Remembering Rubby Perez in University Heights
Perez was on stage performing at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on April 8 when the roof crashed down. Authorities say 226 people were killed, including Perez.
More Stories
A father and son are remembering Rubby Perez in University Heights.
"It was the first celebrity that we brought to this community in a very humble way," said Haile Rivera, director of Hands-on New York.
Haile Rivera and his son, Joseph Rivera, 12, met Rubby Perez in 2014.
While 12-year-old Joseph was too young to remember meeting the iconic merengue singer, his impact left an impression.
"I always played his music first, I love his music, he inspires me," said Joseph Rivera.
Perez was on stage performing at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on April 8 when the roof crashed down. Authorities say 226 people were killed, including Perez.
While Perez was from the Dominican Republic, he gave back to local youth in the Bronx.
When Haile River helped organize his first back-to-school give away in 2014, he called up Rubby's management team to see if he'd be interested in helping out.
"The first one we did was thanks to Rubby," said Haile Rivera. "We needed funding, he was the one that came through for us, he surprised us with his visit here, so in some ways this is very personal to us, it feels like family the way he was."
Perez contributed to the event up until this February.
"Whenever he was called upon he was here, I had the privilege to be with him at some of those events, he was an emblem of hope and also an example of what you can be if you work hard," said Fernando Cabrera who was the city councilmember at the time who helped coordinate Rubby's help with the event.
Maria Rosado hosted Perez at her house, at the time she didn't know it would be the last memory together.
"He said 'give me a hug bye.' He said goodbye but I'm coming back because I love this house. I feel so upset, I don't have words to describe, he was a happy guy, very humble guy," said Rosado.
Authorities say it could take up to three months to complete a forensics investigation into what caused the roof to collapse at the club.
