HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — Family and friends surrounded Alegria Latina founder and cohost Lupita Reyes Saturday night at Holland’s VFW Post 2144.
They came to celebrate her impending retirement from the show, but Reyes, in thanking the crowd, reminding them the show “encourages and gets you that music that you love to listen to. That’s what it’s about. It’s not about me.”
Among the stories shared, Reyes recounted having her husband Tino, whom she called “the wind beneath my wings.” She said stepping away from the show is a choice, so she can spend more time with her husband, their five children and grandchildren. (See the photo gallery: https://whtc.com/pictures.)
“But I’m not going to quit advocating. I will advocate,” said Reyes, whose unintentional radio career started when she was dispatched to WHTC’s then-manager, Bill Gargano, to appeal for the radio station to create a program that would serve Holland’s Latino community. He agreed, but said she’d have to host, which started her 57-year-broadcasting career. Her last official show is Dec. 12, 2021, on 927 The Van.
During the party, four of her five children made short speeches praising her as a mom, wife, and community leader. She said one of her two sons was unable to attend, because he has COVID-19.
Her children presented her with framed art, of Alegria Latina’s first official poster.
They also surprised her with a presentation of a commendation letter from the Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan. The letter, signed by the commission’s executive director, Isabel Montemayor-Vazquez, Ph.D., praises Reyes for creating a show that “led thousands of Latinx across the state to have access to information in a reliable and timely fashion.”
WOOD-TV reporter Ruben Juarez reported on Reyes’ career and impending retirement in a story that aired on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021: https://www.woodtv.com/news/ottawa-county/holland-radio-host-lupita-reyes-retiring-after-5-decades-on-air.
On Nov. 23, 2021, Ottawa County Commission honored her with a resolution. Holland City Council is set to honor her on Dec. 15.
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