Lawrence mourns restaurant owner killed in Dominican Republic nightclub roof collapse
The restaurant is just blocks away from City Hall, a place that city workers enjoy 'when we're mad, when we're happy, when we're angry, when we're joyful.'
'It's a symbol of the entire community,' Rodriguez said. 'We love the place. It represents Lawrence tremendously and at a high standard.'
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Rosario's two daughters said they were 'not ready' to talk about their father's death on Wednesday. Their mother flew to the Dominican Republic after the accident to tend to their father's remains, they added.
Workers at Terra Luna Cafe declined to comment on Wednesday.
Rosario was deeply involved in the Dominican community and the city's business community as a whole, Rodriguez said.
Also missing after the accident is the sister of Lawrence radio host Santiago Matias, 67-year-old Florinda Rojas,
Lawrence Mayor Brian DePeña said flags would be lowered to half-staff in the city to honor Rosario and the other victims.
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'To our Dominican brothers and sisters, please know you are not alone. The people of Lawrence stand with you,' he said in a statement. 'May God bring comfort to every grieving heart and grant peace to all those affected.'
City Councilor Vivian Marmol wrote on
Rosario was 'an icon in our community [and] a visionary,' she wrote.
'Just three weeks ago we shared thoughts, discussions, laughter, drinks, speaking of the future of Lawrence,' she wrote. 'You loved how much I was laughing at everything and I loved how you were so vibrant, funny, and charming. You [are] an icon in our community [and] a visionary, and Terra Luna will always be the home of many in the city of Lawrence.'
A vigil will be held on Appleton Way, next to City Hall, at 4 p.m. on Thursday, DePeña said.
'It's a resilient community, and we're going to stand together all the time, independently of the tragedy,' Rodriguez said. 'We're going to come up stronger than before as a community.'
This story will be updated.
Camilo Fonseca can be reached at
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