RIP Sonny Aravena

Rolando "Sonny" Aravena passed away on Sunday, March 29th due to COVID-19. It was the day of his twin daughters' 10th birthday. Sonny left behind his wife Melody Aravena and their five children – Amberly, Jayden, Ethan, Ameera and Olivia.

Sonny was born in Spanish Harlem in upper Manhattan. He lived most recently in New Windsor, New York. Tributes to him came to his family from all over as word of his death spread.  “He came from a big and loving community,” his work partner and friend for many years, Marlon Escobar said. “People from a lot of different places all knew and loved him”.
Sonny worked most recently as a splicer out of Exterior Street in the Bronx, serving northern Manhattan. He was in his 26th year at the company.

• Sonny started as a representative in the business office out of Pearl Street.

• When he became a field tech he worked first in the line gang, which was then located in a garage on 38th Street.

• Sonny worked in a lot of locations, including 129th Street, West 54th Street, Nepperhan-Yonkers, Morris Park, West 47th Street, and finally Exterior Street.

• Sonny worked at Ground Zero after 9/11. Marlon, who worked with him for years throughout Manhattan, described him as a ‘selfless and hard-working person.’

Sonny volunteered at the Boys & Girls club of Newburgh. He was basketball coach for the AAU basketball team. He played basketball at Rice High School, so he was well qualified. He taught salsa dancing, and was part of a large and loving community. As Marlon said “Sonny really and truly was a good guy. I never met anyone who didn’t like him. It is such a huge loss.”

RIP Sonny Aravena