Rafael Melendez Corner

Grand and Artizan

Photo courtesy Aaron Goode

Rafael Melendez. Photo courtesy of New Haven Independent.

Rafael A. Melendez Sr. was an outstanding leader of New Haven’s Puerto Rican community, breaking barriers in public service and building a network of civic institutions to serve his community. Relocating to Connecticut from Coamo, Puerto Rico, in 1953, he moved to New Haven in 1955 to work as a machine operator at Winchester Repeating Arms Company (following in the footsteps of Gumercindo Del Rio, another pioneer in the Puerto Rican community, who already worked at the gun manufacturer). After leaving Winchester, Melendez embarked on a career of public service. Melendez was one of the first Latinos to pass the civil service exam and become an officer in the New Haven Police Department. Later he became the first Latino foreman at the city’s Department of Public Works, where he worked for more than 32 years until his retirement in 1998. 

As a leader in New Haven’s Puerto Rican community, which doubled in size between 1960 and 1980, Melendez was instrumental in starting Junta for Progressive Action in 1969 along with Gumercindo Del Rio, Pura Delgado, Marcos Ocasio, and Carlos Rodriguez. Junta was the first multi-service agency for the Latinx community in New Haven. Melendez also served as vice president of the Puerto Rican Civic League, vice president of the Spanish-American Club, and as a founding member of the first Hispanic Baseball League. 

The corner of Grand Avenue and Artizan Street, near his longtime home at Friendship Houses co-op, was named for him in 2012. Melendez died in 2015.

Text sources: Rafael A. Melendez obituary. Legacy.com, New Haven Register, July 20-21, 2015, Link; Czepiel, Kathy Leonard. “Joint Venture,” Daily Nutmeg, January 7, 2020, Link; Rierden, Andi. “Puerto Ricans Are Facing Setbacks in New Haven.” New York Times. February 16, 1992, Section CN, Page 12, Link; Sanders, Alexandra. “Pioneer of New Haven’s Latino community, Rafael Melendez Sr., honored with city street corner sign.” New Haven Register. October 1, 2012, Link