Rafael REYES
We have learned the sad news that Rafael Reyes died on December 28, 2024. He was 101 years of age and resided with his family in Utah at the time of his death. He will be buried in St. Raymond Cemetery in the Bronx on Saturday January 11, 2025. He was preceded in death
by his wife of seventy-six years, Carmen, who retired from the New York Public Library in 1985.
A native of Puerto Rico, Rafael came to New York with his family in 1947. After his military service in World War II, Rafael worked in the Garment District and had dental technician training. At the suggestion of his wife, Rafael joined NYPL in 1959. He began his Library
career at the 42nd Street Central Building in the Maintenance Department. He served as a security guard at the Donnell Library Center from 1960 until 1977, when he began as a Special Investigator. Working out of the Special Investigator’s Office at the Annex on West
43rd Street, Rafael worked with branches in Manhattan and, primarily, the Bronx. He used his public service and security skills to resolve a wide variety of issues including disruptive public behavior and the recovery of Library materials.
Rafael continued in his Special Investigator role until his retirement in 1985. He is remembered for his calm and professional manner, as well as for his humor and kindness with everyone he encountered throughout his long life.
See New York Public Library Retirees Newsletter, Issue 40, page 7
See New York Public Library Retirees Newsletter, Issue 38, page 11.
See New York Public Library Retirees Newsletter, Issue 34, page 19.
See New York Public Library Retirees Newsletter, Issue 32, page 5.
We have learned the sad news that Rafael Reyes died on December 28, 2024. He was 101 years of age and resided with his family in Utah at the time of his death. He will be buried in St. Raymond Cemetery in the Bronx on Saturday January 11, 2025. He was preceded in death
by his wife of seventy-six years, Carmen, who retired from the New York Public Library in 1985.
A native of Puerto Rico, Rafael came to New York with his family in 1947. After his military service in World War II, Rafael worked in the Garment District and had dental technician training. At the suggestion of his wife, Rafael joined NYPL in 1959. He began his Library
career at the 42nd Street Central Building in the Maintenance Department. He served as a security guard at the Donnell Library Center from 1960 until 1977, when he began as a Special Investigator. Working out of the Special Investigator’s Office at the Annex on West
43rd Street, Rafael worked with branches in Manhattan and, primarily, the Bronx. He used his public service and security skills to resolve a wide variety of issues including disruptive public behavior and the recovery of Library materials.
Rafael continued in his Special Investigator role until his retirement in 1985. He is remembered for his calm and professional manner, as well as for his humor and kindness with everyone he encountered throughout his long life.
See New York Public Library Retirees Newsletter, Issue 40, page 7
See New York Public Library Retirees Newsletter, Issue 38, page 11.
See New York Public Library Retirees Newsletter, Issue 34, page 19.
See New York Public Library Retirees Newsletter, Issue 32, page 5.