Jesús “Chu” García, former El Nuevo Día director and sports journalist, dies at 79
The Cuban-born Puerto Rican journalist, known for his column “Chuchazo,” passed away early Friday morning.
The short version
- El Nuevo Día reported that Jesús “Chu” García died early Friday at age 79
- Primera Hora states his death was shared by friend and former sports editor Erick Rodríguez
- Both outlets say he directed El Nuevo Día from 1989 to 1996 and wrote the column “Chuchazo”
- El Nuevo Día and Primera Hora note he was inducted into the Puerto Rican Sports Hall of Fame in 2023
Death announced Friday morning
Jesús “Chu” García, a prominent figure in Puerto Rican sports journalism and former director of El Nuevo Día, died early Friday morning at the age of 79. El Nuevo Día reported that the news was shared by his friend and former sports editor of the newspaper, Erick Rodríguez. Primera Hora reported the same information.
According to both newspapers, García had a long career at El Nuevo Día, where he worked as a journalist, sports editor and director between 1989 and 1996. He continued writing his column “Chuchazo,” which also appeared in Primera Hora, for years after leaving administrative roles.
Career and recognition
El Nuevo Día reported that García’s coverage focused on Puerto Rican and international sports, particularly basketball, boxing and baseball. His column “Chuchazo” was known for a direct, critical and personal style that combined analysis, historical references, humor and commentary on athletes, officials and major events.
El Nuevo Día reported that his contributions to national sports were recognized in 2023 with induction into the Salón de la Fama del Deporte Puertorriqueño. Primera Hora reported the same honor.
Early life
Both outlets report that García was born in Guantánamo, Cuba, to a Puerto Rican father and Cuban mother. El Nuevo Día reported that the family moved to Puerto Rico in 1957 after his father faced danger for opposing the regime of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista. The newspaper cited a 2017 interview with García.
According to both El Nuevo Día and Primera Hora, Puerto Rico became his home and the base for a journalism career that spanned several decades.
Where the sources differ
El Nuevo Día and Primera Hora largely agree on all key facts including the date and time of death, age, career positions at El Nuevo Día, the column “Chuchazo,” the 2023 Hall of Fame induction and basic biographical details. El Nuevo Día provides more detail on his responsibilities at the newspaper, the style and content of his columns, specific sports he covered and the exact reason for the family’s move from Cuba citing a 2017 interview. Primera Hora offers a shorter account but confirms the same core information and attributes the death announcement to Erick Rodríguez.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state the cause of death, the exact time or location of passing, whether there will be public funeral arrangements, or any statements from family members or current El Nuevo Día leadership. They also do not mention any recent health issues or the last time García published a column.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Reporting Fallece el periodista y exdirector de El Nuevo Día, Jesús “Chu” García
- Reporting Fallece el periodista deportivo Jesús “Chu” García
How we checked this
Both El Nuevo Día and Primera Hora reported the death of Jesús “Chu” García on Friday morning. Most biographical and career details rest on the two newspapers’ accounts, with El Nuevo Día supplying the longest narrative and the only reference to a specific 2017 interview.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.