Former Bayamón Mayor Ramón Luis Rivera Rivera dies at 97
Governor declares three days of mourning
By THE STAR STAFF
Former Bayamón Mayor Ramón Luis Rivera Rivera, who led the municipality for 24 years, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 97, announced his son and the current mayor, Ramón Luis Rivera Cruz.
“Today we must share news that fills us with deep sadness: the patriarch of our family has gone to dwell with the Lord and to reunite with our mother,” Rivera Cruz stated in a written release. “He passed away peacefully and with the satisfaction of a duty fulfilled.”
Rivera Rivera was at his home, accompanied by his children, grandchildren, and other relatives, at the time of his passing. According to information provided by the municipality, he had been dealing with health issues related to his advanced age.
Born on June 21, 1929, in Aguas Buenas, he spent his childhood in that municipality before moving with his parents to Bayamón, where he resided for the rest of his life. He was married for 67 years to Angélica Cruz, with whom he had five children: Ramón Luis, Irma, Awilda, Virginia and Eduardo.
Before holding elected office, Rivera Rivera worked for 15 years at the brokerage firm Merrill Lynch, Fenner & Smith. His public service career began in 1968 as a municipal assembly member, and in 1972, he was elected as a representative.
Four years later, he assumed the mayorship of Bayamón, a position he held continuously from 1976 until his retirement in 2000.
After leaving the mayor’s office, Rivera Rivera remained active in his community by visiting the sick, attending funerals, and assisting residents who sought his help, according to the statement released by the municipality.
“I am eternally grateful to my beloved father for his selflessness, his counsel, and the infinite love he gave to his family and to others -- whom he served with great dedication and passion,” said Rivera Cruz while remembering his father.
Meanwhile, Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz expressed his condolences and described Rivera Rivera as a key figure in the New Progressive Party (NPP) and the statehood movement.
“Our patriarch, Ramón Luis Rivera, has passed away. A great Puerto Rican -- beloved, admired, and respected by all,” Rivera Schatz stated via social media. “A pillar of the New Progressive Party and the statehood movement.”
Gov. Jenniffer González Colón also expressed her sentiments. “It is with deep sorrow that I bid farewell to Don Ramón Luis Rivera Rivera -- a father figure, a dear friend, and a mentor whose wisdom, affection, and dedication to service left a mark on my life,” the governor stated in a press release. “I will always be grateful for his advice and for the privilege of having had his support for so many years. His commitment to Bayamón, his vision, and his love for Puerto Rico leave a legacy that transcends his tangible achievements and lives on in the hearts of those who had the opportunity to know him.”
“We have lost one of the great leaders and champions of statehood,” González Colón added. “I will remember him with respect, admiration, and great affection, grateful for his example and for all he taught us.”
Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández Rivera stated that “Ramón Luis Rivera was one of Puerto Rico’s finest public servants and dedicated his life to serving his people.”
“My deepest condolences go out to his family, his loved ones, and the people of Bayamón,” he said. “Puerto Rico will always remember his legacy.”
Camuy Mayor Gabriel Hernández Rodríguez, president of the Puerto Rico Mayors Federation, which groups NPP mayors, also issued a statement of mourning and condolence.
“We mourn the passing of the former Mayor of Bayamón, Ramón Luis Rivera Sr. We acknowledge his distinguished career and his immense contribution to public service and the development of municipalities in Puerto Rico,” he said.
“We share in the grief of his family -- especially his son, our fellow Federation mayor Ramón Luis Rivera Cruz -- as well as the people of Bayamón. Please accept our condolences during this time of deep sorrow,” Hernández Rodríguez said.
Details regarding the funeral services will be announced at a later date.
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