The Passing of Juan A. Paulino, Revered Activist of the Dominican Diaspora in the United States

Juan A. Paulino (Santiago, Dominican Republic, 1931), revered activist of the Dominican Community in the United States, passed away on May 30, 2008. In response to your interest, we are publishing the following piece by Ramona Hernández, Professor of Sociology and Director of the City College of New York’s Dominican Studies Institute, in commemoration of his outstanding commitment to preserve Dominican history and culture.

For many, Don Juan will be remembered for his persistent, relentless leadership during the 1960s and 1970s in making a reality the erection of the first statue of Juan Pablo Duarte in the United States, located at the very beginning of New York City’s Avenue of the Americas.

It is with great sadness that I share with you the news of the passing, on Friday, May 30th, of Juan A. Paulino, a great Dominican man, an important community activist, and cherished friend of the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute.

We came to know Don Juan better when we launched the Dominican Archives four years ago, the first archives dedicated to preserve the historical records of the Dominican people in the United States.  Don Juan became one of the first individuals who recognized the importance and the value of the Dominican Archives for the Dominican people and society at large.  Guided by a great sense of commitment for the preservation of Dominican culture and history, Don Juan came forward and donated all his personal papers and mementos to what was then an unknown institution.  Because of his action, the New York State Archives and New York City Council members Miguel Martínez and Diana Reyna, the Dominican Archives became a reality, a state-of-the- art facility that is the pride of those who believe that all people’s history is worth preserving so that it is not forgotten.  Don Juan was one of the two people who first donated records reflecting their lifelong work as builders of the Dominican community.

As he learned more about the Dominican Archives, Don Juan went further, becoming a supporter and advocate of the work we do, spreading the word and persuading other fellow senior Dominican activists to donate their papers to the Dominican Archives.  At times when his health did not fail him, it was common to find Don Juan sitting at a table, working side by side with the youngsters assigned to work on his collection under the guidance of Don Idilio, a senior member of the Puerto Rican community and the head of the Dominican Archives.   The convergence of those who made our history and those who are currently making it permeates the walls of the Dominican Archives and concretizes the mission of the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute at the City College of New York.

Juan A. Paulino was a Dominican immigrant who came to New York City in 1960 before the great migration wave that unfolded after the Dominican Civil War of 1965.  Soon he began to reach out to fellow Dominicans in the City with the goal of creating organizations and groups like the Club Cívico Cultural Juan Pablo Duarte that would take it upon themselves to preserve Dominican culture and history in the United States.  His efforts, alongside with other pioneers, nurtured a collective memory of the founders of the Dominican Republic and the ideals of national sovereignty. 

After four decades of struggles and experiences accumulated by Dominicans in the United States, we have learned to appreciate the validity and significance of the actions and the message promoted by pioneers like Juan A. Paulino.  He promoted a vision of Dominicans as a people who worked together for a common good, in spite of factional differences.  His insistence on exalting commonality laid the foundation for the development of a mentality of pride about our Dominican heritage. 

For many, Don Juan will be remembered for his persistent, relentless leadership during the 1960s and 1970s in making a reality the erection of the first statue of Juan Pablo Duarte in the United States, located at the very beginning of New York City’s Avenue of the Americas.  The dedication of Don Juan and others like him, in materializing the erection of this palpable, tangible symbol of Dominicanness in New York City will remain forever.  This is a testimony of the wisdom of those who realized early on the importance for immigrant communities to create a collective mentality based on solidarity as a tool to achieve and guarantee the survival of one’s history and culture in the midst of a nation where so many great histories converge.

Director, CUNY DSI & Professor of Sociology, The City College of New York
Wake:  
Gerard J Neufeld Inc.
88-04 43rd Ave.
Elmhurst, NY
(718 424-4000)
Wednesday 6/4/08  7-9pm  & Thursday 6/5/08  2-5 and 7-9pm
Mass: Friday 6/6/08 at 10:15am
St Bartholomew
43-22 Ithaca St.
Elmhurst, NY  (two blocks from funeral home)

More information: http://www1.ccny.cuny.edu/ci/dsi/paulino.cfm

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