U.S. Navy. Commander of the American fleet that effected the blockade of the Soviet ships during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. * Eurípides Rubio, captain, U.S. Army
posthumous recognition, Posthumously awarded the
First Puerto Rican to be elected mayor in the state of Texas. (Mayor of Killeen, Texas). *Luis R. Visot, major general, U. S. Army
Chief of Staff of the United States Army Reserve.
Father of Puerto Rican mycology and first Puerto Rican appointed as Chancellor of
Was also president of the Autonomist Party (Puerto Rico), Autonomist Party of Puerto Rico. *Manuel de la Pila Iglesias, physician and medical pioneer
Introduced the first EKG and X-ray machines to Puerto Rico. Considered to be "one of the giants of Puerto Rican medicine". *José N. Gándara, medical director at Hospital Tricoche
Lead physician helping victims of the Ponce massacre, and expert witness, witness at the trials of the accused Puerto Rican Nationalist Party, Nacionalistas. Was Secretary of Health of Puerto Rico. Co-founder of the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico. *Joxel García, United States Assistant Secretary for Health, Assistant Secretary for Health,
First Puerto Rican to be appointed United States Assistant Secretary for Health, Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. *Julio J. Henna, physician and political activist
Co-founder of New York City's French Hospital (Manhattan), French Hospital. *Gerónimo Lluberas, physician, writer, educator, medical missionary
One of the first physicians in the United States and Puerto Rico to use the Prosorba column to treat rheumatoid arthritis. *Rafael López Nussa, physician and public servant
Pioneered heart surgeries in Puerto Rico. *Rafael Pujals, physician, civic leader and political activist
First physician with a medical degree in the city and medical director at both Hospital de Damas and Hospital Tricoche.
President and principal leader of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party. *Román Baldorioty de Castro
Considered "The Father of Puerto Rico's Autonomy". *Pedro Colón
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly. *Federico Degetau
The first Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico, Resident Commissioner to the United States. *Manuel V. Domenech
Mayor of Ponce. Member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives. Also an engineer and civil servant. *Maurice Ferre
Former Mayor of Miami, Florida. *Marially González Huertas
Vice-president of the Senate of Puerto Rico. *María de Pérez Almiroty
First woman elected to the Senate of Puerto Rico *Ernesto Ramos Antonini
Former Speaker of Puerto Rico's House of Representatives. *Luis Ernesto Ramos Yordán
President of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives *Peter Rivera
Member of the New York State Assembly. *Larry Seilhamer Rodríguez
Speaker of the Senate of Puerto Rico. Also basketball player in Baloncesto Superior Nacional, BSN. *Rafael Cordero Santiago, long-serving mayor of Ponce; elected in 1989, and re-elected to three additional 4-year terms. Died in office.
Former baseball player, MLB All-Star, third Puerto Rican inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame (2011). *Pedro Miguel Caratini
Baseball player. *Orlando Cepeda
Baseball player and member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. *Francisco "Pancho" Coímbre
Negro league baseball All-Star player. *Carlos Correa
Minnesota Twins player. *Luis DeLeón
Former Major League Baseball pitcher for the San Diego Padres and the Seattle Mariners. *Coco Laboy
MLB player with San Francisco Giants, Montreal Expos and the St. Louis Cardinals. *Ricky Ledée
Nine-year veteran in MLB playing as an outfielder. *Javy López
Former catcher in Major League Baseball with the Atlanta Braves, the Baltimore Orioles and the Boston Red Sox. *Felix Maldonado
MLB baseball manager. *Pepe Mangual
MLB player with the Montreal Expos and New York Mets. *Paquito Montaner
First Puerto Rican baseball player to throw a "no-hitter" in Puerto Rican baseball. *Millito Navarro
First Puerto Rican to play in Negro league baseball, Negro leagues and the American Negro League's last surviving member. *Luis Quiñones (baseball), Luis Quiñones
Former Major League Baseball player for the Oakland Athletics, San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds and the Minnesota Twins. *Edwin Rodríguez (baseball), Edwin Rodriguez
Former Florida Marlins team manager. *Benito Santiago
Former 20-season catcher in Major League Baseball. *Félix Torres (baseball), Félix Torres
MLB player with Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Los Angeles Angels, Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati Redlegs and Philadelphia Phillies. *Javier Vázquez (baseball), Javier Vázquez
Former MLB pitcher. *Otto Vélez
MLB player with New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, and Cleveland Indians. *Enrique A. Vicéns, Enrique "Coco" Vicéns
Basketball player with Leones de Ponce (basketball), Leones de Ponce. Also a politician.
Basketball player. Led the Ponce Lions (basketball), Lenoes de Ponce team to six championships. *César Bocachica
Olympic basketball player. *Manolo Cintrón
Former Puerto Rico Basketball league player. Also managed Puerto Rico National team to medals at multiple international games. *Bobby Joe Hatton
Puerto Rico basketball league and Puerto Rico Olympic basketball team player. *Miguel "Ali" Berdiel
Puerto Rico professional basketball league player and National Olympic team medalist.
World Boxing Association, WBA light heavyweight champion and International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee. *Carlos Ortiz (boxer), Carlos Ortíz
Three-time world boxing champion. *Alex Sánchez (boxer), Alex Sánchez
Light flyweight boxer and WBO's world Strawweight championship. *Mario Santiago
2018 World Boxing Council Caribbean Featherweight champion in 2018. *Juan Carazo
Two time world championship challenger, born in Ponce.
Olympic medalist specializing in the 400-metre hurdles. *Germán Figueroa, professional wrestler. *Juan "Papo" Franceschi, track and field athlete
Gold medalist at Central American and Caribbean Games *Edgardo Guilbe, track and field athlete
Olympic sprinter. *Julio Enrique Monagas, sportsman, public servant and civic leader.
Considered "The father of Olympic sports in Puerto Rico." *Francisco Rosa Rivera, professional bodybuilder. *Félix Serrallés, professional racing driver. *Debora Seilhamer, Olympic volleyball player. *Jesse Vassallo, swimmer
Former president (2004-2008), Puerto Rico Swimming Federation and member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. *Ivelisse Vélez, professional wrestler
Lucha Underground.
Her works include album covers for Stan Getz *Elizam Escobar, Escobar, Elizam, painter and political activist.
Dean of the Painting Department at the Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico. *Epifanio “Fano” Irizarry, Irizarry, Epifanio, painter and educator.
His works include "Flamboyan" (1972). *María Luisa Penne, Penne, María Luisa, painter, educator, and graphic artist. *Miguel Pou, Pou, Miguel, painter.
Patrons include
Patrons include Ponce YMCA Building, Ponce YMCA Organization,
Lymari Nadal
Lymari Nadal Torres (born 11 February 1978) is a Puerto Rican actress, film producer and scriptwriter. She has performed in several films including '' American Gangster'' and '' Battlestar Galactica: The Plan.'' In 2011, she also produced he ...
, actressFilm: American Gangster; TV: Battlestar Galactica * Elín Ortíz, actor, producer, comedian and screenwriter.
For many years interpreted "Relíquia", mocking political corruption in Puerto Rico. * Jeimy Osorio, actress.
Film:
Una Maid en Manhattan
''Una Maid en Manhattan'' is a Spanish-language American telenovela produced by Telemundo Studios. It is based on the 2002 film ''Maid in Manhattan'', starring Jennifer Lopez and Ralph Fiennes.
Plot
''Una Maid in Manhattan'' tells the story o ...
, ''" Porque el amor manda"'', ''"Santa Diabla
Santa Diabla (literally: ''Holy Devil'', English title: ''Broken Angel'') is an American telenovela written by José Ignacio Valenzuela, and produced by United States-based television network Telemundo Studios, Miami. The story begins with Gab ...
"''; TV: Celia.
* Gilluis Pérez, actor. TV: Nicky Jam: El Ganador. * Luis Raúl, actor, comedian and TV host
Acted in many
telenovela
A telenovela is a type of a television serial drama or soap opera produced primarily in Latin America. The word combines ''tele'' (for "television") and ''novela'' (meaning "novel"). Similar drama genres around the world include '' teleserye'' ...
s. Hosted ''" Anda Pa'l Cara"'' and ''" Pa' Que Te Lo Goces"''
*Esther Sandoval
Esther Sandoval (28 December 1928 – 6 February 2006) was a Puerto Rican actress and a pioneer in Puerto Rico's television.
Early years
Sandoval was born Esther María González in Ponce where she received her primary and secondary education. ...
, actress.Starred in ''"Ante La Ley"'', Puerto Rico's first
telenovela
A telenovela is a type of a television serial drama or soap opera produced primarily in Latin America. The word combines ''tele'' (for "television") and ''novela'' (meaning "novel"). Similar drama genres around the world include '' teleserye'' ...
.
*Marta Romero
Marta Romero (17 February 1928 – 31 May 2013) was a Puerto Rican actress and singer, and one of the pioneers in Puerto Rican television.
Early life
Romero was born on Calle Mora in downtown Ponce, a city in the south coast of Puerto Rico and ...
, actress and singerOne of the pioneers of
telenovela
A telenovela is a type of a television serial drama or soap opera produced primarily in Latin America. The word combines ''tele'' (for "television") and ''novela'' (meaning "novel"). Similar drama genres around the world include '' teleserye'' ...
s in Puerto Rico
* Teófilo Torres, actor and film directorFilm: ''" Dios los cría"'', the Spanish language version of ...And God Created Them, among others. *
Carmen Nydia Velázquez
Carmen Nydia Velázquez (born 2 October 1947) is a Puerto Rican comedian,comedic
Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term o ...
duet ''"Susa y Epifanio
Susa y Epifanio are a comedic duo of fictional characters from Puerto Rico. They hosted the radio program ''Prende El Fogón'' on WSKN-AM in San Juan, and the weekday television program ''El Fogón TV'' on WORO-DT in Carolina. They also make fr ...
"''
*Rosita Velázquez
Rosa Idalia Velázquez (born July 29, 1950), better known as Rosita Velázquez, is a Puerto Rican comedian, actress and singer. She is best known for her participation in television comedy shows such as "Mi Hippie me Encanta" ("I Love my Hippie"), ...
, actress, comedian and singer, grew up in Ponce.
*Juan Emilio Viguié
Juan Emilio Viguié Cajas (July 11, 1891 – September 1966), was a movie and documentary producer. A pioneer in the film industry of Puerto Rico, he was the first People of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rican to produce commercially successful films in th ...
, film producerPioneer film producer. Made the first commercially successful films in the island, including ''"Romance Tropical"'', the first Puerto Rican film with sound. *
Marco Zunino
Marco Aurelio Zunino Costa (born 12 November 1976) is a Peruvian actor, singer, songwriter and dancer. In his country has starred in the musicals '' Jesucristo Superstar'', ''Cabaret'', ''Rent'' and '' Amor sin barreras (West Side Story)''. Zu ...
, actorStarred in the musicals '' Jesucristo Superstar'', ''
Cabaret
Cabaret is a form of theatrical entertainment featuring music, song, dance, recitation, or drama. The performance venue might be a pub, a casino, a hotel, a restaurant, or a nightclub with a stage for performances. The audience, often dining o ...
'', ''Rent
Rent may refer to:
Economics
*Renting, an agreement where a payment is made for the temporary use of a good, service or property
*Economic rent, any payment in excess of the cost of production
*Rent-seeking, attempting to increase one's share of e ...
'' and '' Amor sin barreras (West Side Story)''.
Architects
* Pedro Adolfo de Castro y Besosa, architectA graduate of an American architecture university, he designed masterpieces such as Castillo Serrallés and Casa de España. *
Juan Bertoli Calderoni
Juan Bertoli Calderoni (sometimes spelled ''Juan Bertoly Calderoni'') was a nineteenth-century French architect from Bastia, Corsica, and long-time resident of Ponce, Puerto Rico, where he designed various prominent structures including Tea ...
, architectDesigner of
Teatro La Perla
Teatro La Perla is a historic theater in the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Inaugurated in 1864, it is the second oldest theater of its kind in Puerto Rico, but "the largest and most historic in the Spanish-speaking Caribbean." The theater was name ...
* Maruja Fuentes, industrial and environmental designer
* Timoteo Luberza, architectDesigned
Plaza del Mercado Isabel II
Plaza del Mercado de Ponce (English: Ponce Market Plaza) or, formally, Plaza del Mercado Isabel Segunda (often abbreviated as Plaza del Mercado Isabel II), is a historic marketplace building in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It was inaugurated in 1863 by P ...
* Andrés Mignucci, urbanist.Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. Winner of the Henry Klumb Award 2012. * Francisco Porrata-Doría, architect
Designed the
Ponce Cathedral
Ponce may refer to:
*Ponce (surname)
*
*Ponce, Puerto Rico, a city in Puerto Rico
** Ponce High School
** Ponce massacre, 1937
* USS ''Ponce'', several ships of the US Navy
*Manuel Ponce, a Mexican composer active in the 20th century
* British sla ...
, Banco de Ponce building, and Banco Crédito y Ahorro Ponceño building.
*Blas Silva
Blas C. Silva Boucher (2 February 1869 - 27 January 1949) was a twentieth-century Puerto Rican engineer from Ponce, Puerto Rico. He is credited with the creation of the Ponce Creole architectural style, even though he was trained as an enginee ...
, architectCreator of the
Ponce Creole
Ponce Creole is an architectural style created in Ponce, Puerto Rico, in the late 19th and early 20th century. This style of Puerto Rican buildings is found predominantly in residential homes in Ponce that developed between 1895 and 1920. Ponc ...
architectural style. Designed the Casa de la Masacre
The ''Museo de la Masacre de Ponce'' (the Ponce Massacre Museum) is a human rights museum and historic building in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It depicts the history and events surrounding the Ponce massacre, which occurred in broad daylight on Palm Su ...
, Font-Ubides House, and the Subira House, among others.
*Alfredo Wiechers Pieretti
Alfredo Wiechers Pieretti was a Puerto Rican architect from Ponce, Puerto Rico. He was an expositor of the Neoclassicism and Art Nouveau architectural styles, doing most of his work in his hometown of Ponce. Today, Alfredo Wiechers' city reside ...
, architectDesigned many buildings now in the NRHP including
Casa Wiechers-Villaronga
Casa Wiechers-Villaronga is a Classical Revival style mansion in Ponce, Puerto Rico designed and built in the early twentieth century. The house was acquired and restored by the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture and now operates as the Museo de ...
, today the Museo de la Arquitectura Ponceña
The Museo de la Arquitectura Ponceña (Museum of Ponce Architecture) is an architecture museum housed at the Casa Wiechers-Villaronga, in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It is preserves the history of the architectural styles of Ponce and Puerto Rico. The ...
.
Authors, playwrights and poets
* César Andreu Iglesias, labor organizer, journalist, novelist, and short-story writer.Co-founder of
Claridad
''Claridad'' ("Clarity") is a Spanish-language weekly newspaper based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It was founded in June 1959. The paper served as the official publication of the Puerto Rican independence movement and later the Puerto Rican Socia ...
. President of the Puerto Rican Communist Party
The Puerto Rican Communist Party (in Spanish: ''Partido Comunista Puertorriqueño,'' PCP) was a communist party in Puerto Rico founded on 23 September 1934 following the sugar strikes on the island that same year. Relevant members include Genera ...
, and recipient of the 1960 Award for Excellence in Journalism from the Puerto Rican Institute of Literature.
* Rosario Ferré, fiction writer, poet, essayist and biographerAward: Liberatur Prix Award,
Frankfurt Book Fair
The Frankfurt Book Fair (German: Frankfurter Buchmesse, FBM) is the world's largest trade fair for books, based on the number of publishing companies represented. It is considered to be the most important book fair in the world for internationa ...
.
* Félix Franco-Oppenheimer, poet and writerHis works include "Contornos", "Imagen y visión edénica de Puerto Rico", and "Antología poética". * Pedro J. Labarthe, poet, journalist, essayist, and novelist.
Documented the experience of Puerto Rican migration to New York. Major writings: The Son of Two Nations: The Private Life of a Columbia Student, among others. * Emilio J. Pasarell, short-story writer, novelist, and essayist. He was also an accomplished historian.
Best known for his ''"Origenes y desarrollo de la aficcion teatral en Puerto Rico"'' (Origins and development of theater in Puerto Rico). *
Pedro Pietri
Pedro Pietri (March 21, 1944 – March 3, 2004) was a Nuyorican poet and playwright and one of the co-founders of the Nuyorican Movement. He was considered by some as the poet laureate of the Nuyorican Movement.
Early years
Pietri was born i ...
, poet, playwrightCo-founder of the
Nuyorican Poets Café
The Nuyorican (Puerto Rican New Yorkers) Poets Cafe is a nonprofit organization in Alphabet City, on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. It is a bastion of the Nuyorican art movement in New York City, and has become a forum for poetry, music, hip ...
.
* Ed Vega, novelist and short-story writer. Major awards:
PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Literary Award
The PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Literary Award is for U.S. multicultural writers, to "promote works of excellence by writers of all cultural and racial backgrounds and to educate both the public and the media as to the nature of multicultural work. ...
(2004) and Washington Post
''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large na ...
Book of the Year Award (2004).
* Iris Zavala, author, scholar, and poet. Major Awards:
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valo ...
, ICP; Gold Medal, AP; and Pen Club Award.
Beauty queens and fashion models
*Denise Quiñones
Denise Marie Quiñones August (born 9 September 1980) is a Puerto Rican actress, model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss Universe 2001. Prior to winning the Miss Universe pageant, she represented her hometown of Lares in the Miss Puerto R ...
, beauty queenMiss Puerto Rico 2001,
Miss Universe 2001
Miss Universe 2001, the 50th anniversary of the Miss Universe pageant, was held on May 11, 2001, at the Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Denise Quiñones of Puerto Rico was crowned by Lara Dutta of India as her successor at ...
*Maripily Rivera
María del Pilar "Maripily" Rivera Borrero (born 15 June 1977) is a Puerto Rican actress, model,
, model Model, TV host and actress
Business people and industrialists
* Juan Bigas Moulins, businessmanPonce Servicios was named after him. *
Salvador de Vives
Salvador de Vives Rodó (1784 – 24 November 1845), also known as Salvador Vives, was a Puerto Rican hacendado and Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico, from 1 January 1840 to 5 January 1842 and then again from 1 January 1844 to 24 November 1845. Hi ...
, Mayor of Ponce and founder of Hacienda Buena Vista
Hacienda Buena Vista, also known as Hacienda Vives (or Buena Vista Plantation in English), was a coffee plantation located in Barrio Magueyes, Ponce, Puerto Rico. The original plantation dates from the 19th century. The plantation was started b ...
Under his mayoral administration, the
Ponce City Hall
The Ponce City Hall ( es, Casa Alcaldía de Ponce) is a historic city hall in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It is located it the center of the city, on Calle Degetau, across from Plaza Degetau in the Ponce Historic Zone. The building serves as the seat ...
was built.
* Ramiro L. ColónFirst administrator of Cooperativa de Cafeteros de Puerto Rico,
Café Rico
Café Rico is a Puerto Rican corporation that manufactures coffee branded by the same name. The company's headquarters are located at Avenida Las Americas/ Route 163 and Calle Comercio/ Route 133 in Barrio San Antón in the city of Ponce, Pue ...
.
*Antonio Luis Ferré
Antonio Luis Ferré (born February 6, 1934) is the Chairman of the Board of the Ferré-Rangel business emporium which owns Puerto Rico's largest newspaper, ''El Nuevo Día'', as well as ''Primera Hora'' newspaper.
Ferré is the son of former Go ...
, businessman and industrialistOwner of Ferré-Rangel media emporium. * Luberza Oppenheimer, Isabel
Madam of a notorious brothel. * Francisco Parra Duperón, lawyer
Founder of Puerto Rico's oldest law firm in continuous operation, Parra, del Valle & Limeres. * José Miguel Rovira, industrialist
Founder of
Rovira Biscuits Corporation
Rovira Biscuits Corporation is a Puerto Rican people, Puerto Rican corporation that manufactures Cracker (food), crackers branded by the same name. The company is well known for its production of ''"export sodas"'' crackers. The company's headq ...
.
* Ermelindo Salazar, businessmanFounded the Ponce Chamber of Commerce. Was also president of
Banco Crédito y Ahorro Ponceño
Banco Crédito y Ahorro Ponceño (Ponce Credit and Savings Bank) was the first bank in Ponce, Puerto Rico,Félix Saurí Vivas
Félix Saurí Vivas (December 1850 – 25 December 1915), also known as Félix Saurí y Vivas, was a Spanish-Puerto Rican people, Puerto Rican businessman and interim Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico, Ponce, from 13 May 1895 to 11 July 1895.Soco ...
, businessman and hacienda holderBuilt the third-oldest residence still standing in Ponce and which became Liceo Ponceño, Puerto Rico's first girls-only school, and later the
Ponce Ramada Hotel
The Ponce Plaza Hotel & Casino, formerly Ponce Ramada Hotel and Ponce Plaza Ramada Hotel, is a five-story hotel in Ponce, Puerto Rico. The hotel opened in the summer of 2009 and is known for the historic value of its structure: its main entrance ...
.
* Juan Serrallés, businessman and hacienda holderFounder of Destilería Serrallés and "
Don Q
Don Q is a Puerto Rican rum, distilled, manufactured, bottled, and distributed by Destilería Serrallés from its corporate facility in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Don Q, "Puerto Rico's best-known rum", is the top-selling rum in Puerto Rico, where ov ...
".
* Salvador Vassallo, industrialistFounder of
Industrias Vassallo
Industrias Vassallo, Inc. is a "worldwide leader" in the manufacture and distribution of PVC injection moulded and extruded goods, and manufacturer and distributor of PVC pipes and accessories, related plastics products, and resin furniture. T ...
and subsidiaries.
* Luis Fortuño Janeiro, journalist and member of the Puerto Rico SenateFounder of Ïmprenta Fortuño.
Civic leaders
*Olimpio Otero Vergés
Olimpio Otero Vergés (1845 – 7 September 1911) was a merchant,''El Componte.'' Museo del Autonomismo de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico Autonomism Museum), Panteón Nacional Roman Baldorioty de Castro, Ponce, Puerto Rico. Accessed 10 November 2010 ...
, civic leader, merchant, attorneyInstrumental in the creation of the
Parque de la Abolición
Parque de la Abolición (English: Abolition Park) is a city park in Barrio Cuarto, Ponce, Puerto Rico. It was the first park in the Caribbean to commemorate the abolition of slavery. It was built in 1874 and renovated in 1956.
Background
Sl ...
, the building of road PR-123
Puerto Rico Highway 123 (PR-123) is a secondary highway that connects the city Arecibo to the city of Ponce. It runs through the towns of Utuado and Adjuntas, before reaching Ponce. A parallel road is being built, PR-10, that is expected to tak ...
/PR-10
Puerto Rico Highway 10 (PR-10) is a major highway in Puerto Rico. The primary state road connects the city of Ponce in the south coast to Arecibo in the north; it is also the shortest route between the two cities.
Construction on the modern PR ...
, and the launching of 1883 Ponce Fair
* Valentín Tricoche, philanthropist and civic leaderDonated the money for the construction of Acueducto de Ponce and what would become Hospital Tricoche. *
Rafael Rivera Esbrí
Rafael Rivera Esbrí (2 July 1870 – 9 November 1965) was Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico from 1915 to 1917.
Early years
Rivera Esbri was the son of Ramón Rivera Alvarado and Julia Esbri. He married Faneta Bengoa y Larrauri and had a daughte ...
, civic leader and mayorA hero of 1898 "El Polvorín" fire.
Civil servants and public servants
*Enrique Campos del Toro
Enrique Campos del Toro (15 June 1898 – 28 February 1980) was a Puerto Rican law professor, banker, and attorney general of Puerto Rico.
Early years
Campos del Toro was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, on 15 June 1898. He received his law degree ...
, businessman, banker, law professor and civil servantServed in several Commonwealth governmental positions, some of which were appointed by the president of the United States. * Carlos A. Chardón López, educator and civil servant
Chardón served twice as Puerto Rico's Secretary of Education *
Carlos Fernando Chardón
Major General Carlos Fernando Chardón also referred to as "Fernando Chardón"Various notable members of his family were named "Carlos Chardón". He preferred to be referred to as "Fernando Chardón" to avoid confusion with the others. (Septemb ...
, Secretary of State and Adjuntant General of Puerto Rico.
* Antonio S. Luchetti, engineer and public servantHeaded the launching of island-wide public electric service in Puerto Rico. * Mariano Villaronga-Toro, educator and public servant
The first Commissioner of Public Instruction after the creation of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Displaced English as the language of instruction and replaced it with Spanish.
Civil rights and/or political activists
*Carlos Alberto Torres
Carlos Alberto "Capita" Torres (17 July 1944 – 25 October 2016), also known as "O Capitão do Tri", was a Brazilian football player and manager who played as an attacking right-sided full-back or wing-back. A technically gifted defender w ...
, political activistNationalist and political prisoner.
Clergy
*José Luis de Jesús
José Luis de Jesús Miranda (April 22, 1946 – November 17, 2013) was the leader of the Creciendo en Gracia cult, based in Miami, Florida. He claimed to be both the returned phase of Jesus Christ and the Antichrist; he was known for making st ...
, Creator of the "Creciendo en Gracia" sectSelf-proclaimed "Jesus Christ Man". Can be heard in 287 radio stations; founded a 24-hr TV network; has some 2 million followers in 35 countries. *
Isolina Ferré
''Sor'' Isolina Ferré Aguayo (5 September 1914 – 3 August 2000) was a Puerto Rican Roman Catholic religious sister. Known as the "Mother Teresa of Puerto Rico", she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of her humanitari ...
, Catholic nunRecipient of the
Presidential Medal of Freedom
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian award of the United States, along with the Congressional Gold Medal. It is an award bestowed by the president of the United States to recognize people who have made "an especially merit ...
.
* Félix Lázaro Martínez, bishop of PonceEducator at the
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico
The Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico) is a private Roman Catholic university with its main campus in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It provides courses leading to Bachelor's, Master's and Docto ...
* Juan Fremiot Torres Oliver, bishop of PonceLongest-serving bishop for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ponce in Ponce, Puerto Rico, with 36 years of service.
Composers, contemporary singers, musicians and opera
Composers
* Julio C. Arteaga, composer of danzas, musician and teacher. *Héctor Campos Parsi
Héctor Campos Parsi (October 1, 1922 – January 30, 1998) was a Puerto Rican composer. He studied at the New England Conservatory with Francis Judd Cooke, he also studied with Paul Hindemith. In Tanglewood he studied with Olivier Messiaen ...
, composer and writerWrote many compositions, including the incidental music for both A Midsummer Night's Dream by
Shakespeare
William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's natio ...
, and Dracula by Bram Stoker.
*Arístides Chavier Arévalo
Arístides Chavier Arévalo (3 September 1867 –1942) was a Puerto Rican pianist, modernism composer, musicologist and music author from Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Early years and schooling
Chavier Arévalo was born in Ponce on 3 September 1867. In ...
, pianist and composer.Chavier trained Luis A. Ferré as a concert-level pianist. *
Juan Morel Campos
Juan Morel Campos (16 May 1857 – 12 May 1896), sometimes erroneously spelled ''Juan Morell Campos'', was a Puerto Rican composer, considered by many to be responsible for taking the genre of danza to its highest level. He composed over ...
, composer of danzas
DHL Global Forwarding, formerly known as DHL Danzas Air & Ocean, is a division of Deutsche Post DHL providing air and ocean freight forwarding services. It also plans and undertakes major logistics projects under the brand name DHL Industrial P ...
.Founder of the Ponce Municipal Band. Wrote over 550 compositions before he died on stage at age 39. * Juan Ríos Ovalle, composer of danzas, prolific musician and orchestra director. * Manuel G. Tavárez, composer
Known as "The father of the Puerto Rican danza"
Musicians
*Carlos Alomar
Carlos Alomar (born 7 May 1951) is a Puerto Rican guitarist. He is best known for his work with David Bowie from the mid-1970s to the early 2000s, having played on more Bowie albums than any musician other than pianist Mike Garson. He has als ...
, guitarist, composer and arranger.Best known for his work with
David Bowie
David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the ...
, having played on more Bowie albums than any other musician.
*Julio Alvarado Tricoche
Julio Alvarado Tricoche (1886–1970) was a Puerto Rican flutist, composer, and director of the Banda Municipal de Ponce for seventeen years.
Early years
Julio Alvarado Tricoche was born on 18 February 1886 in Ponce, Puerto Rico.Rubén Colón Tarrats
Rubén Colón Tarrats (b. 1940) is a Puerto Rican composer, clarinet player and band director from Ponce, Puerto Rico. He also conducted the Banda Municipal de Ponce for ten years. He received his music training at Escuela Libre de Música de ...
, musician, composer, band director.
* Domingo Cruz "Cocolía", musician and orchestra director.Director
Director may refer to:
Literature
* ''Director'' (magazine), a British magazine
* ''The Director'' (novel), a 1971 novel by Henry Denker
* ''The Director'' (play), a 2000 play by Nancy Hasty
Music
* Director (band), an Irish rock band
* ''D ...
of the ultracentenarian Ponce Municipal Band.
* Papo Lucca, multi-instrumentalist musician.Co-founder of La Sonora Ponceña, a
salsa
Salsa most often refers to:
* Salsa (Mexican cuisine), a variety of sauces used as condiments
* Salsa music, a popular style of Latin American music
* Salsa (dance), a Latin dance associated with Salsa music
Salsa or SALSA may also refer to:
...
band. He also played the piano with The Fania All-Stars
The Fania All-Stars is a musical group formed in 1968 as a showcase for the musicians on Fania Records, the leading salsa music record label of the time.
History
Beginnings
In 1964, Fania Records was founded in New York City by Jerry Masucci, a ...
.
*Elías López Sobá
Elías López Sobá (born in 1927) is a Puerto Rican classical music pianist and educator. Together with musical director Justino Diaz, Elias López Sobá has been co-directing the annual Casals Festival since 2010. Some sources considered him ...
, classical music pianist and educator.Co-director of the annual
Casals Festival
The Casals Festival is a classical music event celebrated every year in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in honor of classical musician Pablo Casals.
Background
The festival was founded in 1956 by Pablo Casals. It was promoted by Teodoro Moscoso and Davi ...
since 2010.
*Luis Osvaldo Pino Valdivieso
Luis Osvaldo Pino Valdivieso (1933–2003) was a Puerto Rican bombard player and director of the Banda Municipal de Ponce for twenty-three years.
Early years
Luis Osvaldo Pino Valdivieso was born on 14 November 1933 in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Tr ...
, musician and band director.
* Librado Net, musician, educator and painter.First director of the Escuela Libre de Música de Ponce and mastermind behind the creation of Puerto Rico's Free Music School system. * Elisa Tavárez, pianist
Contemporary singers
*PJ Sin Suela
Pedro Juan Vázquez Bragan (born August 5, 1989), known professionally as PJ Sin Suela, is a Puerto Rican rapper and doctor. Born in The Bronx, New York City and raised in Ponce, Puerto Rico, he graduated from medical school in 2015 before pursu ...
, rapper, composer, and doctor.Pedro-Juan Vázquez Bragan better known as PJ Sin Suela has been known for his music career and his compromise with social matters in Puerto Rico. * Lorenzo S. Alvarado Santos, singer, composer, and guitarist.
With Johnny Albino and Félix ("Ola") Martínez, made up Trío San Juan during the years 1949–1957. Among his best tunes was the 1956 bolero "Siete notas de amor". *
Cheo Feliciano
Cheo Feliciano (3 July 1935 – 17 April 2014) was a Puerto Rican singer and composer of salsa and bolero music. Feliciano was the owner of a recording company called "Coche Records". He was the first tropical singer to perform at the "Amira de ...
, salsa
Salsa most often refers to:
* Salsa (Mexican cuisine), a variety of sauces used as condiments
* Salsa music, a popular style of Latin American music
* Salsa (dance), a Latin dance associated with Salsa music
Salsa or SALSA may also refer to:
...
singer. Lead singer for the " Joe Cuba Sextet" and later with the
Fania All-Stars
The Fania All-Stars is a musical group formed in 1968 as a showcase for the musicians on Fania Records, the leading salsa music record label of the time.
History
Beginnings
In 1964, Fania Records was founded in New York City by Jerry Masucci, a ...
.
*Ruth Fernández
Ruth Fernández (23 May 1919 – 9 January 2012) was a Puerto Rican contralto and a member of the Puerto Rican Senate. According to the "Comisiones Nacionales para la Celebración del Quinto Centenario" ''(National Commission for the Celebrat ...
, Contralto
A contralto () is a type of classical female singing voice whose vocal range is the lowest female voice type.
The contralto's vocal range is fairly rare; similar to the mezzo-soprano, and almost identical to that of a countertenor, typica ...
Bolero
Bolero is a genre of song which originated in eastern Cuba in the late 19th century as part of the trova tradition. Unrelated to the older Spanish dance of the same name, bolero is characterized by sophisticated lyrics dealing with love. It has ...
singer and singer of up tempo songs.Won numerous awards internationally during her lifetime. Was also elected to the Puerto Rico Senate. *
Héctor Lavoe
Héctor Juan Pérez Martínez (30 September 1946 – 29 June 1993), better known as Héctor Lavoe, was a Puerto Rican salsa singer. Lavoe is considered to be possibly the best and most important singer and interpreter in the history of salsa ...
, Salsa and Bolero singer.Credited with starting the salsa movement in the early 1970s in collaboration with The
Fania All-Stars
The Fania All-Stars is a musical group formed in 1968 as a showcase for the musicians on Fania Records, the leading salsa music record label of the time.
History
Beginnings
In 1964, Fania Records was founded in New York City by Jerry Masucci, a ...
.
*"Lunna
Lunna (born June 30, 1960; born María Socorro García de la NocedaGarcia de la Noceda is her paternal surname) is a Puerto Rican singer of popular music and jazz who was the director of the television show ''Objetivo Fama'', the Latin version ...
", Pop and Jazz singer.Director of the TV show "
Objetivo Fama
''Objetivo Fama'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''OF'', Spanish for ''Target: Fame'') is a Puerto Rican singing talent contest that aired for over six years on WLII, the Univision outlet in Puerto Rico; and on Telefutura in the mainland United Stat ...
".
*Ednita Nazario
Edna María Nazario Figueroa (born April 11, 1955) is a Puerto Rican musician, singer, and composer who has achieved stardom both at home and abroad. She has been in the music business from a young age and has released twenty-three (23) studio ...
, Pop and rock singer.Has recorded over 50 albums, DVDs, and compilations. *
Ismael Quintana
Ismael Quintana (June 3, 1937 – April 16, 2016) was a Puerto Rican singer and composer of salsa music.
Early years
Quintana was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico. His family moved to The Bronx sector of New York when he was only two weeks old; there ...
, Salsa singer and composer.Recipient of the 1966 "Most Popular Latin Singer of the Year" award at the
Palladium Ballroom
The Palladium Ballroom was a New York City night club. The US mambo craze that started in 1948 began at the Palladium Ballroom. On March 15, 1946, it opened at the northeast corner of Broadway and 53rd Street.''New York Post'', March 14, 1946; p ...
. Also sang with The Fania All-Stars
The Fania All-Stars is a musical group formed in 1968 as a showcase for the musicians on Fania Records, the leading salsa music record label of the time.
History
Beginnings
In 1964, Fania Records was founded in New York City by Jerry Masucci, a ...
.
*Pete "El Conde" Rodríguez
Pedro Juan Rodríguez Ferrer (31 January 1933 – 1 December 2000), better known as Pete "El Conde" Rodríguez, was a Salsa music, salsa singer born in Sexto (Ponce), Barrio Cantera, Ponce, Puerto Rico.Ponce, Puerto Rico, Ponce, Puerto Ric ...
, Salsa singer. Sang with The Fania All-Stars
The Fania All-Stars is a musical group formed in 1968 as a showcase for the musicians on Fania Records, the leading salsa music record label of the time.
History
Beginnings
In 1964, Fania Records was founded in New York City by Jerry Masucci, a ...
and also had a solo career.
*Draco Rosa
Draco Cornelius Rosa Suárez (; born Robert Edward Rosa Suárez, June 27, 1969), also known as Draco Rosa, Robi Draco Rosa or simply Robi or Draco, is a Puerto Rican singer, musician, songwriter and entrepreneur.
Rosa originally garnered fame ...
, Menudo musician and singer.Multiple-time Grammy and
Latin Grammy
The Latin Grammy Awards are an award by The Latin Recording Academy to recognize outstanding achievement in the Latin music industry. The Latin Grammy honors works recorded in Spanish or Portuguese from anywhere around the world that has been ...
winning musician, singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, poet and entrepreneur.
* Carmín Vega, singer and comedian. Known as "The woman with a thousand voices and a thousand faces". *
Juan Vélez
Juan Antonio Vélez (born August 2, 1983 in Ponce, Puerto Rico) is a Puerto Rican singer and songwriter, better known for being the winner of the fourth season of ''Objetivo Fama'', a Puerto Rican television singing talent contest in the form ...
, singer, musician and songwriter. Winner of the fourth season of Objetivo Fama.
Opera
* Lizzie Graham, Soprano singerTrained 19th century international soprano singer
Amalia Paoli
Amalia Paoli y Marcano ( 1861–1941) was a notable Puerto Rican soprano. She was the sister of tenor Antonio Paoli and of Olivia Paoli, a suffragist and activist who fought for the rights of women.
First years
Amalia Paoli was born in Ponce, Pu ...
.
*Amalia Paoli
Amalia Paoli y Marcano ( 1861–1941) was a notable Puerto Rican soprano. She was the sister of tenor Antonio Paoli and of Olivia Paoli, a suffragist and activist who fought for the rights of women.
First years
Amalia Paoli was born in Ponce, Pu ...
, soprano opera singer.
*Antonio Paoli
Antonio Paoli (14 April 1871 – 24 August 1946) was a Puerto Rican tenor. At the height of his fame, he was known as "The King of Tenors and The Tenor of Kings." He is considered to be the first Puerto Rican to reach international fame ...
, tenor opera singerFirst person in world history to record an entire opera * Melliangee Pérez, soprano opera singer
Recipient of
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...
's Soprano of the Year award.
* Graciela Rivera
Graciela Rivera (17 April 1921 – 17 July 2011) was the first Puerto Rican to sing a lead role at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
Early years
Graciela Rivera was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico. She was the seventh of eight children born to ev ...
, soprano opera singerFirst Puerto Rican to sing a lead role at the
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera (commonly known as the Met) is an American opera company based in New York City, resident at the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center, currently situated on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The company is oper ...
.
Theatrical arts
* Luis Torres Nadal, playwright, poet, educator, actor, choreographer, and theatrical director.Criminals and outlaws
*Antonio Correa Cotto
Antonio Correa Cotto (1916 – 1952) was the first outlaw to gain legendary status in Puerto Rico.
Early years
Correa Cotto was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, on November 24, 1916. His parents were Raimundo Correa Martínez and Angela Coto Garc ...
Notorious 1930s outlaw.
Diplomats
*Teodoro Moscoso
José Teodoro Moscoso Mora
Rico Puerto Rico. Noticel. June 15, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2012. ...
, diplomat and civil servantRico Puerto Rico. Noticel. June 15, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2012. ...
Former U.S. Ambassador to
Venezuela
Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...
and head of Alliance for Progress
The Alliance for Progress ( es, Alianza para el Progreso, links=no), initiated by U.S. President John F. Kennedy on March 13, 1961, ostensibly aimed to establish economic cooperation between the U.S. and Latin America. Governor Luis Muñoz Marí ...
Educators
* Alfredo M. Aguayo, educator and writerEstablished the first laboratory of child psychology at the University of Havana * Carlos Albizu Miranda, psychologist and educator
Founder of
Albizu University
Albizu University is a private university with its main campus in San Juan, Puerto Rico, a branch campus in Miami, Florida, and an additional instructional location in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. It focuses on psychology, health, education, and huma ...
.
*María Teresa Babín Cortés
María Teresa Babín Cortés (May 30, 1910- December 19, 1989) was a Puerto Rican educator, literary critic, and essayist.
, educator, literary critic, and essayistAuthor of ''"Panorama de la Cultura Puertorriqueña"'', among others. * Hemeterio Colón Warens, educator, land surveyor, and mayor of
Cayey
Cayey (), officially Cayey de Muesas, is a mountain town and municipality in central Puerto Rico located on the Sierra de Cayey within the Central Mountain range, north of Salinas and Guayama; south of Cidra and Caguas; east of Aibonito and Sal ...
Founded Colegio Central Ponceño in 1883. * Jaime L. Drew, educator, civil servant, writer and engineer
Author of ''"Libro de Poemas en Ingles y Espanol"'', among others. * Antonio García Padilla, scholar, and civil servant
President of the
University of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico ( es, Universidad de Puerto Rico, UPR) is the main public university system in the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. It is a government-owned corporation with 11 campuses and approximately 58,000 students and 5,3 ...
.
* Manuel González Pató, educator, writer, and sportsman.Puerto Rico National Olympic team coach * Domingo Marrero Navarro, educator and writer
Author of award-winning ''"El Centauro: Persona y Pensamiento de Ortega y Gasset"'' (
Institute of Puerto Rican Culture
The Institute of Puerto Rican Culture ( es, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña), or ICP, for short, is an institution of the Government of Puerto Rico responsible for the establishment of the cultural policies required in order to study, preser ...
)
* Lolita Tizol, educatorTaught music for a meager $50 per month to an entire generation of Puerto Rican children.
Governors
* Luis A. FerréAlso an industrialist and philanthropist. Founder of the
Museo de Arte de Ponce
Museo de Arte de Ponce (MAP) is an art museum located on Avenida Las Américas in Ponce, Puerto Rico.Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico Tourism Company. Ven al Sur, page 20. San Juan, Puerto Rico, 2003. It houses a collection of European ...
and Ponce Cement, Inc.
Ponce Cement, Inc. was a cement and limestone manufacturer in Ponce, Puerto Rico. The company was located at the intersection of PR-123 and PR-500, in Barrio Magueyes. It was founded in 1941 by Antonio Ferre Bacallao, a Puerto Rican industria ...
*Rafael Hernández Colón
Rafael Hernández Colón (October 24, 1936 – May 2, 2019) was a Puerto Rican politician who served as the governor of Puerto Rico from 1973 to 1977 and 1985 to 1993 for a total of three terms. An experienced politician, Hernández held the ...
Two-time governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and, at 35, Puerto Rico's youngest governor ever. *
Roberto Sánchez Vilella
Roberto Sánchez Vilella (19 February 1913 – 24 March 1997) was the governor of Puerto Rico from 1965 to 1969. Sánchez Vilella successfully ran for governor in the 1964 elections for the '' Partido Popular Democrático''. He is also the fou ...
Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
First Ladies of Puerto Rico
* Conchita DapenaFirst Lady of Puerto Rico (1965–1966). * Rosario Ferré
First Lady of Puerto Rico (1970–1972). *
Lila Mayoral Wirshing
Lila María Mercedes Mayoral Wirshing (12 May 1942 – 7 January 2003) was the wife of the Governor of Puerto Rico Rafael Hernández Colón, and was First Lady during his three terms as governor (1973–1977, 1985–1993).
Early years and mar ...
Youngest First Lady of Puerto Rico (1973–1977, 1985–1992). *
Lorenza Ramírez de Arellano
Isabel Lorenza (Lorencita) Ramírez de Arellano y Bartoli (July 8, 1902 – March 5, 1970) was the first wife of former Governor of Puerto Rico Luis A. Ferré and served as First Lady from 1968 until her death in 1970.
Ramírez de Arellano ...
First Lady of Puerto Rico (1969–1970).
Historians
* Silvia Álvarez Curbelo, architectural and cultural historianFounding member of the Puerto Rican Association of Historians, and director of the Center for Communications Research at the University of Puerto Rico. * Francisco Lluch Mora, historian
Wrote ''"Orígenes y Fundación de Ponce y Otras Noticias Relativas a su Desarrollo Urbano, Demográfico y Cultural (Siglos XVI-XIX)"''. *
Ramón Marín
Ramón Marín Solá (12 January 1832 – 13 September 1902) was a nineteenth-century Puerto Rican educator, journalist, politician, historian, poet, and playwright. He is best remembered for his 1875 historical masterpiece, "''Las fiestas popula ...
, historianWrote the classical work: ''"Las fiestas populares de Ponce."'' * Antonio Mirabal, political historian and poet
Author of ''"De Rosas a Trujillo: estudio histórico comparativo de las tiranías en América."'' Long-time chief archivist at Archivo Historico de Ponce * Eduardo Neumann Gandía, historian
Author of ''"Verdadera y Auténtica Historia de la Ciudad de Ponce."'' * Andrés Ramos Mattei, sugar industry historian
Said to be "the undisputed authority" on the subject of Puerto Rico's sugar industry. * Gladys Esther Tormes González, historian
Head archivist and longest-serving archivist at the ''"Archivo Historico de Ponce"''.
Journalists
*Carmen Dominicci
Carmen Dominicci Ramos (born July 15, 1966) is a travel blogger, journalist, news anchor in the United States, and the winner of five Emmy Awards. ''People en Español'' magazine chose her as one of the "50 Most Beautiful" of 2010.
Early years ...
, news anchor.
* Juan González, journalistColumnist for New York's Daily News, and co-host the radio and television program
Democracy Now!
''Democracy Now!'' is an hour-long American TV, radio, and Internet news program hosted by journalists Amy Goodman (who also acts as the show's executive producer), Juan González, and Nermeen Shaikh. The show, which airs live each weekday at ...
.
* Washington Lloréns, journalist, writer, linguist
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. It is called a scientific study because it entails a comprehensive, systematic, objective, and precise analysis of all aspects of language, particularly its nature and structure. Linguis ...
, and scholar.
* Jorge L. Ramos, news anchorEmmy Award-winning New York City television news anchor. * Ramón Enrique Torres, news anchor.
Judges, law enforcement and firefighters
* Jeannette Ramos, Judge, Puerto Rico Court of AppealsPuerto Rico district judge and a First Lady of Puerto Rico (1967–1969). * Pedro Toledo,
Puerto Rico Police
The Puerto Rico Police Department ( es, Policía de Puerto Rico), officially the Puerto Rico Police Bureau, is a law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the entire Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. It is a division of the Puerto Rico Department ...
CommissionerMain negotiator during the 1987 Atlanta Prison Riots. * Raúl Gándara-Cartagena, Fire Commissioner
The first and longest-serving Fire Commissioner in Puerto Rico.
Military
* Agüeybaná (Great Sun), Supreme Taíno chiefSupreme Cacique of Puerto Rico who welcomed Juan Ponce de León to the island. *
Agüeybaná II
Agüeybaná II (c. 14701511), born Güeybaná and also known as Agüeybaná El Bravo (English: ''Agüeybaná The Brave''), was one of the two principal and most powerful ''caciques'' of the Taíno people in " Borikén" when the Spaniards first arr ...
, Supreme cacique of the entire island of " Borikén" Led the
Taíno
The Taíno were a historic indigenous people of the Caribbean whose culture has been continued today by Taíno descendant communities and Taíno revivalist communities. At the time of European contact in the late 15th century, they were the pri ...
s in the fight against Juan Ponce de León and the Spanish conquistadores in the Taíno rebellion of 1511.
*Ramón Colón-López
Ramón Colón-López (born October 21, 1971) is a senior non-commissioned officer of the United States Air Force and a former pararescueman, and was selected as the 4th Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman (SEAC) on December 13, 2019. In his r ...
, chief master sergeant, U.S. Air ForceFirst and only Latino among the first six airmen to be awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal. *
Antonio J. Ramos
Brigadier General Antonio J. Ramos (born 1946) was an officer of the United States Air Force. He was the first Hispanic to serve as commander, Air Force Security Assistance Center, Air Force Materiel Command, and dual-hatted as Assistant to the Co ...
, brigadier general
Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...
, U.S. Air ForceFirst Latino to serve as commander, Air Force Security Assistance Center, Air Force Materiel Command. *
José Antonio Muñiz
Lieutenant Colonel José Antonio Muñiz (October 16, 1919 – July 4, 1960) was a United States Air Force officer who during World War II served in the United States Army Air Forces. He co-founded the Puerto Rico Air National Guard together with t ...
lieutenant colonel, U.S. Air ForceCo-founder of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard. * Horacio Rivero, admiral, U.S. Navy
First Puerto Rican and second Hispanic to become admiral (four-star) in the U.S. Navy. Commander of the American fleet that effected the blockade of the Soviet ships during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. * Eurípides Rubio, captain, U.S. Army
posthumous recognition, Posthumously awarded the
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valo ...
for his actions at Tay Ninh Province in the South Vietnam, Republic of Vietnam on 8 November 1966.
*Raúl G. VillarongaFirst Puerto Rican to be elected mayor in the state of Texas. (Mayor of Killeen, Texas). *Luis R. Visot, major general, U. S. Army
Chief of Staff of the United States Army Reserve.
Physicians, scientists and inventors
*Carlos E. Chardón Palacios, mycologistFather of Puerto Rican mycology and first Puerto Rican appointed as Chancellor of
University of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico ( es, Universidad de Puerto Rico, UPR) is the main public university system in the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. It is a government-owned corporation with 11 campuses and approximately 58,000 students and 5,3 ...
.
*Martín Corchado, physician and medical researcherWas also president of the Autonomist Party (Puerto Rico), Autonomist Party of Puerto Rico. *Manuel de la Pila Iglesias, physician and medical pioneer
Introduced the first EKG and X-ray machines to Puerto Rico. Considered to be "one of the giants of Puerto Rican medicine". *José N. Gándara, medical director at Hospital Tricoche
Lead physician helping victims of the Ponce massacre, and expert witness, witness at the trials of the accused Puerto Rican Nationalist Party, Nacionalistas. Was Secretary of Health of Puerto Rico. Co-founder of the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico. *Joxel García, United States Assistant Secretary for Health, Assistant Secretary for Health,
First Puerto Rican to be appointed United States Assistant Secretary for Health, Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. *Julio J. Henna, physician and political activist
Co-founder of New York City's French Hospital (Manhattan), French Hospital. *Gerónimo Lluberas, physician, writer, educator, medical missionary
One of the first physicians in the United States and Puerto Rico to use the Prosorba column to treat rheumatoid arthritis. *Rafael López Nussa, physician and public servant
Pioneered heart surgeries in Puerto Rico. *Rafael Pujals, physician, civic leader and political activist
First physician with a medical degree in the city and medical director at both Hospital de Damas and Hospital Tricoche.
Politicians
*Pedro Albizu CamposPresident and principal leader of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party. *Román Baldorioty de Castro
Considered "The Father of Puerto Rico's Autonomy". *Pedro Colón
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly. *Federico Degetau
The first Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico, Resident Commissioner to the United States. *Manuel V. Domenech
Mayor of Ponce. Member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives. Also an engineer and civil servant. *Maurice Ferre
Former Mayor of Miami, Florida. *Marially González Huertas
Vice-president of the Senate of Puerto Rico. *María de Pérez Almiroty
First woman elected to the Senate of Puerto Rico *Ernesto Ramos Antonini
Former Speaker of Puerto Rico's House of Representatives. *Luis Ernesto Ramos Yordán
President of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives *Peter Rivera
Member of the New York State Assembly. *Larry Seilhamer Rodríguez
Speaker of the Senate of Puerto Rico. Also basketball player in Baloncesto Superior Nacional, BSN. *Rafael Cordero Santiago, long-serving mayor of Ponce; elected in 1989, and re-elected to three additional 4-year terms. Died in office.
Sportspeople
Baseball players and coaches
*Roberto AlomarFormer baseball player, MLB All-Star, third Puerto Rican inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame (2011). *Pedro Miguel Caratini
Baseball player. *Orlando Cepeda
Baseball player and member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. *Francisco "Pancho" Coímbre
Negro league baseball All-Star player. *Carlos Correa
Minnesota Twins player. *Luis DeLeón
Former Major League Baseball pitcher for the San Diego Padres and the Seattle Mariners. *Coco Laboy
MLB player with San Francisco Giants, Montreal Expos and the St. Louis Cardinals. *Ricky Ledée
Nine-year veteran in MLB playing as an outfielder. *Javy López
Former catcher in Major League Baseball with the Atlanta Braves, the Baltimore Orioles and the Boston Red Sox. *Felix Maldonado
MLB baseball manager. *Pepe Mangual
MLB player with the Montreal Expos and New York Mets. *Paquito Montaner
First Puerto Rican baseball player to throw a "no-hitter" in Puerto Rican baseball. *Millito Navarro
First Puerto Rican to play in Negro league baseball, Negro leagues and the American Negro League's last surviving member. *Luis Quiñones (baseball), Luis Quiñones
Former Major League Baseball player for the Oakland Athletics, San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds and the Minnesota Twins. *Edwin Rodríguez (baseball), Edwin Rodriguez
Former Florida Marlins team manager. *Benito Santiago
Former 20-season catcher in Major League Baseball. *Félix Torres (baseball), Félix Torres
MLB player with Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Los Angeles Angels, Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati Redlegs and Philadelphia Phillies. *Javier Vázquez (baseball), Javier Vázquez
Former MLB pitcher. *Otto Vélez
MLB player with New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, and Cleveland Indians. *Enrique A. Vicéns, Enrique "Coco" Vicéns
Basketball player with Leones de Ponce (basketball), Leones de Ponce. Also a politician.
Basketball players
*Juan "Pachín" VicénsBasketball player. Led the Ponce Lions (basketball), Lenoes de Ponce team to six championships. *César Bocachica
Olympic basketball player. *Manolo Cintrón
Former Puerto Rico Basketball league player. Also managed Puerto Rico National team to medals at multiple international games. *Bobby Joe Hatton
Puerto Rico basketball league and Puerto Rico Olympic basketball team player. *Miguel "Ali" Berdiel
Puerto Rico professional basketball league player and National Olympic team medalist.
Boxers
*José Torres, José "Chegüi" TorresWorld Boxing Association, WBA light heavyweight champion and International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee. *Carlos Ortiz (boxer), Carlos Ortíz
Three-time world boxing champion. *Alex Sánchez (boxer), Alex Sánchez
Light flyweight boxer and WBO's world Strawweight championship. *Mario Santiago
2018 World Boxing Council Caribbean Featherweight champion in 2018. *Juan Carazo
Two time world championship challenger, born in Ponce.
Other sportspeople
*Ricardo Busquets, Olympic swimmer. *Javier Culson, track and field athleteOlympic medalist specializing in the 400-metre hurdles. *Germán Figueroa, professional wrestler. *Juan "Papo" Franceschi, track and field athlete
Gold medalist at Central American and Caribbean Games *Edgardo Guilbe, track and field athlete
Olympic sprinter. *Julio Enrique Monagas, sportsman, public servant and civic leader.
Considered "The father of Olympic sports in Puerto Rico." *Francisco Rosa Rivera, professional bodybuilder. *Félix Serrallés, professional racing driver. *Debora Seilhamer, Olympic volleyball player. *Jesse Vassallo, swimmer
Former president (2004-2008), Puerto Rico Swimming Federation and member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. *Ivelisse Vélez, professional wrestler
Lucha Underground.
Visual artists
*Olga Albizu, Albizu, Olga, abstract expressionist painter.Her works include album covers for Stan Getz *Elizam Escobar, Escobar, Elizam, painter and political activist.
Dean of the Painting Department at the Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico. *Epifanio “Fano” Irizarry, Irizarry, Epifanio, painter and educator.
His works include "Flamboyan" (1972). *María Luisa Penne, Penne, María Luisa, painter, educator, and graphic artist. *Miguel Pou, Pou, Miguel, painter.
Patrons include
Museo de Arte de Ponce
Museo de Arte de Ponce (MAP) is an art museum located on Avenida Las Américas in Ponce, Puerto Rico.Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico Tourism Company. Ven al Sur, page 20. San Juan, Puerto Rico, 2003. It houses a collection of European ...
, Puerto Rico Museum of Contemporary Art and Puerto Rico Museum of Art.
*Rafael Rios Rey, Rios Rey, Rafael, muralist.Patrons include Ponce YMCA Building, Ponce YMCA Organization,
Banco Crédito y Ahorro Ponceño
Banco Crédito y Ahorro Ponceño (Ponce Credit and Savings Bank) was the first bank in Ponce, Puerto Rico,