Oscar Collazo - Early Life

Early Life

Collazo (birth name: Oscar Collazo López ) was born in what is now Florida, Puerto Rico. In 1920, Collazo's father died and his mother sent him to live with his brother in Jayuya. His brother was a member of the Liberal Party which had independence beliefs. When Collazo was 14 years old, he participated in a student demonstration, which was considered illegal, commemorating the birth of José de Diego. In 1932, when Collazo was 18 years old, he again participated in another demonstration commemorating José de Diego. This time however, the main speaker was Pedro Albizu Campos, the president of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party. That day he was so impressed by Albizu Campos' leadership that he joined the Nationalist Party.

In 1941, Collazo moved to New York City where he met and married Rosa Cortez, a divorcee. Rosa had two daughters and Collazo had one daughter, both from a previous marriages. Collazo worked in a metal polishing factory and led a normal life. He met and became friends with Albizu Campos when the latter was hospitalized at the Columbus Hospital. Collazo became the secretary and later president of the New York branch of the Nationalist Party. Collazo met Griselio Torresola in New York and they soon became friends.