REMEMBERING BONILLA

“Remembering is to live again” This was our March 8, 2017, Edition 569 Editorial. Because of its importance and the person in question, we publish it again.

Customarily, every day we look at the almanac in search of references that bring to our memory events that occurred in the past. Some of these events occurred before our era and its details we only know for what history tells us, although they still continue to affect us in one way or another.

Others, however, fill us with memories about the person related to the date that is celebrated, in this case, on Wednesday, March 6, 2013, the day that surrounded by relatives and friends, our beloved Don Luis Bonilla ceased to exist.

Don Luis Bonilla, better known as “The Golden Little Doll”, was born on June 19th, 1920 in the town of Aibonito, Puerto Rico. At the age of one, his parents, Doña Vicenta Gonzalez and Ramon Bonilla moved the family to the town of Caguas, where Don Luis grew up. From an early age, Bonilla showed his interest in music and by the time he was 12, he was a regular at a radio station known as “La Güira”, producing a program entitled “Stars Search”.

Don Luis began singing at radio stations WNEL and WVJP with the group Rítmico Cagüeño, where he was the second voice. Don Luis already flaunted his talent thru Parrandas around different towns, such as Gurabo, Yabucoa, Humacao, Cayey, Aguas Buenas, San Lorenzo, etc.

At the young age of 24, he married Doña Francisca Rodríguez and had three daughters. Bonilla came to New York City with his family, where he served in various activities and it was not until 1979 that he came to the City of Lawrence, where he opened a candy store on Park Street.

Don Luis had a cheerful personality, liked to talk and share with people and was always a lover of Puerto Rican music. No wonder that in recent years he turned all the love and charisma that characterized him, over the radio program Asi Canta Puerto Rico as his primary commitment to the community.

Don Luis has left a huge void in the community, especially in Maria Ortiz and Luis David Hiraldo, with whom he shared the radio show every Sunday. Do not fill these gaps with tears for the loss, but with lively songs and a prayer of thanks to the Almighty for giving us the joy of having him around.