Picture

Waterbury Puerto Rican American
History, Ethnicity, Culture, Resources,
Faith, Opportunities, Leadership, Contributions, and Influence

Picture

Mayors for the Day

[partial list]
​
  • 2012 Mariam Echevarria
  • 2013 Isaias T. Diaz
  • 2014 Maritza Acosta-Gay
  • 2015 David Burgos
  • 2016 Adele Jorge-Nelson
  • 2019 Jose Antonio Reyes
  • 2022 Nancy Acevedo-Gordils
​

Noteworthy, Famous and Infamous
Puerto Rican Americans
​Who Were Born in Waterbury

  • Felix Manual Rodriguez
    • Born: April 3rd, 1975; Waterbury
    • Education:
      • Walsh Elementary School
      • May have attended / graduated from Wilby High School
    • Noted As: Author
      • ​Dad, Me, and Muhammad Ali
    • ​Profile

Waterbury Puerto Rican American
Community, Civic, and Cultural
Leaders and Influencers

(partial list)
  • Geraldo Reyes
    • President: South End Neighborhood Association
    • City of Waterbury Administrative Aide
    • State Representative
    • Bachelor: Central Connecticut State University
  • Victor Lopez, Jr.
    • Executive Director, Hispanic Coalition
    • Alderman
  • Maritza Acosta Gay
  • Lenytza Rodriguez
  • David N. Feliu
  • Natalie Rosado Torres
  • Anthony Miranda
  • Lisa Ortega
  • Yarixa Lopez
  • Wanda Vargas
  • Roberto Clemente
  • Mariam Echevarria
  • Isaias T. Diaz
    • Born: Waterbury
    • Teacher: Quinnipiac School of Law
    • Cultural Advocate
    • Attorney at Law
    • Chairman: Connecticut Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission
    • Rising Star, per Super Lawyers
    • Education:
      • Juris Doctor, cum laude, Bridgeport School of Law
    • NWI Networks Profile
    • Explore Lawyers Profile
  • David Burgos
  • Adele Jorge-Nelson
  • Jose Antonio Reyes​
  •      ... others

News

Reviving the Waterbury Puerto Rican Day Parade
(wfsb.com)
Waterbury Puerto Rican Day Parade 2022
(wfsb.com)
Mother of Olympian killed by stray bullet in Waterbury
Man convicted in stray-bullet killing of Puerto Rican Olympian’s mom in her Connecticut home
(thestar.com); article; 20230721
(newstimes.com); article; 20230412

Archived News

Rivera Memorial Foundation Scholarship Banquet 
April 7th, 2022
La Bella Vista, 380 Farmwood Road
5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Contact: rmfinc.org/events.
Full Press Release Here.

Neighborhoods

  • Fairmount
  • South End
  • Others​​

Resources


News Archive


​Taste of Puerto Rico: Chary’s, a family bakery, hits the sweet spot
rep-am.com  2022-02-14
[subscription may be required]
​
Note: This page has been blocked by MicroSoft Edge for an unknown reason
Little Puerto Rico - Papas Asadas
Bing video
Puerto Rican families make Waterbury their new home after fleeing earthquakes on the island
Bing video  2020-02-28
​
VIDEO: Waterbury school district steps up to help Puerto Rican children following quakes
Bing video  2020-01-13
​
17th Annual Coqui Awards
​

Hispanic Coalition

www.thehispaniccoalition.org

Businesses

Population and Demography

The people of Waterbury who indicate being wholly or partially Puerto Rican American represent 28.2% of the total population.  This amounts to about 32,148 people.  This is about 75.2% of the total number of people who claim to be wholly or partially Hispanic Americans. 

As such, Puerto Ricans are now behind only the Italians in Waterbury populous.

Clubs, Associations, and Other Organizations

  • ​The Hispanic Coalition
  • Hispanic Democratic Club of Waterbury Inc.
    • ​Hector Riollano
    • 9 Oakdale Avenue
  •  Waterbury Hispanic Firefighters Society
  • ​Utuado Social Club of Waterbury, Inc.
    • 456 South Main Street ​​​

Cultural Influence

There is more to come on this topic.

Calendars​ and Events

Rivera Memorial Scholarship Banquet
Events | rivera-memorial (rmfinc.org)
​
​17th Annual Coqui Awards

Structures

Borinqueneers Memorial Bridge
(formerly the East Liberty Street Bridge) 

The bridge is so-named in honor of the United States Army's 65th Infantry Regiment.  Borinqueneers is a play on a Taino, Korean name for Puerto Rico.  However, there is no known connection between the regiment and any former nor current Puerto Rican resident.

More information on the Taino people.