Jose “Rafo” Guzman

Jose “Rafo” Guzman, age 75 of Paterson, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, October 26, 2021 while vacationing in the Dominican Republic.

Jose was born and raised in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, the firstborn child of Fenelon Guzmán and Rafaela Antonia Guzmán.

When Jose was just seventeen, he moved to the United States seeking steady employment and a better life. He started as a humble dishwasher, then he worked at the Marcal Paper Products Company in Elmwood Park. Eventually, Jose opened his own bodega-styled grocery store on Church Street in Paterson. He called his store Guzman Grocery and, through hard work and a lot of determination, he enjoyed such great success that, in 1982 he was able to sell his business at age thirty four and move back to the Dominican Republic where he enjoyed a life of leisure for almost ten years. In 1991, he returned to the USA and again settled in Paterson and took a job with Drake’s Bakeries in Wayne. By the time he retired for good at age 66, Jose had worked for Drakes for over twenty years and, as a supervisor, he had earned the love and respect of all his colleagues.

One day while visiting his home country, Jose spotted a beautiful woman who was a teacher in the elementary school. She was enjoying a cigarette while outside for a break when he laid eyes on her. Greatly desiring to meet her, Jose asked a friend to approach her for a cigarette for him. The funny thing was that Jose didn’t even smoke! He would soon learn that her name was Zunilda Mercado and that encounter marked the beginning of a whirlwind romance with marriage coming a mere twenty-seven days later! They exchanged their wedding promises before God, family and friends on Saturday, September 28, 1968 at the Sagrado Corazon de Jesus (Sacred Heart of Jesus) Church in El Mamey Los Hidalgos, Dominican Republic. After a honeymoon at the El Nuevo Suiza Hotel in Constanza, Dominican Republic, Zunilda stayed in the D.R. to work on getting her immigration paperwork so that she could join Jose who had returned to the United States. Over the course of the next six years, Jose and Zunilda became the proud parents of three children – Jose, Jr., Zuni, and Patricia.

Jose was one of the most loving and giving persons you could ever imagine meeting. He single handedly helped more people in their quest to gain citizenship in the U.S. and he would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it.

Jose loved a good time! He enjoyed watching his New York Yankees and he liked getting a bunch of people together to play dominos. He derived great pleasure from playing bingo with his sisters-in-law. His strategy was always the same – play till he’d have all their money, then quit. Then he would stack all the quarters he won right in front of them just to good-heartedly rub it in that he beat them again. With a smile that could light up a room he was the life of the party and an accomplished dancer of the merengue and bachata. Parties were his passion. As his son-in-law Chris would always say, “Any excuse to roast a pig was a good enough excuse for Jose.”

Above all else, Jose’s family was the dearest blessing in his whole life. He adored Zunilda and always treated her like a queen. They renewed their wedding vows on both their 40th and 50th wedding anniversaries and had big receptions at the Grand Chalet and the Venetian respectively after each. For their 50th, they also went on another honeymoon – a cruise to Colombia. They traveled the world together visiting places including Alaska, Columbia, much of Europe, Israel, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Portugal, France, Turkey, Egypt, and India. They were planning a trip to Japan but cancelled due to the Covid pandemic. Every year they would spend at least two months back in the Dominican Republic. They loved being together on cruises with their children and grandchildren and also many times with close friends. Jose adored his grandchildren and never missed any of their events or performances.

With his loving smile and always optimistic demeanor, Jose was a joy to know. He was loved by all because he showed sincere love to all. He cared deeply about his family and was always looking out for their best interests. He will be truly missed by those who had the blessing of sharing in his wonderful life.      

Jose was the beloved husband of Zunilda, blessed in marriage for 53 years. He was the most loving father of Jose Guzman, Jr. and his companion Tara Rodriguez of Paterson, Zuni and husband Gadi Piran of Upper Saddle River, and Patricia and husband Chris Storzillo of Wayne; adoring grandfather of nine grandchildren; proud great-grandfather of one great-grandchild (and one on the way); eldest and dear brother of numerous sisters and brothers; and dear uncle of countless nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his loving parents -Fenelón and Rafaela Antonia Guzman.