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/were longtime residents of the: city â theââso-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."
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: Top â Actors, "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.
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Actors, actresses, comedians, directors and entertainersâ»
- Marisol Calero, actress
Films: Under Suspicion, and "El Ășltimo de los amantes" (the Spanish language version of The Last of the Red Hot Lovers). - MĂriam ColĂłn, actress
Founder of New York City's Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre - MarĂa-Elena Laas, actress
Films: The Hot Chick, and Suffering Man's Charity, among others. - Walter Mercado, astrologer, dancer, telenovela actor, writer
- Mario Montez, female impersonator/actor
A Warhol superstar. - Tommy Muñiz, television producer comedian and actor
Pioneer in Puerto Rico television. Starred in the movie "Lo que le PasĂł a Santiago", directed by Jacobo Morales, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. - Lymari Nadal, actress
Film: American Gangster; TV: Battlestar Galactica - ElĂn OrtĂz, actor, producer, comedian and screenwriter.
For many years interpreted "RelĂquia", mocking political corruption in Puerto Rico. - Jeimy Osorio, actress.
Film: Una Maid en Manhattan, "Porque el amor manda", "Santa Diabla"; TV: Celia. - Gilluis PĂ©rez, actor.
TV: Nicky Jam: El Ganador. - Luis RaĂșl, actor, comedian and TV host
Acted in many telenovelas. Hosted "Anda Pa'l Cara" and "Pa' Que Te Lo Goces" - Esther Sandoval, actress.
Starred in "Ante La Ley", Puerto Rico's first telenovela. - Marta Romero, actress and singer
One of the pioneers of telenovelas in Puerto Rico - TeĂłfilo Torres, actor and film director
Film: "Dios los crĂa", the Spanish language version of ...And God Created Them, among others. - Carmen Nydia VelĂĄzquez, comedian and singer
Fictional role in the comedic duet "Susa y Epifanio" - Rosita VelĂĄzquez, actress, comedian and singer, grew up in Ponce.
- Juan Emilio Viguié, film producer
Pioneer film producer. Made the first commercially successful films in the island, including "Romance Tropical", the first Puerto Rican film with sound. - Marco Zunino, actor
Starred in the musicals Jesucristo Superstar, Cabaret, Rent and Amor sin barreras (West Side Story).
Architectsâ»
- Pedro Adolfo de Castro y Besosa, architect
A graduate of an American architecture university, he designed masterpieces such as Castillo Serrallés and Casa de España. - Juan Bertoli Calderoni, architect
Designer of Teatro La Perla - Maruja Fuentes, industrial and environmental designer
- Timoteo Luberza, architect
Designed Plaza del Mercado Isabel II - Andrés Mignucci, urbanist.
Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. Winner of the Henry Klumb Award 2012. - Francisco Porrata-DorĂa, architect
Designed the Ponce Cathedral, Banco de Ponce building, and Banco Crédito y Ahorro Ponceño building. - Blas Silva, architect
Creator of the Ponce Creole architectural style. Designed the Casa de la Masacre, Font-Ubides House, and the Subira House, among others. - Alfredo Wiechers Pieretti, architect
Designed many buildings now in the NRHP including Casa Wiechers-Villaronga, today the Museo de la Arquitectura Ponceña.
Authors, playwrights and poetsâ»
- CĂ©sar Andreu Iglesias, labor organizer, journalist, novelist, and short-story writer.
Co-founder of Claridad. President of the Puerto Rican Communist Party, and recipient of the 1960 Award for Excellence in Journalism from the Puerto Rican Institute of Literature. - Rosario Ferré, fiction writer, poet, essayist and biographer
Award: Liberatur Prix Award, Frankfurt Book Fair. - FĂ©lix Franco-Oppenheimer, poet and writer
His works include "Contornos", "Imagen y visiĂłn edĂ©nica de Puerto Rico", and "AntologĂa poĂ©tica". - Pedro J. Labarthe, poet, journalist, essayist, and novelist.
Documented the experience of Puerto Rican migrationââto 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, poet, playwright
Co-founder of the Nuyorican Poets Café. - Magaly Quiñones, poet
- Ed Vega, novelist and short-story writer.
Major awards: PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Literary Award (2004) and Washington Post Book of the Year Award (2004). - Iris Zavala, author, scholar, and poet.
Major Awards: Medal of Honor, ICP; Gold Medal, AP; and Pen Club Award.
Beauty queens and fashion modelsâ»
- Denise Quiñones, beauty queen
Miss Puerto Rico 2001, Miss Universe 2001 - Maripily Rivera, model
Model, TV host and actress
Business people and industrialistsâ»
- Juan Bigas Moulins, businessman
Ponce Servicios was named after him. - Salvador de Vives, Mayor of Ponce and founder of Hacienda Buena Vista
Under his mayoral administration, the Ponce City Hall was built. - Ramiro L. ColĂłn
First administrator of Cooperativa de Cafeteros de Puerto Rico, Café Rico. - Antonio Luis Ferré, businessman and industrialist
Owner of Ferré-Rangel media emporium. - Luberza Oppenheimer, Isabel
Madam of a notorious brothel. - Francisco Parra DuperĂłn, 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. - Ermelindo Salazar, businessman
Founded the Ponce Chamber of Commerce. Was also president of Banco Crédito y Ahorro Ponceño, one of the largest and oldest in the Island. - Félix Saurà Vivas, businessman and hacienda holder
Built 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. - Juan Serrallés, businessman and hacienda holder
Founder of DestilerĂa SerrallĂ©s and "Don Q". - Salvador Vassallo, industrialist
Founder of Industrias Vassallo and subsidiaries. - Luis Fortuño Janeiro, journalist and member of the Puerto Rico Senate
Founder of Ămprenta Fortuño.
Civic leadersâ»
- Olimpio Otero Vergés, civic leader, merchant, attorney
Instrumental in the creation of the Parque de la AboliciĂłn, the building of road PR-123/PR-10, and the launching of 1883 Ponce Fair - ValentĂn Tricoche, philanthropist and civic leader
Donated the money for the construction of Acueducto de Ponce and what would become Hospital Tricoche. - Rafael Rivera EsbrĂ, civic leader and mayor
A hero of 1898 "El PolvorĂn" fire.
Civil servants and public servantsâ»
- 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. ChardĂłn LĂłpez, educator and civil servant
ChardĂłn served twice as Puerto Rico's Secretary of Education - Carlos Fernando ChardĂłn, 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 activistsâ»
- Carlos Alberto Torres, political activist
Nationalist and political prisoner.
Clergyâ»
- JosĂ© Luis de JesĂșs, Creator of the "Creciendo en Gracia" sect
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. - Isolina Ferré, Catholic nun
Recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. - FĂ©lix LĂĄzaro MartĂnez, bishop of Ponce
Educator at the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico - Juan Fremiot Torres Oliver, bishop of Ponce
Longest-serving bishop for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ponce in Ponce, Puerto Rico, with 36 years of service.
Composers, contemporary singers, musicians and operaâ»
Composersâ»
- Julio C. Arteaga, composer of danzas, musician and teacher.
- HĂ©ctor Campos Parsi, composer and writer
Wrote many compositions, including the incidental music for both A Midsummer Night's Dream by Shakespeare, and Dracula by Bram Stoker. - ArĂstides Chavier ArĂ©valo, pianist and composer.
Chavier trained Luis A. Ferré as a concert-level pianist. - Juan Morel Campos, composer of danzas.
Founder of the Ponce Municipal Band. Wrote over 550 compositions before he died on stage at age 39. - Juan RĂos Ovalle, composer of danzas, prolific musician and orchestra director.
- Manuel G. TavĂĄrez, composer
Known as "The father of the Puerto Rican danza"
Musiciansâ»
- Carlos Alomar, guitarist, composer and arranger.
Best known for his work with David Bowie, having played on more Bowie albums than any other musician. - Julio Alvarado Tricoche, musician, composer, band director.
Best known for "Lejos de Ti". - Rubén Colón Tarrats, musician, composer, band director.
- Domingo Cruz "CocolĂa", musician and orchestra director.
Director of the ultracentenarian Ponce Municipal Band. - Papo Lucca, multi-instrumentalist musician.
Co-founder of La Sonora Ponceña, a salsa band. He also played the piano with The Fania All-Stars. - ElĂas LĂłpez SobĂĄ, classical music pianist and educator.
Co-director of the annual Casals Festival since 2010. - Luis Osvaldo Pino Valdivieso, musician and band director.
- Librado Net, musician, educator and painter.
First director of the Escuela Libre de MĂșsica de Ponce and mastermind behind the creation of Puerto Rico's Free Music School system. - Elisa TavĂĄrez, pianist
Contemporary singersâ»
- PJ Sin Suela, rapper, composer, and doctor.
Pedro-Juan VĂĄzquez 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 FĂ©lix ("Ola") MartĂnez, made up TrĂo San Juan during the years 1949â1957. Among his best tunes was the 1956 bolero "Siete notas de amor". - Cheo Feliciano, salsa singer.
Lead singer for the "Joe Cuba Sextet" and later with the Fania All-Stars. - Ruth FernĂĄndez, Contralto Bolero singer and singer of up tempo songs.
Won numerous awards internationally during her lifetime. Was also electedââto the Puerto Rico Senate. - HĂ©ctor Lavoe, Salsa and Bolero singer.
Credited with starting the salsa movement in the early 1970s in collaboration with The Fania All-Stars. - "Lunna", Pop and Jazz singer.
Director of the TV show "Objetivo Fama". - Ednita Nazario, Pop and rock singer.
Has recorded over 50 albums, DVDs, and compilations. - Ismael Quintana, Salsa singer and composer.
Recipient of the 1966 "Most Popular Latin Singer of the Year" award at the Palladium Ballroom. Also sang with The Fania All-Stars. - Pete "El Conde" RodrĂguez, Salsa singer. Sang with The Fania All-Stars and also had a solo career.
- Draco Rosa, Menudo musician and singer.
Multiple-time Grammy and Latin Grammy winning musician, singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, poet and entrepreneur. - CarmĂn Vega, singer and comedian.
Known as "The woman with a thousand voices and a thousand faces". - Juan VĂ©lez, singer, musician and songwriter.
Winner of the fourth season of Objetivo Fama.
Operaâ»
- Lizzie Graham, Soprano singer
Trained 19th century international soprano singer Amalia Paoli. - Amalia Paoli, soprano opera singer.
- Antonio Paoli, tenor opera singer
First person in world history to record an entire opera - Melliangee PĂ©rez, soprano opera singer
Recipient of UNESCO's Soprano of the Year award. - Graciela Rivera, soprano opera singer
First Puerto Rican to sing lead role at the Metropolitan Opera.
Theatrical artsâ»
- Luis Torres Nadal, playwright, poet, educator, actor, choreographer, and theatrical director.
Criminals and outlawsâ»
- Antonio Correa Cotto
Notorious 1930s outlaw.
Diplomatsâ»
- Teodoro Moscoso, diplomat and civil servant
Former U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela and head of Alliance for Progress
Educatorsâ»
- Alfredo M. Aguayo, educator and writer
Established the first laboratory of child psychology at the University of Havana - Carlos Albizu Miranda, psychologist and educator
Founder of Albizu University. - MarĂa Teresa BabĂn CortĂ©s, educator, literary critic, and essayist
Author of "Panorama de la Cultura Puertorriqueña", among others. - Hemeterio Colón Warens, educator, land surveyor, and mayor of Cayey
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 GarcĂa Padilla, scholar, and civil servant
President of the University of Puerto Rico. - Manuel GonzĂĄlez PatĂł, 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) - Lolita Tizol, educator
Taught music for a meager $50 per month to an entire generation of Puerto Rican children.
Governorsâ»
- Luis A. Ferré
Also an industrialist and philanthropist. Founder of the Museo de Arte de Ponce and Ponce Cement, Inc. - Rafael HernĂĄndez ColĂłn
Two-time governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and, at 35, Puerto Rico's youngest governor ever. - Roberto SĂĄnchez Vilella
Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
First Ladies of Puerto Ricoâ»
- Conchita Dapena
First Lady of Puerto Rico (1965â1966). - Rosario FerrĂ©
First Lady of Puerto Rico (1970â1972). - Lila Mayoral Wirshing
Youngest First Lady of Puerto Rico (1973â1977, 1985â1992). - Lorenza RamĂrez de Arellano
First Lady of Puerto Rico (1969â1970).
Historiansâ»
- Silvia Ălvarez 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 "OrĂgenes y FundaciĂłn de Ponce y Otras Noticias Relativas a su Desarrollo Urbano, DemogrĂĄfico y Cultural (Siglos XVI-XIX)". - RamĂłn MarĂn, historian
Wrote the classical work: "Las fiestas populares de Ponce." - Antonio Mirabal, political historian and poet
Author of "De Rosas a Trujillo: estudio histĂłrico comparativo de las tiranĂas en AmĂ©rica." Long-time chief archivist at Archivo Historico de Ponce - Eduardo Neumann GandĂa, 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 GonzĂĄlez, historian
Head archivist and longest-serving archivist at the "Archivo Historico de Ponce".
Journalistsâ»
- Carmen Dominicci, news anchor.
- Juan GonzĂĄlez, journalist
Columnist for New York's Daily News, and co-host the radio and television program Democracy Now!. - Washington Lloréns, journalist, writer, linguist, and scholar.
- Jorge L. Ramos, news anchor
Emmy Award-winning New York City television news anchor. - RamĂłn Enrique Torres, news anchor.
Judges, law enforcement and firefightersâ»
- Jeannette Ramos, Judge, Puerto Rico Court of Appeals
Puerto Rico district judge and a First Lady of Puerto Rico (1967â1969). - Pedro Toledo, Puerto Rico Police Commissioner
Main negotiator during the 1987 Atlanta Prison Riots. - RaĂșl GĂĄndara Cartagena, Fire Commissioner
The first and longest-serving Fire Commissioner in Puerto Rico.
Militaryâ»
- AgĂŒeybanĂĄ (Great Sun), Supreme TaĂno chief
Supreme Cacique of Puerto Rico who welcomed Juan Ponce de LeĂłn to the island. - AgĂŒeybanĂĄ II, Supreme cacique of the entire island of "BorikĂ©n"
Led the TaĂnos in the fight against Juan Ponce de LeĂłn and the Spanish conquistadores in the TaĂno rebellion of 1511. - RamĂłn ColĂłn-LĂłpez, chief master sergeant, U.S. Air Force
First and only Latino among the first six airmen to be awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal. - Antonio J. Ramos, brigadier general, U.S. Air Force
First Latino to serve as commander, Air Force Security Assistance Center, Air Force Materiel Command. - José Antonio Muñiz lieutenant colonel, U.S. Air Force
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. - EurĂpides Rubio, captain, U.S. Army
Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at Tay Ninh Province in the Republic of Vietnam on 8 November 1966. - RaĂșl G. Villaronga
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.
Physicians, scientists and inventorsâ»
- Carlos E. ChardĂłn Palacios, mycologist
Father of Puerto Rican mycology and first Puerto Rican appointed as Chancellor of University of Puerto Rico. - MartĂn Corchado, physician and medical researcher
Was also president of the 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. Gåndara, medical director at Hospital Tricoche
Lead physician helping victims of the Ponce massacre, and witness at the trials of the accused Nacionalistas. Was Secretary of Health of Puerto Rico. Co-founder of the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico. - Joxel GarcĂa, Assistant Secretary for Health,
First Puerto Rican to be appointed 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. - GerĂłnimo 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 LĂłpez 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.
Politiciansâ»
- Pedro Albizu Campos
President and principal leader of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party. - RomĂĄn Baldorioty de Castro
Considered "The Father of Puerto Rico's Autonomy". - Pedro ColĂłn
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly. - Federico Degetau
The first 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 GonzĂĄlez Huertas
Vice-president of the Senate of Puerto Rico. - MarĂa de PĂ©rez 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 YordĂĄn
President of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives - Peter Rivera
Member of the New York State Assembly. - Larry Seilhamer RodrĂguez
Speaker of the Senate of Puerto Rico. Also basketball player in BSN. - Rafael Cordero Santiago, long-serving mayor of Ponce; elected in 1989, and re-elected to three additional 4-year terms. Died in office.
Sportspeopleâ»
Baseball players and coachesâ»
- Roberto Alomar
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" CoĂmbre
Negro league baseball All-Star player. - Carlos Correa
Minnesota Twins player. - Luis DeLeĂłn
Former Major League Baseball pitcher for the San Diego Padres and the Seattle Mariners. - José Espada
Major League Baseball player for the San Diego Padres. - 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 LĂłpez
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 leagues and the American Negro League's last surviving member. - Luis Quiñones
Former Major League Baseball player for the Oakland Athletics, San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds and the Minnesota Twins. - Edwin Rodriguez
Former Florida Marlins team manager. - Benito Santiago
Former 20-season catcher in Major League Baseball. - FĂ©lix Torres
MLB player with Los Angeles Angels, Cincinnati Redlegs and Philadelphia Phillies. - Javier VĂĄzquez
Former MLB pitcher. - Otto VĂ©lez
MLB player with New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, and Cleveland Indians. - Enrique "Coco" Vicéns
Basketball player with Leones de Ponce. Also a politician.
Basketball playersâ»
- Juan "PachĂn" VicĂ©ns
Basketball player. Led the Lenoes de Ponce team to six championships. - CĂ©sar Bocachica
Olympic basketball player. - Manolo CintrĂłn
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.
Boxersâ»
- JosĂ© "ChegĂŒi" Torres
WBA light heavyweight champion and International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee. - Carlos OrtĂz
Three-time world boxing champion. - Alex SĂĄnchez
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 sportspeopleâ»
- Ricardo Busquets, Olympic swimmer.
- Javier Culson, track and field athlete
Olympic medalist specializing in the 400-metre hurdles. - GermĂĄn 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 VĂ©lez, professional wrestler
Lucha Underground.
Visual artistsâ»
- Albizu, Olga, abstract expressionist painter.
Her works include album covers for Stan Getz - Escobar, Elizam, painter and political activist.
Dean of the Painting Department at the Escuela de Artes PlĂĄsticas de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico. - Irizarry, Epifanio, painter and educator.
His works include "Flamboyan" (1972). - Penne, MarĂa Luisa, painter, educator, and graphic artist.
- Pou, Miguel, painter.
Patrons include Museo de Arte de Ponce, Puerto Rico Museum of Contemporary Art and Puerto Rico Museum of Art. - Rios Rey, Rafael, muralist.
Patrons include Ponce YMCA Organization, Banco Crédito y Ahorro Ponceño, and Puerto Rico Iron Works. - Torres Martinó, José A., painter.
Co-founder of the Escuela de Artes Plåsticas y Diseño de Puerto Rico. - Quiñones, Lee, graffiti painter and actor
Patrons include El Museo del Barrio, Whitney Museum of Art, Museum of the City of New York and the Groninger Museum - Torres, Wichie, Oil canvas painter.
Exponent of the costumbrismo movement.
Table summary by year of birthâ»
The following sortable table is a summary list of notable Ponceños and Ponceñistas arranged chronologically by year of birth.
Name | Born | Died | Profession/Occupation/Notability | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
JosĂ© OrtĂz de la Renta | 1765 | 1850 | Mayor | DOB and DOD are approximate |
Salvador de Vives | 1784 | 1845 | Businessman | - |
Juan RondĂłn | 1790 | 1843 | Mayor | DOB and DOD are approximate |
ValentĂn Tricoche | 1800 | 1863 | Philanthropist | DOB is approximate |
Juan José Cartagena | 1815 | 1895 | Mayor | DOB and DOD are approximate |
Rafael LeĂłn y GarcĂa | 1818 | 1888 | Mayor | DOB and DOD are approximate |
Juan Cortada y Quintana | 1820 | 1889 | Mayor | DOB is approximate |
Timoteo Luberza | 1820 | 1895 | Architect | DOB and DOD are approximate |
Juan Bertoli Calderoni | 1820 | 1900 | Architect | DOB and DOD are approximate |
Romån Baldorioty de Castro | 1822 | 1889 | Politician | Ponceñista |
Francisco Parra Duperón | 1827 | 1899 | Businessman | Ponceñista |
Rafael Pujals | 1830 | 1889 | Physician | Ponceñista. DOB is approximate |
RamĂłn MarĂn | 1832 | 1902 | Historian | Ponceñista |
Miguel Rosich y Mass | 1835 | 1915 | Mayor | DOB and DOD are approximate |
Hemeterio Colón Warens | 1839 | 1889 | Educator | Possibly a Ponceñista |
MartĂn Corchado | 1839 | 1898 | Physician | Ponceñista |
Ermelindo Salazar | 1840 | 1920 | Businessman | DOB and DOD are approximate |
JosĂ© LlorĂ©ns EchevarrĂa | 1840 | 1920 | Mayor | DOB and DOD are approximate |
Manuel Gregorio TavĂĄrez | 1843 | 1883 | Composer | - |
Lizzie Graham | 1844 | 1927 | Singer | - |
Olimpio Otero Vergés | 1845 | 1911 | Civic leader | - |
Juan José Potous | 1845 | 1920 | Mayor | DOB and DOD are approximate |
Luis P. Valdivieso | 1845 | 1920 | Mayor | DOB and DOD are approximate |
Juan Serrallés Colón | 1845 | 1921 | Businessman | - |
Enrique Chevalier | 1845 | 1925 | Mayor | DOB and DOD are approximate |
Luis Porrata-DorĂa | 1845 | 1925 | Mayor | DOB and DOD are approximate |
Julio J. Henna | 1848 | 1924 | Physician | - |
Santiago Oppenheimer | 1850 | 1920 | Mayor | DOB and DOD are approximate |
Luis Gautier | 1850 | 1920 | Mayor | DOB and DOD are approximate |
Antonio Arias | 1850 | 1940 | Mayor | DOB and DOD are approximate |
Eduardo Armstrong | 1851 | 1895 | Mayor | - |
FĂ©lix SaurĂ Vivas | 1852 | 1912 | Businessman | DOB and DOD are approximate |
Eduardo Neumann GandĂa | 1852 | 1913 | Historian | - |
SimĂłn Moret Gallart | 1853 | 1923 | Mayor | - |
Juan Morel Campos | 1857 | 1896 | Composer | - |
JosĂ© de GuzmĂĄn BenĂtez | 1857 | 1921 | Mayor | - |
Ulpiano ColĂłm | 1861 | 1920 | Mayor | DOD is approximate |
Amalia Paoli | 1861 | 1941 | Opera singer | DOB is approximate |
Pedro Juan Rosaly | 1862 | 1920 | Mayor | DOD is approximate |
Federico Degetau | 1862 | 1914 | Politician | Also civil servant |
Juan RĂos Ovalle | 1863 | 1928 | Composer | - |
Juan Bigas Moulins | 1863 | 1934 | Businessman | - |
Vicente BalbĂĄs CapĂł | 1864 | 1926 | Mayor | DOB and DOD are approximate |
Domingo Cruz "CocolĂa" | 1864 | 1934 | Musician | - |
Alfredo Miguel Aguayo SĂĄnchez | 1866 | 1948 | Educator | Born in Ponce, practiced mostly in Cuba |
ArĂstides Chavier ArĂ©valo | 1867 | 1942 | Composer | - |
Luis YordĂĄn DĂĄvila | 1869 | 1932 | Mayor | DOB and DOD are approximate |
Manuel V. Domenech | 1869 | 1942 | Politician | Ponceñista. Also an architect and civil servant |
Blas Silva | 1869 | 1949 | Architect | Ponceñista |
Rafael Rivera EsbrĂ | 1870 | 1965 | Civic leader | Also became mayor |
Abelardo AguilĂș, Jr. | 1870 | 1940 | Mayor | DOB and DOD are approximate |
Francisco Parra CapĂł | 1871 | 1945 | Mayor | DOD is approximate |
Rodulfo del Valle | 1871 | 1948 | Mayor | DOB and DOD are approximate |
Antonio Paoli | 1871 | 1946 | Opera singer | - |
José Tormos Diego | 1875 | 1950 | Mayor | DOB and DOD are approximate |
Jaime L. Drew | 1876 | 1948 | Educator | - |
Elisa TavĂĄrez | 1879 | 1960 | Pianist | - |
Blas Oliveras | 1880 | 1950 | Mayor | DOB and DOD are approximate |
Pedro Miguel Caratini | 1880 | 1940 | Baseball player | DOB and DOD are approximate |
Antonio Mirabal | 1880 | 1966 | Historian | - |
Miguel Pou | 1880 | 1968 | Painter | - |
Guillermo Vivas Valdivieso | 1881 | 1940 | Mayor | DOD is approximate |
Alfredo Wiechers Pieretti | 1881 | 1964 | Architect | - |
Emilio Fagot | 1883 | 1946 | Mayor | - |
Vicente BalbĂĄs CapĂł | 1884 | 1926 | Mayor | - |
Manuel de la Pila Iglesias | 1884 | 1950 | Physician | - |
Rafael López Nussa | 1885 | 1943 | Physician | Ponceñista. Also a public servant |
José Leandro Montalvo Guenard | 1885 | 1950 | Mayor | DOB and DOD are approximate |
Julio Alvarado Tricoche | 1886 | 1970 | Musician | - |
Antonio S. Luchetti | 1888 | 1958 | Civil servant | - |
Andrés Grillasca Salas | 1888 | 1973 | Mayor | - |
Lolita Tizol | 1890 | 1933 | Educator | - |
Francisco Porrata-DorĂa | 1890 | 1971 | Architect | - |
Pedro Albizu Campos | 1891 | 1965 | Politician | - |
Juan Emilio Viguié | 1891 | 1966 | Film maker | - |
Emilio J. Pasarell | 1891 | 1974 | Writer | - |
Paquito Montaner | 1894 | 1945 | Baseball player | - |
Librado Net | 1895 | 1964 | Musician | - |
RaĂșl GĂĄndara Cartagena | 1895 | 1989 | Public servant | - |
Juan Luis Boscio | 1896 | 1980 | Mayor | - |
Carlos E. ChardĂłn | 1897 | 1965 | Public servant | - |
Ernesto Ramos Antonini | 1898 | 1963 | Politician | - |
Washington Lloréns | 1899 | 1989 | Writer | - |
Enrique Campos del Toro | 1900 | 1970 | Businessman | Also public servant; DOD is approximate |
Julio Enrique Monagas | 1900 | 1984 | Public servant | DOB is approximate |
Isabel Luberza Oppenheimer | 1901 | 1974 | Businesswoman | - |
Ramiro L. ColĂłn | 1904 | 1983 | Businessman | Also politician |
Luis A. Ferré | 1904 | 2003 | Politician | Also industrialist and philanthropist |
Pedro J. Labarthe | 1905 | 1966 | Poet | - |
Millito Navarro | 1905 | 2011 | Baseball player | - |
Mariano Villaronga Toro | 1906 | 1987 | Public servant | - |
José N. Gåndara | 1907 | 1954 | Physician | Also public servant |
Domingo Marrero Navarro | 1909 | 1960 | Educator | - |
Pancho Coimbre | 1909 | 1989 | Baseball player | - |
MarĂa Teresa BabĂn CortĂ©s | 1910 | 1989 | Educator | Also a writer |
Teodoro Moscoso | 1910 | 1992 | Diplomat | Also a civil servant |
Horacio Rivero, Jr. | 1910 | 2000 | Military | - |
Rafael RĂos Rey | 1911 | 1980 | Painter | - |
José Dapena Laguna | 1912 | 1991 | Mayor | - |
FĂ©lix Franco-Oppenheimer | 1912 | 2004 | Mayor | - |
Manuel GonzĂĄlez PatĂł | 1913 | 1973 | Educator | - |
MarĂa Luisa Penne | 1913 | 2005 | Painter | - |
Roberto Sånchez Vilella | 1913 | 1997 | Governor | Ponceñista |
Isolina Ferré | 1914 | 2000 | Clergy | - |
CĂ©sar Andreu Iglesias | 1915 | 1976 | Writer | - |
Epifanio âFanoâ Irizarry | 1915 | 2001 | Painter | - |
Luis Ernesto Ramos YordĂĄn | 1915 | 2005 | Politician | |
José Antonio Torres Martinó | 1916 | 2011 | Painter | - |
Eduardo Ruberté Bisó | 1917 | 1985 | Mayor | DOB and DOD are approximate |
Carlos Juan CintrĂłn | 1918 | 1998 | Mayor | - |
José Antonio Muñiz | 1919 | 1960 | Military | - |
Ruth FernĂĄndez | 1919 | 2012 | Singer | - |
Juan H. CintrĂłn GarcĂa | 1919 | 2012 | Mayor | - |
Lorenzo S. Alvarado Santos | 1920 | 1982 | Singer | - |
Carlos Albizu Miranda | 1920 | 1984 | Educator | - |
José Miguel Rovira | 1920 | 1993 | Industrialist | DOB is approximate |
Graciela Rivera | 1921 | 2011 | Opera singer | - |
HĂ©ctor Campos Parsi | 1922 | 1998 | Composer | - |
Tommy Muñiz | 1922 | 2009 | Actor | - |
Olga Albizu | 1924 | 2005 | Painter | - |
Francisco Lluch Mora | 1924 | 2006 | Historian | - |
Juan Fremiot Torres Oliver | 1925 | 2012 | Clergy | Ponceñista |
Enrique "Coco" Vicéns | 1926 | 1915 | Basketball player | Ponceñista. Also a politician |
Esther Sandoval | 1927 | 2006 | Actress | - |
ElĂas LĂłpez SobĂĄ | 1927 | â | Musician | Also an educator |
Luis A. "Wito" Morales | 1928 | 2011 | Mayor | - |
Marta Romero | 1928 | 2013 | Actress | - |
Jeannette Ramos | 1930 | 2021 | Judge | DOB is approximate |
JosĂ© G. Tormos Vega | 1932 | â | Mayor | DOB is approximate |
Walter Mercado | 1932 | 2019 | Astrologer | - |
FĂ©lix Torres | 1932 | â | Baseball player | - |
Pete "El Conde" RodrĂguez | 1933 | 2000 | Singer | - |
Luis Osvaldo Pino Valdivieso | 1933 | 2003 | Band director | - |
Gladys Esther Tormes GonzĂĄlez | 1933 | â | Historian | - |
Juan "PachĂn" VicĂ©ns | 1934 | 2007 | Basketball player | - |
ElĂn OrtĂz | 1934 | 2016 | Actor | - |
Mario Montez | 1935 | 2013 | Actor | - |
Maurice Ferre | 1935 | 2019 | Politician | - |
Cheo Feliciano | 1935 | 2014 | Singer | - |
Ed Vega | 1936 | 2008 | Writer | - |
JosĂ© "ChegĂŒi" Torres | 1936 | 2009 | Boxer | - |
IvĂĄn Ayala CĂĄdiz | 1936 | â | Mayor | DOB is approximate |
Carlos OrtĂz | 1936 | â | Boxer | - |
FĂ©lix LĂĄzaro MartĂnez | 1936 | â | Clergy | Ponceñista |
MĂriam ColĂłn | 1936 | 2017 | Actress | - |
Iris Zavala | 1936 | 2020 | Writer | - |
Rafael HernĂĄndez ColĂłn | 1936 | 2019 | Politician | - |
Ismael Quintana | 1937 | 2016 | Singer | - |
Orlando Cepeda | 1937 | â | Baseball player | - |
EurĂpides Rubio | 1938 | 1966 | Military | - |
FĂ©lix Maldonado | 1938 | 2010 | Baseball manager | - |
JosĂ© Dapena Thompson | 1938 | â | Mayor | DOB is approximate |
RaĂșl G. Villaronga | 1938 | 2021 | Military | - |
Rosario Ferré | 1938 | 2016 | Writer | - |
CĂ©sar Bocachica | 1938 | â | Basketball player | - |
Coco Laboy | 1940 | â | Baseball player | - |
Silvia Ălvarez Curbelo | 1940 | â | Historian | - |
RubĂ©n ColĂłn Tarrats | 1940 | â | Musician | - |
Andrés Ramos Mattei | 1941 | 1987 | Historian | - |
Rafael Cordero Santiago | 1942 | 2004 | Mayor | - |
Salvador Vassallo | 1942 | 2007 | Industrialist | - |
Luis Torres Nadal | 1943 | 1986 | Playwright | - |
Pedro Pietri | 1944 | 2004 | Poet | - |
Delis Castillo Rivera de Santiago | 1945 | â | Mayor | DOB is approximate |
Juan "Papo" Franceschi | 1946 | 1990 | Track and field athlete | - |
Jose Luis De Jesus Miranda | 1946 | 2013 | Clergy | - |
HĂ©ctor Lavoe | 1946 | 1993 | Singer | - |
Peter Rivera | 1946 | â | Politician | - |
Papo Lucca | 1946 | â | Musician | - |
Juan GonzĂĄlez | 1947 | â | Journalist | - |
Carmen Nydia VelĂĄzquez | 1947 | â | Comedian | Also a singer |
Elizam Escobar | 1948 | 2021 | Poet | Also an author |
MarĂa MelĂ©ndez | 1950 | Mayor | - | |
Otto VĂ©lez | 1950 | Baseball player | - | |
Francisco Zayas Seijo | 1951 | â | Mayor | - |
Carlos Alomar | 1951 | â | Musician | - |
Pepe Mangual | 1952 | â | Baseball player | - |
Wichie Torres | 1952 | 2020 | Painter | - |
TeĂłfilo Torres | 1954 | â | Actor | - |
Larry Seilhamer RodrĂguez | 1954 | â | Politician | Ponceñista. Also basketball player. |
Antonio GarcĂa Padilla | 1954 | â | Educator | - |
CarmĂn Vega | 1955 | â | Singer | - |
Ednita Nazario | 1955 | â | Singer | - |
GerĂłnimo Lluberas | 1956 | 2003 | Humanitarian | Also a physician |
RamĂłn Enrique Torres | 1956 | â | News anchor | - |
Luis R. Visot | 1956 | â | Military | DOB is approximate |
AndrĂ©s Mignucci | 1957 | â | Architect | - |
Luis de LeĂłn | 1958 | â | Baseball player | - |
Lunna | 1960 | â | Singer | - |
Lee Quiñones | 1960 | â | Painter | - |
Edwin RodrĂguez | 1960 | â | Baseball personality | - |
Jesse Vassallo | 1961 | â | Olympic swimmer | - |
Luis RaĂșl | 1962 | â | Actor | - |
Joxel GarcĂa | 1962 | â | Physician | - |
Luis Quiñones | 1962 | â | Baseball player | - |
Marisol Calero | 1963 | â | Actress | - |
Manolo CintrĂłn | 1963 | â | Basketball player | - |
Benito Santiago | 1965 | â | Baseball player | - |
Edgardo Guilbe | 1966 | â | Olympic sprinter | - |
Carmen Dominicci | 1966 | â | News anchor | - |
Roberto Alomar | 1968 | â | Baseball player | - |
Pedro ColĂłn | 1968 | â | Politician | - |
Draco Rosa | 1969 | â | Singer | Ponceñista |
Javy LĂłpez | 1970 | â | Baseball player | - |
RamĂłn ColĂłn-LĂłpez | 1971 | â | Military | - |
Francisco Rosa Rivera | 1972 | 2010 | Bodybuilder | - |
Alex SĂĄnchez | 1973 | â | Boxer | - |
Ricky LedĂ©e | 1973 | â | Baseball player | - |
Ricardo Busquets | 1974 | â | Olympic swimmer | - |
GermĂĄn Figueroa | 1975 | â | Wrestler | - |
Melliangee PĂ©rez | 1976 | â | Soprano singer | - |
Javier VĂĄzquez | 1976 | â | Baseball player | - |
Marco Zunino | 1976 | â | Actor | - |
Bobby Joe Hatton | 1976 | â | Basketball player | - |
Maripily Rivera | 1977 | â | Model | - |
Maruja Fuentes | 1978 | 2010 | Architect | - |
Mario Santiago | 1978 | â | Boxer | - |
Lymari Nadal | 1978 | â | Actress* | - |
Denise Quiñones | 1980 | â | Beauty pageant | Also actress |
Juan VĂ©lez | 1983 | â | Singer* | - |
Miguel "Ali" Berdiel | 1983 | â | Basketball player | - |
Maria-Elena Laas | 1983 | â | Actress | - |
Javier Culson | 1984 | â | Olympic hurdler | - |
Debora Seilhamer | 1985 | â | Olympic volleyball player | - |
Ivelisse VĂ©lez | 1988 | â | Wrestler | - |
FĂ©lix SerrallĂ©s | 1992 | â | Racing driver | - |