The tight-knit community of Lawrence, Massachusetts, is mourning the loss of Fray Luis Rosario, a local restaurateur, after a deadly roof collapse at the Jet Set nightclub in the Dominican Republic. According to WCVB, Rosario was killed during a merengue concert held at the venue, leaving behind a legacy as the owner of Terra Luna Cafe in Lawrence and Terre Negra Cantina in Providence, Rhode Island.
Luis Cabrera, remembering the beloved entrepreneur, shared with WCVB, "He was a very honest, good guy. He went out of his way to help others." The shock waves from this tragedy have resonated deeply within Lawrence, a city where approximately 65 percent of the population has Dominican roots. A statement released by Lawrence Mayor Brian DePeña, expressed poignant sorrow: "On behalf of the City of Lawrence, I extend my deepest condolences to the victims and families affected by the tragic collapse of the roof at Jet Set discotheque in the Dominican Republic."
Local radio host Santiago Matias is among those in a state of limbo, waiting for news of his sister, Florinda Rojas. As reported by CBS Boston, Matias has been enduring an agonizing wait since the catastrophe, with his sister's children standing vigil amidst the rubble. "They been there the whole time," Matias told WCVB, speaking of the unrelenting dedication of Rojas' children in the search. "No time to eat, rest, nothing like that."
Amidst their own grief, members of the Lawrence community are reaching out in shared solidarity. The city plans to memorialize the victims with a vigil set to be held near City Hall. Joining Lawrence in its time of bereavement, baseball Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez, with close familial ties to the Dominican Republic and to some who were present at Jet Set nightclub during its collapse, took to Instagram to express his sorrow, as detailed by WCVB: "Our hearts are with you, and we all are affected. I still have family members that are still in the (rubble), and we don’t know what happened to them, but we just want to be strong like we have always been." Baseball also lost two former players, with the collapse claiming the lives of ex-MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel and minor league first baseman Tony Blanco.
In the wake of this disaster, the shared heritage and collective loss have shown that tragedy transcends borders, connecting a Massachusetts town with Santo Domingo. With hopes for miracles and the return of the missing, the community stands united, supporting each other as they face the difficult days ahead.
