PILSEN — Before Rodolfo "Rudy" Aviña's life tragically came to an end Saturday, he spent decades creating in the Pilsen neighborhood he called home.
"He loved music, the arts, and he loved people," close friend Eleazar Delgado said. "No matter who you were, he found a way to connect with you."
Rudy Aviña spent decades creating in Pilsen. In October, he worked with a close group of friends to create a mural to remember fallen war reporter James "Jim" Foley. [Remembering Rudy Facebook page]
Aviña's life of 43 years came to a end early Saturday when his throat was slit in a violent, unprovoked attack at Simone's Bar, 960 W. 18th St. in Pilsen.
Ulises Almaraz, 29, of Berwyn, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death. In bond court Sunday, prosecutors said Almaraz was angry after seeing his girlfriend talking to Aviña, whom she knew.
Aviña may have died on 18th Street, but he lived a creative, giving life on the Pilsen strip, too.
Delgado, owner of Cafe Jumping Bean, 1439 W. 18th St., met the "outgoing" Aviña 21 years ago when he was first opening the cafe. Aviña lived in an apartment behind the shop.
The two men got along right away.
"Back then we were both really young. I was 26, he was in his early 20s," Delgado remembered. "He welcomed us to the neighborhood. He always wanted to help out."
In the two decades that have passed, Delgado has seen Aviña nearly everyday since. Aviña stopped in Cafe Jumping Bean daily to order his usual — a large black coffee with a few ice cubes and a bagel.
'Came up together'
In the ensuing years, the close friends saw each other through good times and bad.
"I went to his wedding, he came to my wedding. I saw his kids grow up. Saw him buy a house, go through a divorce. Still, he was the same old Rudy," Delgado remembered. "We came up together."
They saw their neighborhood change, and started businesses a year apart.
A professional framer, Aviña opened Creativo Framing, now at 750 N. Franklin St. on the Near North Side, in 1995. Delgado opened Cafe Jumping Bean in 1994.
Late Monday, a note posted on the Creativo's website said that the shop would be temporarily closed "due to unforeseen circumstances" until further notice.
While in business, Aviña framed a lot of the artwork that now hangs in the National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th St., said Jessica Priego, museum spokeswoman.
A professional framer, Rudy Aviña opened Creativo Framing in 1995. [Museum of Mexican Art]
He also framed all of the artwork in Delgado's cafe and house.
"When we started out, we were broke. [Through the years] we had the homie discount," Delgado remembered.
Aviña was creative, too.
On a Facebook page dedicated to his memory, friends remember Aviña participating in drum circles. Aviña's daughter, Mia Aviña, wrote that her father was always "jamming," "laughing," "smiling."
In October, Aviña was among a group who created a mural on 18th Street in remembrance of war correspondent James "Jim" Foley, who also had lived in Pilsen. While reporting on the Syrian Civil War, Foley was abducted and eventually killed by ISIS members last August.
The mural covers a full wall at Pilsen Vintage and Thrift, 1430 W. 18th St.
Aviña and Foley were close friends, said April Goble, Foley's former girlfriend. Rudy was one of the "most gentle and kind souls you'd ever meet," she said.
"His house in Pilsen sort of became everyone's home," Goble said. "We all feel lucky to have known him."
Stephanie Lulay discusses Avina's connection to Foley:
Rudy Aviña (l.) was among a group who created a mural on 18th Street in remembrance of war correspondent James "Jim" Foley. The two were close friends. [James Foley Pilsen Mural Facebook]
'It was senseless'
In 21 years of friendship, there are a lot of ordinary days, too.
"There were busy days, days that I just saw Rudy in the line, but he'd make a joke and then everything was alright," Delgado said Monday.
In tight-knit Pilsen, Delgado's lost other customers to cancer and violence.
"I've had my share of bad things happen, but I still can't grasp the fact that it is Rudy," he said. "In a bar, 12:30 at night, full house? He was a regular there. He was comfortable there. He didn't have to worry."
Aviña was the guy that would give anyone a hand, a bright person that brought energy to any room, Delgado said.
"The way he went out... it was senseless," Aviña's friend said. "It's just a shame that person like that has left us."
A makeshift memorial dedicated to Rodolfo "Rudy" Aviña's memory stands outside Simone's Bar Monday. Aviña died after an unprovoked attack in the Pilsen bar early Saturday. [DNAinfo/Stephanie Lulay]
Desiree Grant, co-owner of Simone's Bar, declined to comment Monday.
Aviña is survived by his girlfriend Erin Beckman, three children and loving friends and family.
Friends are hosting an informal celebration of his life at 7 p.m. Saturday at Citlalin Gallery, 2005 W. Blue Island Ave. in Pilsen. Donations to Rudy's funeral fund can be made online.
Friends write chalk messages in remembrance of Rodolfo "Rudy" Aviña, who died in an unprovoked attack early Saturday at Simone's Bar in Pilsen. [DNAinfo/Stephanie Lulay]
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