List of people from Ponce, Puerto Rico

This is a list of notable Ponceños, people from Ponce, Puerto Rico. 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.

Contents: TopActors, actresses, comedians and directors, Architects, Authors, playwrights and poets, Beauty queens and fashion models, Business people and industrialists, Civil rights and/or political activists, Clergy, Composers, contemporary singers, musicians and opera, Criminals and outlaws, Diplomats, Educators, Governors, Historians, Journalists, Judges, law enforcement and firefighters, Military, Physicians, scientists and inventors, Politicians, Sportspeople, Visual Artists.

Big screen actor Teófilo Torres
Film producer Juan Emilio Viguié
Andrés Mignucci, FAIA 2012 Henry Klumb Awardee
Denise Quiñones, Miss Universe 2001
Maripily Rivera, actress and model
Juan Serrallés, founder of Destilería Serrallés, makers of Don Q rum
Multi-instrumentalist Papo Lucca at piano
Juan Ríos Ovalle, danza composer and orchestra conductor
Amalia Paoli, soprano
Roberto Sánchez Vilella, Governor of Puerto Rico (1965-1969)
Luis A. Ferré, governor, philanthropist and industrialist
Rafael Hernández Colón Governor of Puerto Rico (1973-77, 1985-93)
Ramón Marín, historian
Lolita Tizol, music educator
Colonel Raúl G. Villaronga, military and Mayor of Killeen, Texas
Joxel García, Assistant Secretary of Health under President George W. Bush
Gerónimo Lluberas, physician and humanitarian
Dr. Rafael Pujals, physician and civic leader
Pedro Albizu Campos – President and principal leader of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party.
Román Baldorioty de Castro, The Father of Puerto Rico's Autonomy
Maurice Ferré, former Mayor of Miami
Carlos Correa, MLB player with the Houston Astros
Roberto Alomar, MLB Hall of Famer
Ivelisse Vélez, professional wrestler
Orlando Cepeda, MLB Hall of Famer
Ricky Ledée with the Mets
Millito Navarro, last surviving player of the American Negro League
Carlos Ortíz, 3-time world boxing champion

Actors, actresses, comedians, directors and entertainers

Architects

Authors, playwrights and poets

Beauty queens and fashion models

Business people and industrialists

Civic leaders

Civil servants and public servants

  • Enrique Campos del Toro, businessman, banker, law professor and civil servant
    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
  • Carlos Fernando Chardón, Secretary of State and Adjuntant General of Puerto Rico.
  • Antonio S. Luchetti, engineer and public servant
    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.

Civil rights and/or political activists

Clergy

Composers

Musicians

Contemporary singers

Opera

Theatrical arts

  • Luis Torres Nadal, playwright, poet, educator, actor, choreographer, and theatrical director.

Criminals and outlaws

Diplomats

Educators

Governors

First Ladies of Puerto Rico

Historians

  • Silvia Álvarez Curbelo, architectural and cultural historian
    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)".
  • Ramón Marín, historian
    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".

Journalists

Judges, law enforcement and firefighters

Military

Physicians, scientists and inventors

Politicians

Baseball players and coaches

Basketball players

Boxers

Other sportspeople

Visual artists

Table summary by year of birth

The following sortable table is a summary list of notable Ponceños and Ponceñistas arranged chronologically by year of birth.

NameBornDiedProfession/Occupation/NotabilityNotes
José Ortíz de la Renta17651850MayorDOB and DOD are approximate
Salvador de Vives17841845Businessman-
Juan Rondón17901843MayorDOB and DOD are approximate
Valentín Tricoche18001863PhilanthropistDOB is approximate
Juan José Cartagena18151895MayorDOB and DOD are approximate
Rafael León y García18181888MayorDOB and DOD are approximate
Juan Cortada y Quintana18201889MayorDOB is approximate
Timoteo Luberza18201895ArchitectDOB and DOD are approximate
Juan Bertoli Calderoni18201900ArchitectDOB and DOD are approximate
Román Baldorioty de Castro18221889PoliticianPonceñista
Francisco Parra Duperón18271899BusinessmanPonceñista
Rafael Pujals18301889PhysicianPonceñista. DOB is approximate
Ramón Marín18321902HistorianPonceñista
Miguel Rosich y Mass18351915MayorDOB and DOD are approximate
Hemeterio Colón Warens18391889EducatorPossibly a Ponceñista
Martín Corchado18391898PhysicianPonceñista
Ermelindo Salazar18401920BusinessmanDOB and DOD are approximate
José Lloréns Echevarría18401920MayorDOB and DOD are approximate
Manuel Gregorio Tavárez18431883Composer-
Lizzie Graham18441927Singer-
Olimpio Otero Vergés18451911Civic leader-
Juan José Potous18451920MayorDOB and DOD are approximate
Luis P. Valdivieso18451920MayorDOB and DOD are approximate
Juan Serrallés Colón18451921Businessman-
Enrique Chevalier18451925MayorDOB and DOD are approximate
Luis Porrata-Doría18451925MayorDOB and DOD are approximate
Julio J. Henna18481924Physician-
Santiago Oppenheimer18501920MayorDOB and DOD are approximate
Luis Gautier18501920MayorDOB and DOD are approximate
Antonio Arias18501940MayorDOB and DOD are approximate
Eduardo Armstrong18511895Mayor-
Félix Saurí Vivas18521912BusinessmanDOB and DOD are approximate
Eduardo Neumann Gandía18521913Historian-
Simón Moret Gallart18531923Mayor-
Juan Morel Campos18571896Composer-
José de Guzmán Benítez18571921Mayor-
Ulpiano Colóm18611920MayorDOD is approximate
Amalia Paoli18611941Opera singerDOB is approximate
Pedro Juan Rosaly18621920MayorDOD is approximate
Federico Degetau18621914PoliticianAlso civil servant
Juan Ríos Ovalle18631928Composer-
Juan Bigas Moulins18631934Businessman-
Vicente Balbás Capó18641926MayorDOB and DOD are approximate
Domingo Cruz "Cocolía"18641934Musician-
Alfredo Miguel Aguayo Sánchez18661948EducatorBorn in Ponce, practiced mostly in Cuba
Arístides Chavier Arévalo18671942Composer-
Luis Yordán Dávila18691932MayorDOB and DOD are approximate
Manuel V. Domenech18691942PoliticianPonceñista. Also an architect and civil servant
Blas Silva18691949ArchitectPonceñista
Rafael Rivera Esbrí18701965Civic leaderAlso became mayor
Abelardo Aguilú, Jr.18701940MayorDOB and DOD are approximate
Francisco Parra Capó18711945MayorDOD is approximate
Rodulfo del Valle18711948MayorDOB and DOD are approximate
Antonio Paoli18711946Opera singer-
José Tormos Diego18751950MayorDOB and DOD are approximate
Jaime L. Drew18761948Educator-
Elisa Tavárez18791960Pianist-
Blas Oliveras18801950MayorDOB and DOD are approximate
Pedro Miguel Caratini18801940Baseball playerDOB and DOD are approximate
Antonio Mirabal18801966Historian-
Miguel Pou18801968Painter-
Guillermo Vivas Valdivieso18811940MayorDOD is approximate
Alfredo Wiechers Pieretti18811964Architect-
Emilio Fagot18831946Mayor-
Vicente Balbás Capó18841926Mayor-
Manuel de la Pila Iglesias18841950Physician-
Rafael López Nussa18851943PhysicianPonceñista. Also a public servant
José Leandro Montalvo Guenard18851950MayorDOB and DOD are approximate
Julio Alvarado Tricoche18861970Musician-
Antonio S. Luchetti18881958Civil servant-
Andrés Grillasca Salas18881973Mayor-
Lolita Tizol18901933Educator-
Francisco Porrata-Doría18901971Architect-
Pedro Albizu Campos18911965Politician-
Juan Emilio Viguié18911966Film maker-
Emilio J. Pasarell18911974Writer-
Paquito Montaner18941945Baseball player-
Librado Net18951964Musician-
Raúl Gándara Cartagena18951989Public servant-
Juan Luis Boscio18961980Mayor-
Carlos E. Chardón18971965Public servant-
Ernesto Ramos Antonini18981963Politician-
Washington Lloréns18991989Writer-
Enrique Campos del Toro19001970BusinessmanAlso public servant; DOD is approximate
Julio Enrique Monagas19001984Public servantDOB is approximate
Isabel Luberza Oppenheimer19011974Businesswoman-
Ramiro L. Colón19041983BusinessmanAlso politician
Luis A. Ferré19042003PoliticianAlso industrialist and philanthropist
Pedro J. Labarthe19051966Poet-
Millito Navarro19052011Baseball player-
Mariano Villaronga Toro19061987Public servant-
José N. Gándara19071954PhysicianAlso public servant
Domingo Marrero Navarro19091960Educator-
Pancho Coimbre19091989Baseball player-
María Teresa Babín Cortés19101989EducatorAlso a writer
Teodoro Moscoso19101992DiplomatAlso a civil servant
Horacio Rivero, Jr.19102000Military-
Rafael Ríos Rey19111980Painter-
José Dapena Laguna19121991Mayor-
Félix Franco-Oppenheimer19122004Mayor-
Manuel González Pató19131973Educator-
María Luisa Penne19132005Painter-
Roberto Sánchez Vilella19131997GovernorPonceñista
Isolina Ferré19142000Clergy-
César Andreu Iglesias19151976Writer-
Epifanio “Fano” Irizarry19152001Painter-
Luis Ernesto Ramos Yordán19152005Politician
José Antonio Torres Martinó19162011Painter-
Eduardo Ruberté Bisó19171985MayorDOB and DOD are approximate
Carlos Juan Cintrón19181998Mayor-
José Antonio Muñiz19191960Military-
Ruth Fernández19192012Singer-
Juan H. Cintrón García19192012Mayor-
Lorenzo S. Alvarado Santos19201982Singer-
Carlos Albizu Miranda19201984Educator-
José Miguel Rovira19201993IndustrialistDOB is approximate
Graciela Rivera19212011Opera singer-
Héctor Campos Parsi19221998Composer-
Tommy Muñiz19222009Actor-
Olga Albizu19242005Painter-
Francisco Lluch Mora19242006Historian-
Juan Fremiot Torres Oliver19252012ClergyPonceñista
Enrique "Coco" Vicéns19261915Basketball playerPonceñista. Also a politician
Esther Sandoval19272006Actress-
Elías López Sobá1927MusicianAlso an educator
Luis A. "Wito" Morales19282011Mayor-
Marta Romero19282013Actress-
Jeannette Ramos19302021JudgeDOB is approximate
José G. Tormos Vega1932MayorDOB is approximate
Walter Mercado19322019Astrologer-
Félix Torres1932Baseball player-
Pete "El Conde" Rodríguez19332000Singer-
Luis Osvaldo Pino Valdivieso19332003Band director-
Gladys Esther Tormes González1933Historian-
Juan "Pachín" Vicéns19342007Basketball player-
Elín Ortíz19342016Actor-
Mario Montez19352013Actor-
Maurice Ferre19352019Politician-
Cheo Feliciano19352014Singer-
Ed Vega19362008Writer-
José "Chegüi" Torres19362009Boxer-
Iván Ayala Cádiz1936MayorDOB is approximate
Carlos Ortíz1936Boxer-
Félix Lázaro Martínez1936ClergyPonceñista
Míriam Colón19362017Actress-
Iris Zavala19362020Writer-
Rafael Hernández Colón19362019Politician-
Ismael Quintana19372016Singer-
Orlando Cepeda1937Baseball player-
Eurípides Rubio19381966Military-
Félix Maldonado19382010Baseball manager-
José Dapena Thompson1938MayorDOB is approximate
Raúl G. Villaronga19382021Military-
Rosario Ferré19382016Writer-
César Bocachica1938Basketball player-
Coco Laboy1940Baseball player-
Silvia Álvarez Curbelo1940Historian-
Rubén Colón Tarrats1940Musician-
Andrés Ramos Mattei19411987Historian-
Rafael Cordero Santiago19422004Mayor-
Salvador Vassallo19422007Industrialist-
Luis Torres Nadal19431986Playwright-
Pedro Pietri19442004Poet-
Delis Castillo Rivera de Santiago1945MayorDOB is approximate
Juan "Papo" Franceschi19461990Track and field athlete-
Jose Luis De Jesus Miranda19462013Clergy-
Héctor Lavoe19461993Singer-
Peter Rivera1946Politician-
Papo Lucca1946Musician-
Juan González1947Journalist-
Carmen Nydia Velázquez1947ComedianAlso a singer
Elizam Escobar19482021PoetAlso an author
María Meléndez1950Mayor-
Otto Vélez1950Baseball player-
Francisco Zayas Seijo1951Mayor-
Carlos Alomar1951Musician-
Pepe Mangual1952Baseball player-
Wichie Torres19522020Painter-
Teófilo Torres1954Actor-
Larry Seilhamer Rodríguez1954PoliticianPonceñista. Also basketball player.
Antonio García Padilla1954Educator-
Carmín Vega1955Singer-
Ednita Nazario1955Singer-
Gerónimo Lluberas19562003HumanitarianAlso a physician
Ramón Enrique Torres1956News anchor-
Luis R. Visot1956MilitaryDOB is approximate
Andrés Mignucci1957Architect-
Luis de León1958Baseball player-
Lunna1960Singer-
Lee Quiñones1960Painter-
Edwin Rodríguez1960Baseball personality-
Jesse Vassallo1961Olympic swimmer-
Luis Raúl1962Actor-
Joxel García1962Physician-
Luis Quiñones1962Baseball player-
Marisol Calero1963Actress-
Manolo Cintrón1963Basketball player-
Benito Santiago1965Baseball player-
Edgardo Guilbe1966Olympic sprinter-
Carmen Dominicci1966News anchor-
Roberto Alomar1968Baseball player-
Pedro Colón1968Politician-
Draco Rosa1969SingerPonceñista
Javy López1970Baseball player-
Ramón Colón-López1971Military-
Francisco Rosa Rivera19722010Bodybuilder-
Alex Sánchez1973Boxer-
Ricky Ledée1973Baseball player-
Ricardo Busquets1974Olympic swimmer-
Germán Figueroa1975Wrestler-
Melliangee Pérez1976Soprano singer-
Javier Vázquez1976Baseball player-
Marco Zunino1976Actor-
Bobby Joe Hatton1976Basketball player-
Maripily Rivera1977Model-
Maruja Fuentes19782010Architect-
Mario Santiago1978Boxer-
Lymari Nadal1978Actress*-
Denise Quiñones1980Beauty pageantAlso actress
Juan Vélez1983Singer*-
Miguel "Ali" Berdiel1983Basketball player-
Maria-Elena Laas1983Actress-
Javier Culson1984Olympic hurdler-
Debora Seilhamer1985Olympic volleyball player-
Ivelisse Vélez1988Wrestler-
Félix Serrallés1992Racing driver-

See also

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