Aida Torres-Rios

Aida M. Torres-Rios passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home in Sun City Center, FL on Thursday, August 26, 2010. She leaves her beloved son Roberto and wife Noreen, two grandchildren (Robert and wife Lisa, and Kim), five great-grandchildren (Evan, Robbie, Julia, Zachary, and Nicholas), her faithful pet Lollypop, and many dear family members and friends, with a truly great legacy. Aída emigrated to New York City from Puerto Rico, married, and raised her family in Yonkers, NY, where she lived for fifty years, until her retirement to Sun City Center,  FL in 1996. She was a dedicated community advocate. Her lifetime achievements and heartfelt community service for the Puerto Rican movement in NY earned her the respect and esteem of those with whom she came in contact. Aída was the recipient of many awards in acknowledgement of her steadfast commitment to community service. For her pioneering, and co-founding work, the Spanish Progress Foundation honored her on September 6, 2003. Among her awards – The NY Governor Mario Cuomo’s Special Certificate, for her twenty-three years of public service in the NY State Department of Labor—Employment Division. Westchester County Executive Andrew P. O’Rourke’s Certificate of Appreciation for her wise guidance as a distinguished member of the Westchester County Hispanic Advisory Board; and Former Yonkers Mayor John D. Spencer’s acknowledgement for Aída’s unique appointment as the first Hispanic female to serve as a Yonkers Human Rights Commissioner. Other awards include the Unity for Service National Exchange Club recognition for cooperation rendered to the Crime Prevention Committee; Distinguished Service Award from the Human Relations Council of Longfellow Junior High School; and the Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, Prince of Peace, Catholic Church Award in 1997, in Sun City Center, FL. A devout Catholic, Aida served as volunteer at St. Peter’s Church in Yonkers for many years; Minister of Consolation/Bereavement and Minister of the Eucharist at Prince of Peace Catholic Church; and Reservation-Telephone Chairperson of the East Bay Christian Women’s Club—Sun City Center.  Her funeral mass was Tuesday, August 31, 2010 at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, followed by interment at the Hillsboro Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home in Brandon. Aída touched the lives of many, was loved by many, helped by many in her later years, and will be remembered by many. A heartfelt thank you to the many–the Rios family.