José Dapena Laguna

José Nazario Dapena Laguna, (28 July 1912 – 20 September 1991) was a Puerto Rican attorney and Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico, in 1956.

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Dapena and the second or maternal family name is Laguna.

José Dapena Laguna
Member of the Puerto Rico Senate from the Ponce district
In office 1960–1968
123rd Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico
In office 9 November 1956 – 1 January 1957
Preceded by	Andrés Grillasca Salas
Succeeded by	Carlos Juan Cintrón
Personal details
Born	28 July 1912 Ponce, Puerto Rico
Died	20 September 1991 Ponce, Puerto Rico
Nationality	Puerto Rican
Political party	Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico (PDP)
Spouse(s)	Georgina Thompson
Children	Jose, Maria Rosa, Georgia, Victoria Eugenia (called Baby)
Alma mater	University of Puerto Rico
Profession	Attorney[1]

Early years

José Dapena Laguna was born in Ponce on 28 July 1912. His parents were Ramon Dapena Pacheco and Maria Laguna y Cedo.[2] He was the father of José Dapena Thompson, mayor of Ponce from 1984 to 1988.

Political life

In 1941 he worked as a political aide in the Ponce City Hall, and was also interim municipal secretary. In 1956, he was appointed mayor of Ponce. Later that year (1956) he resigned as mayor to become a member of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico, a post for which he had been elected. In 1960 he was elected to the Puerto Rico Senate, a post he occupied until 1968.[3]

Schooling

He earned a degree from the University of Puerto Rico School of Law.[4]

Family life

His wife was Georgina Thompson. His children were José (the mayor), Maria Rosa (who became the executive assistant of the first lady of Puerto Rico, Lila Mayoral de Hernandez Colon), Georgianne, and Victoria Eugenia (Baby).[5]

Last years and legacy

Dapena Laguna lead a relatively quiet life the last few years of his life. He died in Ponce on 20 September 1991, of a heart condition.[6] The government of Ponce honored him by naming the main Ponce firehouse after him.[7]

See also

• Ponce, Puerto Rico
• List of Puerto Ricans

References

1. Certificado de Difuncion, Number 1031 (Area 152. Year 1991. Register # 232). Puerto Rico, Civil Registrations, 1885-2001 for Jose Nazario Dapena Laguna; Defunciones (Deaths), Ponce, Defunciones 1990-1992, t. 248-252.
2. Muere Ex-alcalde Dapena. El Nuevo Dia. 21 September 1991.
3. Muere Ex-alcalde Dapena. El Nuevo Dia. 21 September 1991.
4. Muere Ex-alcalde Dapena. El Nuevo Dia. 21 September 1991.
5. Muere Ex-alcalde Dapena. El Nuevo Dia. 21 September 1991.
6. Muere Ex-alcalde Dapena. El Nuevo Dia. 21 September 1991.
7. Héroes en el mundo: olvidados aquí. Jason Rodríguez Grafal. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 12 October 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2011.

Further reading

• Fay Fowlie de Flores. Ponce, Perla del Sur: Una Bibliográfica Anotada. Second Edition. 1997. Ponce, Puerto Rico: Universidad de Puerto Rico en Ponce. p. 319. Item 1602. LCCN 92-75480
• "Toma de Posesión." Revista Gráfica del Sur Diciembre 1941. Supplement page between pages 26 and 27. (Colegio Universitario Tecnológico de Ponce, CUTPO).

Political offices
Preceded by Andrés Grillasca Salas	Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico 9 November 1956 - 1 January 1957	Succeeded by Carlos Juan Cintrón