STAMFORD, CONN. Helsar Cruz, former dancer for the world-renown Puerto Rican singers, Lucecita Benitez and Iris Chacon, and for the internationally acclaimed Latin Fire Revue, died on Saturday, September 6, 2008. Dr. Gary Blick, HIV specialist and Helsar's former partner for sixteen and a half years, said that he died in Greenwich Hospital, Conn. from complications following a leg fracture suffered two weeks ago. Helsar had bravely battled metastatic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma for almost eighteen months, but had been in complete remission at the time of his death. He was 58. Born in San Juan Puerto Rico on January 28, 1950, Helsar was the son of the late Sarah Gonzalez-Cruz and Helion Cruz. Helsar was only fifteen years old when, in 1964, Lucecita, then unknown, recruited him, world-famous dance choreographer, Papote Varet, and dancers Johnny Popa and Jorge Ricci to be her dancers as she sprung to fame on Puerto Rican TV with her Spanish-language interpretations of popular 1960's hits. Helsar performed with Lucecita and her dance team in 1969 when Lucecita won the best singer award at the Festival de la Cancion Latina (Festival of the Latin Song) in Mexico. Later, in the early 1970's, Helsar joined the Cuban performers, singer Manolo Torrente and dancer Freddy Manjon, creators of the Latin Fire Revue which toured the Americas from Canada to Argentina and became a highly acclaimed extravaganza on the Las Vegas strip in the 1970's and 1980's. Helsar also worked alongside the entertainers Lissette and Chuco Avellanet. Helsar met Dr. Gary Blick, then a medical student at the University of Miami, in 1980 and became Dr. Blick's instrumental force in completing medical school and in deciding to become an HIV Specialist in 1987. In 1981, Helsar discovered his next passion, expressing his artistic abilities as a hair colorist, and, upon moving from Miami to Connecticut, Helsar found his home for the next fifteen years at The New Wave Salon in Greenwich. Helsar may best be remembered for his infectious smile, wonderful sense of humor, and brilliant and dramatic story-telling, keeping all who knew him laughing and always smiling. He was a health and fitness advocate and was in the best shape of his life when he developed lymphoma in 2007. He is survived by his brother, Helion Cruz Gonzalez; sister, Nilsa Cruz Gonzalez; Aunt Ileana Ayala Gonzalez; his extended family including Dr. Blick and his partner, Scott Gretz, and mother, Gloria Blick, and his many friends who knew and loved him, including Carmen Sarkis, Lucecita, and Yvonne Coll in Puerto Rico, Adam Manjuck, Asterios Geranis, and Inge Pelke in CT, Papote Varet of Las Vegas, Willo Font of Font New York photography, and Edgar Marin and Yuri Viltres-Marin of Miami. Helsar's wishes were to be remembered in his healthier days and requested not to have a funeral service. There will be a Mass held for him on Thursday October 9, 2008 at 5:30PM in Iglesia San Jorge, Santurce, Puerto Rico, followed by a Memorial service on Friday October 10, 2008 at 6:00p in Ministerio Sanador Church, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. For more info, call Cuka Sarkis at 787-791-4832. In lieu of flowers, Helsar wished to continue Dr. Blick's work with people with HIV/AIDS, and donations can be made in his name to Mid-Fairfield AIDS Project, 16 River Street, Norwalk, CT 06850. The family has chosen Norwalk's Hoyt-Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 5 East Wall Street to assist them in the arrangements.
To order
memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Helsar Cruz, please visit our
flower store.
