Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Angel M. San Antonio Bravo (1940-2012)




At the end of August I received the sad news of Angel 'Liyo' San Antonio's passing. 

Angel was a historian of Moca's history and published several books, in an attempt to capture a rapidly fading past. He worked as a teacher in Moca and Aguadilla, was interested in the use of technology and teaching in the 1980s, a time when he was able to take courses at the Centro de Estudios Avanzados in San Juan, from the Universidad de Valladolid and the Instituto Ortega y Gassett in Spain. After nearly 30 years of service, he retired from the PR Department of Education in 1996.

Son of Juan San Antonio Hernandez and Ana A. Bravo, Angel, like others in the San Antonio family, was involved in teaching and educational administration. His sister and her husband have a school supply store on Calle Barbosa, where I went to buy pens and notebooks for my research. Liyo was also involved in many civic associations, was a member of the National Guard and I looked forward to seeing his notes in the Fiesta Patronales books issued each year. Unfortunately, Liyo suffered a number of health problems late in life, which took him from his family much too soon.

I had the opportunity to meet him in Moca, first near the plaza, where he took a copy of his Hojas Historicas de Moca (2004) out of a box in the trunk of his car, and very kindly gave it to me. I also sat next to him and his wife Sonia at the Christmas celebrations held at the Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de la Monserrate y Juan Nepomuceno, together with cousins from the Hernandez Romero line, a wonderful time. I appreciate his kindness and his efforts to preserve the past. He'll be missed.

QEPD


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