"I'm so glad I was able to meet you I hope that someday we get to meet again I enjoy the stories you & dad told me Rip tio"
A loving Father, Agapito "Popi" Nieves died peacefully with his daughters Lisa & Lori by his side on Monday October 5, 2015 in Sunrise, Florida. He was 88 years old.
Popi is survived by his children, Lori Ann Nieves, of Sunrise FL, Agapito Nieves Jr. -Arroyo, Puerto Rico, Sonia Nieves of Brooklyn, N.Y. & Elizabeth Ann Nieves, Sunrise Florida. His brothers and Sisters, Joe Nieves, Brooklyn N.Y. , Sixto Nieves of San Sebastian , Puerto Rico and Margarita Nieves, Chicago IL. Popi is preceded in death by his loving wife of 40 years, Linda Heltsley Nieves of Ft. Lauderdale, FL and his son James Michael Nieves of Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
Popi was born on April 30, 1927 in San Sebastian, Puerto Rico to Lorenzo & Venancia Nieves. At the age of 8, and due to the untimely death of his father, Popi started working in the Sugar Cane fields alongside his brother Sixto for a local farmer. He continued this hard working lifestyle until the age of 26, when he had the opportunity to come to the United States and work in a Brooklyn New York factory making women's sportswear. Popi was a very hard worker, and exceled in any job given to him. He eventually left the factories and went on to work for his uncle who had a small Bodega in Brooklyn. This is where he taught himself to read and write, and after many long days and nights of hard work, and with his winning personality, he was able to convince the product vendors in helping him open his own store. The location of this Bodega was directly below the apartment of a beautiful woman named Linda. They were married in Brooklyn and eventually moved to Fort Lauderdale in 1973, where they made their home.
Popi was accomplished at gardening and was often told that anything he put in the ground would grow. He was a generous individual who loved giving and often did. Not one person who visited him left empty handed. He loved his cats and even learned to love dogs! He always said he could not understand how anyone could be cruel to these loving creatures. Popi was extremely passionate about his music. From Trios, to Ranchero and every other Latin music there is, he absolutely loved it. His collection of record albums was the only possessions he carried with him to the U.S. and he knew every song by heart, and whenever and wherever he could, he would sing. It did not matter if the time or place was appropriate, when he felt it, he just did it and it was always glorious. He loved to cook and taught his family all the traditional methods of cooking from Puerto Rico. He shared his stories with all, and they were never tiresome, as with each telling another piece of the puzzle was put into place. Always looking at life with a touch of humor, he could joke and spit out one liner's with the best of them. The name Agapito means beloved, or "one that is loved" and he truly lived up to his name. He will be missed.
"I'm so glad I was able to meet you I hope that someday we get to meet again I enjoy the stories you & dad told me Rip tio"
"I remember living in Chicago when my uncle came to stay with us. I was about ten. He gave me a special toy doll called Beany Boy. It could talk when you pulled a string. I enjoyed playing with it all the time. I don't remember seeing him as I grew up because we lost contact. I did feel good knowing he was somewhere with his family. My mom shared stories of their childhood and I felt I knew him and always loved him. I am glad that mom got to find him later on in life. I trust that he is now in a happier place with God. May he rest in peace. "