Nilda Roman Perez was married to Hector Lavoe, a renowned salsa performer. She was well known as Puchi. Cuban-American activist Nilda Roman Perez fought for the Cuban Revolution. Hector Lavoe, a well-known singer, died in 1993, leaving his wife, Nilda Puchi Lavoe, by herself. Until she too went away in 2002, his wife continued to live as a single widow for a very long time.