Obituary of Hilda M. Delgado

Hilda Maria Delgado was born on September 20, 1929, in Ponce, Puerto Rico. She was the first-born child to Jova Dejesus and was raised by her mother and stepfather Segundo Ortiz. She grew up in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, with her parents and four siblings. Hilda passed away at the age of 89 on October 26, 2018, after suffering a sudden heart attack. Hilda traveled to New York City at the tender age of 18. She helped bring her entire family to Brooklyn, New York, in the years that followed, including her grandmother, parents and all of her siblings. Hilda and her husband, Ramon Delgado, raised their children, Jeanette and Ricardo in her beloved Sunset Park community with close family living nearby. On Fridays, the extended family enjoyed “Viernes Social”, where they shared a meal and danced into the night. Hilda was a woman of faith and a humanitarian who cared greatly about others. She was devoted to her family and many friends and always prepared to assist anyone in need. In her early employment as a factory worker, Mrs. Delgado was a union organizer who advocated for the rights of her non-English speaking coworkers. When the factory closed, Hilda shifted from labor organizing to community activism. During the sixties, she quickly became a Sunset Park community leader. With others, she started the Spanish ministry in the Trinity Lutheran Church. Hilda and other community activists opened and operated a storefront known as “Brotherhood” where civic meetings were held, Block Associations were launched and the “Save the Children” program was started. Later, she worked at UPROSE and Manpower. Among her many civic accomplishments was co-founding the Sunset Park Puerto Rican Day Parade. She was very proud of all she accomplished, including her years as a paraprofessional teacher with the NYC Board of Education where she last worked before retiring. Hilda was a renaissance woman, born many years before her time. She handed down her many progressive views to her children. Hilda valued education and instilled this in her children. Regrettably, her son, Ricardo, preceded her in death. Her daughter, the Honorable Jeanette Ruiz, Administrative Judge of NYC Family Court, learned at an early age that being a female was no barrier to what she could achieve in life if she worked hard and committed herself to her goals. Hilda admired and was so elated with “Jeannie’s” successes. A fun and joyous woman Hilda was the life of the party. She was first to get up and dance and join in singing at all kinds of occasions: churches, concerts and parties. Though short in stature, Hilda was huge in spirit, with boundless spunk and courage. In her final years, Hilda lived in Washington Heights and found joy and refuge among her new friends at the Riverstone Senior Life Services. There, she continued to express her joy of music. On Wednesday, her last day at Riverstone, Hilda was dancing and singing her favorite song, “En Mi Viejo San Juan”. Hilda M. Delgado entered into rest on Friday, October 26, 2018, with her loving daughter and grandson at her side. She is survived by her beloved daughter, the Honorable Jeanette Ruiz, and her only grandchild, Ricky Lee Delgado, son of her deceased son Ricardo Delgado; step-granddaughters Jessica Galeas, Stephenie M. Torres and Arielle A. Torres. Mrs. Delgado is also survived by several loving nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and a host of other treasured family members and friends. The family requests that all donations be sent to: Riverstone Senior Life Services 99 Fort Washington Avenue NY, NY 10032 Attn: Carmen Nunez, Director To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Hilda M. Delgado, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.