Juan Romero, Busboy Who Cradled Dying RFK, Dies At 68

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: NPR

REMEMBRANCES

Juan Romero, Busboy Who Cradled Dying RFK, Dies At 68

October 4, 2018 1:22 PM ET



Juan Romero earlier this year at his home in Modesto, Calif., holding a photo of himself and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, taken by The Los Angeles Times' Boris Yaro on June 5, 1968. Romero died this week at age 68.

Jud Esty-Kendall/StoryCorps

On June 5, 1968, hotel busboy Juan Romero raced to congratulate Sen. Robert Kennedy moments after his victory in the California presidential primary. He had met the candidate the day before, bringing him room service at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.

As Kennedy briefly paused to shake the hand of the 17-year-old, a man named Sirhan Sirhan gunned down Kennedy in front of Romero. A remarkable photograph captured the scene: young Romero, an immigrant from Mexico, cradling the glassy-eyed Kennedy, member of an American political dynasty.

Romero died on Monday at age 68. A friend, Rigo Chacon, told the Los Angeles Times that Romero had died following a heart attack he suffered a few days earlier. ... Romero spoke to StoryCorps earlier this year and recounted the events of that night -- a night that would haunt him for decades.

"I kneeled down to him and I could see his lips moving, so I put my ear next to his lips and I heard him say, 'Is everybody OK?' I said, 'Yes, everybody's OK.' I put my hand between the cold concrete and his head just to make him comfortable." ... "I could feel a steady stream of blood coming through my fingers," Romero said. "I remember I had a rosary in my shirt pocket and I took it out, thinking that he would need it a lot more than me. I wrapped it around his right hand and then they wheeled him away."
....

StoryCorps producer Jud Esty-Kendall contributed to this report.

Read more: https://www.npr.org/2018/10/04/654282422/juan-romero-busboy-who-cradled-dying-rfk-dies-at-68

---

Hat tip, commenter KCMC at Joe.My.God: http://www.joemygod.com/2018/10/04/beloved-nyc-figure-ms-colombia-found-dead/

Previously at DU:

The teenager who cradled RFK as he lay dying

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10028061889

[hlthe2b]

1. I frequently reread the stories of his time with RFK each anniversary of the assasination...

So poignant. This was a very kindly man and his experience never left him. I always thought it should bring some comfort to Ethel and the family, that Juan Romero was there to press his rosary into Bobby's hand and to be there with him.

RIP, Mr. Romero. You deserve your time at peace.

[irisblue]

2. 🕯️

[Bayard]

3. A good man

[ADX]

4. Rest in peace, Mr. Romero...

[Tom Rinaldo]

5. A beutiful song about Juan Romero written by a friend, Tom Pacheco

He is an amazing songwriter with a couple dozen albums out. Tom was present outside the hotel when RFK was shot, he was a very young member of the campaign staff at the time.

I an very sad to hear of Juan's death.

[milestogo]

19. Beautiful. Thanks for posting.

[Hekate]

6. RIP, Mr. Romero, and thank you from all of us

[Calista241]

7. This was before my time, but a very powerful picture. n/t

[Lunabell]

8. RIP

[Zorro]

9. I'm beginning to think this country may have died when RFK was assassinated

His death removed a passionate and articulate challenger to Republican orthodoxy. This country remains suffering the effects of Nixon's election and the subsequent ascendency of Ailes, Buchanan, Rumsfeld, Cheney, and Reagan in influencing the direction of current national policy.

RIP Juan Romero.

[calimary]

13. Ain't it the truth.

Feeling like that a LOT these days, my friend.

RIP Juan Romero.

[stuffmatters]

16. Yes, RFK would have won the presidency & the antidemocracy GOPers not given a foothold

Our national policies and our national character would be so different today.

[NBachers]

10. As a wave of sorrow and regret washes over me once again. It has never really gone away.

[polmaven]

11. RIP Mr. Romero

[StarryNite]

12. R.I.P.

[DinahMoeHum]

14. .

[NHDEMFORLIFE]

15. Was only 10 years old

But I remember it vividly, particularly the train carrying him from New York to Arlington. I've never seen such an outpouring of grief since, even from some people who disagreed with his politics.

[potone]

18. Me too.

[milestogo]

17. What a sad photo, sad day in our history.

[alphafemale]

20. Mr Romero lost parts of his fingers on his right hand.

That is one sign of of a tough life.

What do you bet they docked his pay for leaving to get sewed up and expected him back the net day?