René Jaime Amaya Martínez, who was best known as the clown “Rorrito”, died Wednesday.
Channel 66, the television station the clown worked for the last years, regretted the loss in a message posted on Facebook.
“The family of Channel 66 expresses its most sincere condolences to the Amaya Portugal family for the unfortunate death of our beloved René Jaime Amaya Martínez ‘Rorrito’”, said the channel.
Amaya was born 82 years ago in San Antonio Zomeyucan in the municipality of Naucalpan, State of Mexico.
An aspiring dancer and baseball fan, Amaya got his artistic name after female customers who purchased items at the butchery he worked at called him muñeco, or doll in Spanish, given his constant use of suits and ties at work.
The then-rooky clown found a relative similar name — Rorrito, diminutive for rorro, a Spanish nickname women used in the thirties to speak about a nice-looking man.
Amaya began his career almost six decades ago in a circus close to the neighborhood he lived at.
During his career, Amaya worked for some of the most famous circuses in Mexico like Circo Bell’s Hermanos, Circo Gasca and Circo Union.
He also shared stage with Mexican comedians Mario Moreno “Cantinflas” and Manuel Martínez “Palillo”.
Amaya then moved to television. At Televicentro, the company now known as Televisa, he took part at the show Chocolate Lax in Mexico City. He eventually moved to Channel 4 Guadalajara and 42 years ago arrived at Mexicali, launching his show “El Circo de Rorrito” in Televisa’s Channel 3.
Amaya was let go by Televisa in 1999 and immediately visited Luis Arnoldo Cabada, owner and general manager of rival station Channel 66.
Cabada said in a phone interview that a tearful Amaya asked him to consider having the clown’s show at his station. Rapidly, the manager accepted the offer.
“He wanted to keep doing his job. He was part of our family,” Cabada said in Spanish. “He made laugh to children and adults and gave his heart and soul here at Channel 66.”
Recently, Amaya was paid homage at Mexicali’s State Theatre, at which he was absent due to illness.
Last week, Amaya went into surgery and rumors about his health condition went viral on social media.
Cabada recalled that Rorrito took part in every altruistic activity his company held — from Día de Reyes toy delivery to distributing free school items at the beginning of school year and giving a helping hand to the 623 disabled children who receive therapy at the channel’s orthopedic center.
Cabada said “Cara de Carne” –or face of flesh in English, a phrase Amaya jokingly used referring people- was especially involved in an activity called “Mexicali is on its feet” after the Easter Earthquake of 2010, when the station collected and delivered 123 tons of food, water and other items among the most impacted Mexicali Valley residents.
The City of Mexicali considered Amaya part of its Historical Patrimony.
New aerospace plant opens
Barnes Aerospace Mexico announced the opening of a new plant in Mexicali, said the Secretary of Economic Development Carlo Bonfante.
The official said the state has been in touch with the company for several years to facilitate the plant’s installation in the city.
The plant will produce structural components and turbine parts of aluminum and steel.
The company will invest $8 million and will create 50 new jobs.
Barnes Group was founded in Connecticut in 1857 and as of today hast 4,400 employees in 60 locations worldwide.
The company’s Aerospace Division Manufacture Vicepresident John Menchetti thanked the state government for supporting the project.
Panic buttons delivered
State officials delivered panic buttons to 50 residents from different neighborhoods who will now get connected directly with the emergency center.
The state Secretary of Public Safety said these items were distributed among businessmen, school representatives and religious leaders who have been taking part of crime-prevention activities during the year.
The buttons straightly link residents with the center without any interference, the agency said.
Residents can push the buttons during an emergency and an alarm is sent to the center, whose dispatchers will then obtain the exact location of the emergency.
The benefited residents live in areas with the highest crime rates in the city like Valle de Puebla, El Cóndor, Pueblo Nuevo, Baja California, Pasadina and others.
Swimming pool season begins
The City of Mexicali launched the swimming pool season on Tuesday during a special ceremony.
Mayor Jaime Díaz presided the event held at Sports Unit Francisco Villa, attended by students from 20 de Noviembre Elementary School.
The city maintains 14 swimming pools in urban and rural areas.
Sports and Physical Culture Director Valerio Camargo said the entrance cost in urban pools is 10 pesos or $0.58. At rural pools the cost is half that amount.
Swimming pools are open Tuesday thru Sunday from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.
The facilities have personnel to assist in any emergency as well as for appropriate maintenance.
