Saturday, December 2, 2023
For those family members under 40 years you missed out on some wonderfully inspirational Uncle Louie- his passion for family unity, exchanging of perspectives just about every topic the human mind could acknowledge was open for debate discussion. He loved to sharing his talents with those he called family and friends. After my dad and mom purchased our house on Meserole St. Uncle was the first one to offer to help get the almost none existing beams and floors replaced. This and numerous other projects at both Meserole houses Uncle Louie had a hand in renovating. Surely each of you have Uncle Louie house or car repair tale or two.
Aside from being handyman Louie, his desire to understand how and what made things tick, came from grandpa, but characteristic most in primal our relationships with this renaissance Uncle was his desire for each us to understand our Puerto Rican Music. More specifically to value and feel the multicultural beauty of our Nuyoricaness via Afro Latin Music.
Who amongst the older sobrinas and sobrinos does not have as heartwarming or funny story of Uncle Louie introducing the use of percussion instruments, while being mused into a cultural awakening to the universe of Afro Latin Musicians/Vocalists from the 1940 to 1980’s. Honoring both past and present, it wouldn’t be true family gathering if Uncle Louie did not break out the instruments to get us to jam with him.
We may not know what happens after this place but Uncle Louie’s presence is ingrain in each of us and hopefully we will keep his tradition of loving our hip shaking Afro Latin rhythms strong in our coming generations of Puerto Rican family members. Like Daniel, Jessica, Tiffany and Lenny, know your father’s Deep LOVE for each of you are similar those musical notes he may have always questioned if they were embraced long enough to feel nurtured, heard and understood. Remember Siempre Palante.
Your family from Meserole Street would like to say “Garcias por tu entusiasmo por la vida” for sharing, and encouraging Nuyorican music into our family desde el corazon. Your passionate exchanges about family, current events, helping repair and just as important revealing of your humanity by laughing and openly crying with us.
Uncle Louie may your soul rest in power and light, and your spirit find peace in the beautiful music you taught each of us to love. We felt it important to continue your legacy of encouraging peace thru music in the next generation of Neoyorquinos/Neoyorquinas, musicians for future Orquesta Libre, we’ve dedicated in your memory to Afro Latin Jazz Belongo Organization for music education.
Con Mucho Amor Siempre de tus Sobrinas Crisel, Rosaline, Ketty y Sobrinos John, Joe Luis, Javier and Jason, los sobrina y sobrino nieta Y bisenta sobrina Y sobrinos
