Lionel J. Aguilar

February 9, 1930 - March 31, 2022

Lionel Julian Aguilar beloved husband, father, and grandfather died on Thursday, March 31, 2022. He was 92. Lionel was born in Havana, Cuba on February 9, 1930. While in Cuba Lionel was employed as a mail courier and radio DJ. He met his future wife, Gabina while delivering mail to a home where she was the maid. In 1959 Lionel married Gabina. Lionel and Gabina had 2 children and were married for 61 years. In 1961 at the start of communism in Cuba Lionel and Gabina left Cuba to come to the United States and arrived in Miami, Florida. As refugees they began looking for work. Lionel‘s first job was washing dishes in a restaurant. As the years passed, he would have many different jobs in Miami and Lufkin, Texas. In 1967 Lionel moved his family to Orlando, Florida. He was employed by the Winter Park Telephone company as a central office installer. He worked there for 28 years retiring in 1995. The company’s name was Sprint at the time of his retirement in 1995. Even while working at the telephone company, Lionel still had a love for music and radio. In 1972 he purchased airtime at a local radio station. The 30 minute program was the first Spanish-speaking radio program in Orlando. His show was called “La Guapachosa”. The program was later expanded to two hours on Sundays. He spun records and sold airtime advertisements to local Hispanic businesses. In 1972 Lionel and Gabina both became US citizens. Lionel loved the United States of America and lived the American dream. They both came to the US not knowing how to speak the language and with little education. They worked hard to provide for their family and live the dream. He was retired for 26 years. Lionel enjoyed traveling and took his family on vacations to many cities in the US and abroad. He also enjoyed drawing and making wooden trolleys. Lionel is survived by his wife Gabina Aguilar, daughter Frances Aguilar, son Lionel Alexander Aguilar. grandsons Tyler Aguilar and Chase Aguilar. daughter of in-law Tareen Decker. The family of Lionel Aguilar invites you to leave a message of condolence on the Tribute Wall created in his loving memory. Services are pending at this time.