Gerónimo Lluberas

Lluberas' song "Aguinaldo del cañaveral", in an arrangement by Gary Anderson [20] for symphony orchestra, vocal quartet and tenor soloist, is featured on the CD «Navidad de mi niñez» [21] which was scheduled to be released commercially in October 2011. In addition, Lluberas' is credited as co-composer, along with Christopher Crommett, of the opening song of the «Navidad de mi niñez» CD, entitled "Diciembre, diciembre".

His humanitarian legacy is also evident in the establishment in December 2006 of the Gerónimo Lluberas Collection, a medical library at Hôpital Sacré Coeur in Milot, Haiti. As noted in the text of a plaque on display at the entrance to the Green Tower Satellite Medical Staff Library of WellStar Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, Georgia, the delivery of Lluberas' medical books to the hospital in Milot was made possible by Kennestone Hospital and the Pray It Forward Foundation [9], "in loving memory" of Lluberas, "faithful servant of God, husband, father, physician, teacher and medical missionary to the people of Haiti."

In 2006, HERO Records released a CD of Gerónimo Lluberas' music titled «Butterflies in the Rain Forest/Music for Meditation & Celebration» [13]. It includes performances by, among others, singers J.J. Hobbs [14], Christopher Crommett and Victor Ryan Robertson [15] (credits: Baz Luhrmann's La bohème, Royal Albert Hall, Dallas Opera, and Los Angeles Opera), and arranger/saxophonist Gary Anderson [16], pianist Ed Bolduc [17], trumpeter Forrest Buchtel [18] (credits: Count Basie, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Duke Ellington, Woody Herman, and Malo), arranger/pianist Michael Fauss [19] (Alliance Theatre Company), flautist Cristina Lluberas, and the «Camino de Fe» choir.

In 2002, after he was diagnosed with cancer, he edited the songbook «Camino de Fe, Worship Compositions», a selected anthology of his works. As his illness progressed, he started work on «Suite on a Neutropenic State» for oboe, string quintet and timpani, dedicated "To all on chemotherapy and their loves ones."

At his request, his meditative compositions "Lord, I Surrender to You" (2002) and "On My Knees" (2001) were sung at his funeral.

Influenced by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Georges Bizet, Giacomo Puccini, and forms from his native Puerto Rico, Lluberas wrote the libretto, music and lyrics for a full-length musical theatre work «Butterflies in the Rain Forest, A Christian Musical» (2001), inspired in part by his trips to Haiti.

By April 2000, Lluberas and his teams had delivered basic health care to about 2,300 people in Belle Anse, saved the life of a four-month-old girl with meningitis, and rehabilitated patients with major injuries.

While stranded in the wake of Hurricane Georges during his first mission to Belle Anse, Lluberas documented the impact of the storm on local roads, bridges, water systems, health, housing and agriculture. Lluberas and his team returned to Belle Anse a year later despite safety concerns stemming from political instability in Haiti. Following his third trip, in 2000, Lluberas outlined other initiatives to aid Belle Anse including delivering clothing and equipment, fixing the town's electric generator, upgrading the water supply, building a school and developing a wharf.

In June 2000, Lluberas suggested starting a nonprofit organization to fund future medical missions and sponsor a full-time doctor in Belle Anse. This proposal and Lluberas' comprehensive view of Belle Anse's needs laid the groundwork for the creation in 2003 of the nonprofit HERO (Health & Education Relief Organization) to build clinics, schools and basic infrastructure throughout the country.

By 2000 he was composing music for, and playing the accordion and guitar with, the «Camino de Fe» choir at St. Ann Catholic Church, also in Marietta. He wrote "Camino de Fe" and "By the Lord's Word", among other songs that employed Caribbean rhythms. For use as Parts of the Mass, he composed "Aclamación de las Naciones" and "Amén de las Naciones". In 2001, he began performing at St. Ann's «Opera Night» series.

In 2000, Lluberas received the «Lumen Gentium» (Light of the People) award from Transfiguration Catholic Church, "honoring a parishioner who carries Christ's spirit of love and gentleness into the world". Late in his life, Lluberas taught high school catechism.

Beginning in September 1998, Lluberas organized and led medical relief trips to Belle Anse, Haiti. During their first trip, Lluberas and his team examined about 400 patients with malnutrition, high-blood pressure, and diseases caused by poor sanitation and water pollution, and collected clinical data from 315 of these patients on hypertension prevalence.

In late 1997, Lluberas outlined a plan for medical mission work in Belle Anse, Haiti, that included building an improvised clinic to provide pre-natal care, vaccines for childhood diseases and Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B, rehydration and eye care, and making "house calls" to local chapels. He identified the lack of safe water as the town's major underlying health care problem.

In 1988, he accepted a position at the Lupus Center in Atlanta, Georgia. He later established a private practice in Marietta, Georgia and treated patients with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Paget's disease, ankylosing spondylitis, and Sjögren's syndrome. He was one of the first physicians to use the Prosorba column to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

In 1988 he composed his first piece that is still performed today, the danceable Puerto Rican Christmas song "Aguinaldo del Cañaveral." After joining Transfiguration Roman Catholic Church in Marietta, Georgia, in 1989, he became active in the music ministry, working with conductor Rod Voss. He also furthered his musical training, studying piano, music theory and composition.

In 1985, he co-authored his first professional journal article, on clinical research related to gout.

He married Magali Huertas Amil in 1978 and the couple adopted two children in Bogotá, Colombia: Gerónimo Orlando in 1984 and Cristina Marcela in 1987.

In 1976, after completing his undergraduate degree at the University of Puerto Rico in Río Piedras, Lluberas enrolled in the School of Medicine at the Universidad Central del Caribe. He was a member of the school's first graduating class, earning his MD in 1980.

A devout Roman Catholic, Lluberas' religious beliefs are reflected in his musical compositions. He wrote his earliest known piece, "Amén Jíbaro" (1973), to be sung as The Great Amen (The Doxology) in the Roman Catholic Mass. He based many of his songs on the Psalms, the Gospel of Luke and other Biblical texts. He composed "Meditations on Christ: I. On His Gentle Mastery", for flute and piano; "A Christian Musical" («Butterflies in the Rain Forest»); and a celebration of the birth of Christ ("Aguinaldo del Cañaveral").

Gerónimo "Gerry" Lluberas (January 7, 1956 – May 7, 2003) was a Puerto Rican physician, humanitarian, writer and composer. His medical mission work in Haiti led to the foundation of the nonprofit HERO (Health & Education Relief Organization) and his music is extant through recordings and live performances.