Aníbal González Irizarry
Anibal González Irizarry | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 25, 1927 |
| Died | November 14, 2018 (aged 91) |
| Occupation(s) | television journalist Pastor |
| Years active | 1950—1994 |
| Spouse | Ruth Pérez Pérez |
Aníbal González Irizarry (February 25, 1927 – November 14, 2018) was a Puerto Rican educator, journalist and news broadcaster.
Early years
[edit]González Irizarry was born and raised in Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico, where he received his primary and secondary education. He completed 3 years of high school at Sabana Grande High School before his family moved to San Juan. There he attended the "Escuela Superior Central" (Central High School) of Santurce. In 1942, when he was 15 years old, he began to work at "WPRA" a radio station in Mayaguez and soon became the station's main broadcaster.[1]
Radio broadcaster
[edit]In 1950, González Irizarry moved to New York City to work in a factory. Whilst there he found a position at the radio station "WWRL" in a program called "La Voz Hispana del Aire" (The Hispanic Voice on the Air).[2] In that program, he created a character which he called "Monje Loco" (Crazy Monk). In 1951, he joined the radio station "WENX" and was named Director of Spanish Programs.
In 1953, González Irizarry joined the United States Army and after returning from the Korean War was honorably discharged. He then returned to New York and continued to work in the radio as a broadcaster. He enrolled and graduated from "The School of Radio and Television Techniques".[3]
News anchor
[edit]In 1956, González Irizarry returned to Puerto Rico and joined WKAQ, a Telemundo affiliate as its radio program announcer. He continued his academic career and graduated with a Law Degree from the University of Puerto Rico School of Law. Telemundo first introduced Telenoticias (TV News) in 1954 and in 1977, Telenoticias en Accion in a new format with him as main anchor along with Ramon Enrique Torres, Bruni Vélez and Junior Abrams.[3]
Later years and death
[edit]González Irizarry married Ruth Perez Perez and they had two children: Anibal Jr. and Lissette. In 1994 he retired as anchor of Telenoticias en Accion in Telemundo. Besides news broadcasting, González Irizarry taught Communications at the Universidad del Sagrado Corazón in Santurce. He was the co-pastor of the Disciples of Christ Church in Ponce.[1] and also served as spokesperson for Medicare advanced health plans in Puerto Rico.[4] González Irizarry died on November 14, 2018, of natural causes at Pavia hospital in Santurce, Puerto Rico. He was cremated and his ashes were taken to his hometown of Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico.[5]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "People from Sabana Grande". Archived from the original on 2010-01-11. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
- ^ "Muere Aníbal González Irizarry". El Nuevo Dia (in Spanish). 14 November 2018.
- ^ a b Puerto Rico past and Present
- ^ "Tus 5 Amigos, MMM y PMC Marcharon por la Sensibilidad en Apoyo a la Población de Edad Avanzada y Personas con Discapacidad". La Cordillera. September 12, 2012. Archived from the original on December 13, 2014. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
- ^ "Fallece Aníbal González Irizarry". Telemundo. November 14, 2018.
- 1927 births
- 2018 deaths
- United States Army personnel of the Korean War
- Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) clergy
- Converts to Christianity
- People from Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico
- Puerto Rican journalists
- Puerto Rican television personalities
- Puerto Rican Disciples of Christ
- Puerto Rican Army personnel
- Television pioneers
- United States Army soldiers
- University of Puerto Rico alumni
- Puerto Rican Christians
- Puerto Rican lawyers
- Puerto Rican news anchors
- Universidad del Sagrado Corazón alumni