Leopoldo "Pucho" Fernandez dies.

It looks like the Grim Reaper has increased it's workload.

Leopoldo "Pucho" Fernandez, a well known and liked Cuban comedian that came to PR in the 1950's with his father Leopoldo Fernandez "Tres Patines", and worked in a number of comedies during the Sixties, Seventies, Eighties and well into the Nineties, died this morning from respiratory failure. The death was confirmed by his son Leo Fernandez the third, known as "El Paparazzi" in the local media. "Pucho" was 81 years old.

He was admitted to the UPR hospital in Carolina on Saturday after not feeling well in the nursing home he was living in since the year 2000.

His body will be cremated in a ceremony at Celestium on Thursday.

I had the pleasure of knowing Pucho since the 1970's when he used to work on Channel 11 here. A man of infinite jest, humor and wit, he always made fast friends with everyone he came in contact with. Last time I saw him was in a comedy documentary in 2001 when we interviewed him about the state of comedy in PR at that time. Even after all this years, he still recognized me and gave me a warm greeting.

Rest In Peace, my friend.