Later Years and Death
Ruiz began to use illegal drugs and became an alcoholic. During a flight after one of his concerts he attacked a flight attendant. He was arrested and sentenced to three years at the federal prison in Jacksonville, Texas for the incident. Ruiz's last song was "Vuelvo a Nacer", where he describes his errors in life by taking the wrong way and that he declares himself born again. His voice was heard raspy compared to his earlier career due to the effects of his drug use. Frankie Ruiz became ill and was hospitalized on July 11, 1998, after performing at Madison Square Garden in New York City. On August 9, 1998, Frankie eventually died of complications from AIDS at the age of 40, a month after his final concert at Madison Square Garden . Before his burial, his remains were taken to Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, for a memorial service. He was later interred at Fair Lawn Memorial Cemetery in Bergen County, New Jersey.
The city government of Mayagüez later renamed an auditorium next to the "Palacio de Recreación y Deportes" in Ruiz's honor. He is survived by his son, Frankie Ruiz Jr, his two brothers, Viti and Nelson Ruiz, and his wife.
Read more about this topic: Frankie Ruiz
Famous quotes containing the words years and/or death:
“At thirty years a woman asks her lover to give her back the esteem she has forfeited for his sake; she lives only for him, her thoughts are full of his future, he must have a great career, she bids him make it glorious; she can obey, entreat, command, humble herself, or rise in pride; times without number she brings comfort when a young girl can only make moan.”
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“And anyone is free to condemn me to death
If he leaves it to nature to carry out the sentence.
I shall will to the common stock of air my breath
And pay a death tax of fairly polite repentance.”
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