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Yahoo
09-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘Very hard to comprehend': Lawrence Dominican community mourning loss of restaurateur
For Dominicans, family is a far-reaching word; hence the sadness in Lawrence after at least 124 were killed in the collapse of a nightclub roof early Tuesday morning in Santo Domingo. The Jet Set nightclub, a fixture in the capital city for the last 50 years, was packed with guests attending a merengue concert. The number of dead is expected to rise, as rescue workers sift through beams, girders, and other roofing debris. One of the known dead is North Andover resident Fray Louis Rosario, owner of two restaurants in Lawrence: Terra Luna Cafe and La Varga Cantina. He and his wife were vacationing in the Dominican Republic. 'Very, very good man,' said his long-time friend Luis Cabrera. 'Very honest man. It's very hard to comprehend what happened. Going on vacation and never seeing that person again, it's horrible.' Rosario's daughters declined to speak with the media, but graciously supplied a photograph of their father. They said their mother was not injured in the roofing collapse but remains in the DR to make arrangements for Rosario. Terra Luna Cafe is not normally open on Wednesdays, but employees erected a memorial to the boss inside -- as customers outside expressed sorrow over Rosario's passing. 'This was a good guy,' said Wili Gaillird. 'That's terrible. It's a catastrophe. He was a humble guy. Gentle. A good guy. Gaillird said he knew of others from Lawrence, he believed also died in the collapse. 'Everybody's so sad here,' he said. 'Because everybody has some friends, some family.' 'There's no words, no words,' said Lissette Martinez, who participates in missionary work in the DR. 'It's only God that can comfort people at this time and moment. I hope everyone finds peace in their heart and grieves in their own time because this is very hard.' Lawrence Mayor Brian DePena called this week a moment of mourning and reflection. He presides over an American city whose Dominican population of about 50,000 is only exceeded by New York City. DePena ordered flags dropped to half-staff -- and announced plans for a vigil Thursday at 4 PM adjacent to Terra Luna Cafe on Appleton Way. 'Let us unite as a community for a moment of reflection and solidarity,' DePena wrote. 'To our Dominican brothers and sisters, please know that you are not alone. The people of Lawrence stand with you. May God bring comfort to every grieving heart and grant peace to all those affected.' Cabrera, who had known Rosario for at least 12 years, said he was a funny guy who liked to help people out. 'He didn't deserve a death like that,' he said. 'It's gonna take time, like everything else in life. Because you don't expect that a friend of yours you're not going to see him anymore. I mean, he didn't have a chance to say goodbye.' Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
CBS News
09-04-2025
- CBS News
Massachusetts restaurant owner killed in Dominican Republic nightclub roof collapse
In the city of Lawrence, Massachusetts, the tragic roof collapse of a nightclub in the Dominican Republic has hit home, impacting a community where more than half the residents have ties there. A local restaurant owner was killed, and a woman is among the missing. Santiago Matias, a local radio host, shared his pain with a Dominican television station that reached out Wednesday. "It's devastating for me," Matias said. "A lot of pain for the family." Matias is still waiting for word about his sister, 67-year-old Florinda Rojas, who is among the hundreds at the iconic Jet Set nightclub still missing in the rubble. "We keep praying for a miracle," Matias said. He's also heartbroken over the loss of his friend, Fray Luis Rosario, a Lawrence entrepreneur who owns several businesses including the popular Terra Luna Cafe in the city's downtown. Rosario is among the more than 120 people killed . "He was growing, growing, growing fast," Matias said of Rosario. "Hardworking, somebody that everybody loved in the community." Lawrence City Councilor Jeovanny Rodriguez also knew the restaurant owner, who frequented the Dominican Republic on business, and was taking part in a popular merengue party that's a Monday night tradition for locals, as well as politicians and sports figures. "He's one of the people who wanted to revitalize downtown area in Lawrence, and always active within the community," Rodriguez said. Lawrence mayor Brian DePena took part in raising the Dominican flag Wednesday afternoon as a symbol of hope. In this community, everyone has been touched by what seems the unthinkable.
Boston Globe
09-04-2025
- Boston Globe
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.' Advertisement 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. Advertisement '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
