This is a list of notable Ponceños, people from Ponce, Puerto Rico. Listed here are people who were either born in Ponce or who were not born in Ponce, but who are or were longtime residents of the city – the so-called adopted sons and daughters of Ponce, and known in Spanish as "Ponceñistas". Ponce has also been the birthplace and the place of residence of many Puerto Ricans who became notable elsewhere. The following lists many of them as well. The list is arranged alphabetically by area of notability.
List of notable Ponceños by area of notability
The list is divided into categories and in some cases sub-categories which best describe the field for which the subject is most noted. For individuals notable in more than one field (such as "Luis A. Ferré" who is notable as a former "governor" and as an "industrialist") the entry is made under the field for which the individual is most noted.
Rosita Velázquez, actress, comedian and singer, grew up in Ponce.
Juan Emilio Viguié, film producer Pioneer film producer. Made the first commercially successful films in the island, including "Romance Tropical", the first Puerto Rican film with sound.
Félix Franco-Oppenheimer, poet and writer His works include "Contornos", "Imagen y visión edénica de Puerto Rico", and "Antología poética".
Pedro J. Labarthe, poet, journalist, essayist, and novelist. Documented the experience of Puerto Rican migration to New York. Major writings: The Son of Two Nations: The Private Life of a Columbia Student, among others.
Emilio J. Pasarell, short-story writer, novelist, and essayist. He was also an accomplished historian. Best known for his "Origenes y desarrollo de la aficcion teatral en Puerto Rico" (Origins and development of theater in Puerto Rico).
Rafael Rivera Esbrí, civic leader and mayor A hero of 1898 "El Polvorín" fire.
Civil servants and public servants
Enrique Campos del Toro, businessman, banker, law professor and civil servant Served in several Commonwealth governmental positions, some of which were appointed by the president of the United States.
Carlos A. Chardón López, educator and civil servant Chardón served twice as Puerto Rico's Secretary of Education
Antonio S. Luchetti, engineer and public servant Headed the launching of island-wide public electric service in Puerto Rico.
Mariano Villaronga-Toro, educator and public servant The first Commissioner of Public Instruction after the creation of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Displaced English as the language of instruction and replaced it with Spanish.
José Luis de Jesús, Creator of the "Creciendo en Gracia" sect Self-proclaimed "Jesus Christ Man". Can be heard in 287 radio stations; founded a 24-hr TV network; has some 2 million followers in 35 countries.
Juan Fremiot Torres Oliver, bishop of Ponce Longest-serving bishop for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ponce in Ponce, Puerto Rico, with 36 years of service.
Composers, contemporary singers, musicians and opera
Librado Net, musician, educator and painter. First director of the Escuela Libre de Música de Ponce and mastermind behind the creation of Puerto Rico's Free Music School system.
PJ Sin Suela, rapper, composer, and doctor. Pedro-Juan Vázquez Bragan better known as PJ Sin Suela has been known for his music career and his compromise with social matters in Puerto Rico.
Lorenzo S. Alvarado Santos, singer, composer, and guitarist. With Johnny Albino and Félix ("Ola") Martínez, made up Trío San Juan during the years 1949–1957. Among his best tunes was the 1956 bolero "Siete notas de amor".
Draco Rosa, Menudo musician and singer. Multiple-time Grammy and Latin Grammy winning musician, singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, poet and entrepreneur.
Carmín Vega, singer and comedian. Known as "The woman with a thousand voices and a thousand faces".
Silvia Álvarez Curbelo, architectural and cultural historian Founding member of the Puerto Rican Association of Historians, and director of the Center for Communications Research at the University of Puerto Rico.
Francisco Lluch Mora, historian Wrote "Orígenes y Fundación de Ponce y Otras Noticias Relativas a su Desarrollo Urbano, Demográfico y Cultural (Siglos XVI-XIX)".
Ramón Marín, historian Wrote the classical work: "Las fiestas populares de Ponce."
Antonio Mirabal, political historian and poet Author of "De Rosas a Trujillo: estudio histórico comparativo de las tiranías en América." Long-time chief archivist at Archivo Historico de Ponce
Eduardo Neumann Gandía, historian Author of "Verdadera y Auténtica Historia de la Ciudad de Ponce."
Andrés Ramos Mattei, sugar industry historian Said to be "the undisputed authority" on the subject of Puerto Rico's sugar industry.
Gladys Esther Tormes González, historian Head archivist and longest-serving archivist at the "Archivo Historico de Ponce".
Antonio J. Ramos, brigadier general, U.S. Air Force First Latino to serve as commander, Air Force Security Assistance Center, Air Force Materiel Command.
José Antonio Muñiz lieutenant colonel, U.S. Air Force Co-founder of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard.
Horacio Rivero, admiral, U.S. Navy First Puerto Rican and second Hispanic to become admiral (four-star) in the U.S. Navy. Commander of the American fleet that effected the blockade of the Soviet ships during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.
Manuel de la Pila Iglesias, physician and medical pioneer Introduced the first EKG and X-ray machines to Puerto Rico. Considered to be "one of the giants of Puerto Rican medicine".
Gerónimo Lluberas, physician, writer, educator, medical missionary One of the first physicians in the United States and Puerto Rico to use the Prosorba column to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
Rafael López Nussa, physician and public servant Pioneered heart surgeries in Puerto Rico.