Eddie López (journalist)

In 1972, The Best of Eddie Lopez, a collection of his columns selected by Lopez himself, was published by Ediciones Puerto, Inc. with a prologue by Juan M. Garcia-Passalacqua. This collection is a great sampler of the wit and humor of this very funny man. A master of spoofs and plays on words of current events. A few of the articles especially the one entitled "Political Verbiage" is timely today.

Eddie died on November 26, 1971, in San Juan, Puerto Rico at the rather young age of 31. His last shows were done from a wheelchair -with an oxygen tank by his side,- and his very last show occurred three days before his death. He managed to make people laugh until the end, and only felt sorry that he could not do more.

The string of sold-out shows in late 1968 turned into a sensation. Using his charismatic sense of humor, Eddie López managed to get sworn political enemies into one room and have them all laugh at themselves. The strategy worked, and some claim the show helped ease political tension in Puerto Rico.

In 1966 he advanced to city editor until one year later, when by his own choice he became a special writer and full-time columnist.

His first job after leaving college was at El Mundo newspaper in 1959, where he worked for two years prior to joining The San Juan Star in July 1961. He worked as a reporter until 1963 when he was named assistant city editor.

Manuel Eduardo López Rolón a.k.a. Eddie López (1940–1971) was a Puerto Rican journalist.

Eddie López was born in Fajardo, Puerto Rico in 1940, the son of Manuel López Canals (former employee of the Department of Agriculture/Forest Service) and Teresa Rolón Perez (home maker). Brother to María Esperanza Teresa López Rolón, who was then born in 1953. He lived in Fajardo, Mayagüez, Toa Alta, Bayamón and Guaynabo where he finally settled with his wife and two boys until his death. He attended Santa Rosa High School in Bayamón, and did two years at Notre Dame University in Indiana.