Gustalo “Gus” Nuñez was a Lorain trailblazer.
Nuñez posthumously received a street dedication for his historic accomplishment of becoming the first Hispanic judge in Lorain County.
He also was the first Hispanic Lorain Municipal Court judge.
Nuñez died March 1, 2022. He was 87.
The street dedication took place on Sept. 1 at the corner of East 32nd Street and Globe Avenue, in the neighborhood where Nuñez grew up.
Local leaders including Eileen Torres, president of the Hispanic Fund, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Lorain County, and Joel Arredondo, president of Lorain City Council and Mexican Mutual Society, spoke of the importance of commemorating milestones and celebrating Latino changemakers.
Torres commended Ward 5 Councilwoman JoAnne Moon for spearheading the project recognizing Nuñez.
“This is truly a milestone in Lorain history and particularly in Latino Lorain history,” she said. “At a time where Latinos were not put in the path of education, he decided to go to college and went from being a shoe shine boy to the first Latino judge in Lorain County.”
Lorain Mayor Jack Bradley made an official dedication in honor of the new sign, and accredited his initial footing as a lawyer to Nuñez.
“I probably wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for Gus, and his then partners, giving me my start in the practice of law, and Gus also gave me my first client,” Bradley said. “I will always remember him as someone who helped me in my career, and certainly, helped many others throughout their lives.”
Bradley presented Nuñez’s siblings Luis Nuñez and Becky Wilson with a replica of the street sign.
“This sign is something for you to have as a memory for your brother and all the wonderful things he did for our city,” said Bradley during the presentation. “He was certainly what we call Lorain proud.”
Alexa Nuñez, granddaughter of Judge Gustalo “Gus” Nuñez, gives remarks on behalf of her family during the street dedication Sept. 1, 2023. (Aliah Kimbro — The Morning Journal)Nuñez’ granddaughter Alexa Nuñez spoke on behalf of her family.
Nuñez, a current sophomore at Southwestern University in Texas, said she plans on following in her grandfather’s footsteps and attending law school.
“I’m really lucky to have had such a cool grandfather,” she said. “He wasn’t an astronaut or superhero, but he was a remarkable guy from a small town who wanted to be successful. And us being here today, is proof there was nothing short of success for him.
“I miss him a lot but it’s really hard to be sad about a guy who lived life to the fullest.”
Before he died, Nuñez preserved his family’s legacy by creating an endowment fund as well as presenting his judicial robes to the Lorain Historical Society to keep as part of their archives.
The endowment fund was started at the Community Foundation of Lorain County in the name of his mother, Elena Nuñez, Torres said.
“He began the fund with $5,000 in secret,” she said. “That fund is helping so many Latinos in this county and continues to do good.
“We’re so grateful to celebrate these milestones and will forever remember the name of Judge Gustalo Nuñez.”
