Ruben Avarez excelled as a student at Olney Charter High School. He was in advanced placement courses and on the debate team, and he was awarded a full scholarship to Bloomsburg University upon graduation in 2016.
Rather than enrolling right away, though, Ruben, whom everyone called “June,” decided to take a year off. One year turned into two, then three.
Last year, Ruben worked up the courage to tell his mother something he had kept hidden for a few months: His girlfriend was expecting.
“He walked in the door and gave me the ultrasound paper and said, ‘You’re going to be a grandmom,’’ said his mother Maria Perez. “I couldn’t believe it. I thought he was playing.”
His daughter Dream was born Dec. 24, 2019, three days after Ruben’s 22nd birthday. Becoming a father prompted him to make changes in his life, and he vowed to finally enroll in college.
He made a deal with Maria: After she graduated from Eastern University (which just happened a few weeks ago) he would enroll in Temple University for business this fall.
But Ruben wouldn’t have that opportunity. He was shot and killed April 18, 2020 in West Kensington. Police have not made any arrests.
“Having his daughter made him slow down in so many things, that’s why we were so shocked about what happened to him,” Maria said. “He was little by little trying to change his ways and trying to do better.”
Maria had Ruben when she was 15, and they grew up together. He was her motivation to get up every morning for school and do everything possible to make sure he had a future.
A movie Ruben watched as a child, “Lilo & Stitch,” has a line that goes: “Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind.” He took that to heart, and he did all he could to be there for his family.
Ruben had three younger siblings, including his brother Alexander Santa, who is 20. Ruben was his go-to person whenever he needed to talk, or when he wanted to play video games like Grand Theft Auto. Ruben took responsibility for him and other family members as well as his friends.
“He was the one person who made sure his family is good, no matter what it took,” he said. “He had his flaws, but he really held the whole family together.”
He helped Krystle Cadle, his aunt by choice, not by blood, get into a new home, and he always managed to cheer her up when she was down by being his goofy, playful self.
He was meticulous about his appearance and kept his car, his living space and his clothes as clean and neat as possible.
Ruben loved a good debate, too. He knew his facts and he’d argue anything, saying, “I’ll wait while you look it up and tell me I’m wrong.”
His daughter is now four months old, and his family watches her often. Krystle said he would have been a great father.
“One of his biggest fears was not being around to watch his daughter grow up,” she said.
Maria said her son would want to be remembered as a loyal person who stood by his word and, most importantly, loved his family more than anything.
A reward of up to $20,000 if available to anyone that comes forward with information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for Ruben’s murder. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling the Citizens Crime Commission at 215-546-TIPS.
Date: 2020-04-18
Location: 2800 N Mutter St, Philadelphia, PA
