Luis Rolando Maza-Sanchez

Luis R. Maza, son of Manuel Maza Escudero and Martina (Feliciana) Sanchez Esquerra, was born
on October 7, 1935 in Cardenas, Cuba. The Cuba of his childhood was very different from the
Cuba of today. He was a boy scout, a drum major, and, as a young adult, he played trumpet in a
luxury hotel orchestra on his beloved Varadero Beach. In 1957, he met Richard Munroe, “Dick,”
who was vacationing there with his two young sons. Their bond was immediate and Dick
convinced Luis to bring his dashing good looks and endless creative talent to live with him and
his family in Quincy, Florida, a small southern town near Tallahassee where they first became
involved with the theatre. A few years later, they moved to Atlanta, Georgia where they
cofounded the Pocket Theater on Courtland Street. Always pioneers, they bought a home in
Midtown in 1966, confident in their vision of what Midtown could and would become in the
next 50 years. They were together for over 3 decades until Dick’s death in 1991. Luis
remained at the Midtown home and that was where, surrounded by loving family and friends,
he died peacefully in his sleep on April 25, 2019. Theirs was a home that celebrated diversity,
tolerance, and compassion.
Throughout their lives, Luis and Dick were mentors to creative minds in both the arts and
academia. After closing the Pocket Theater, they opened Luis Maza studios, a design studio that
continued to create theatre sets in addition to other varied projects including restaurant
interiors, sets for local news outlets, and design work for amusement parks and storefronts. In
the 1970s, Luis taught scenic design at Spelman College to many now famous actors including
Sam L. Jackson, LaTanya Richardson, and Billy Nunn. His creative genius was evident in all of
those pursuits but also in everything he touched to include the furniture and chandeliers that
he made, the home he designed, and the amazing parties that were famous among his long list
of friends and family.
Always an important member of Dick’s very large family, Luis was separated from much of his
family because of Castro’s rise to power. His sister and her family immigrated to the US in the
early 1960s and Luis was able to watch her family grow and thrive. His brother’s family did not
arrive in the US until the 1980s. His ultimate joy was that he was able to reunite with them as
well. They all loved “tio” and were all a big part of his life until his death.
In the late 1990s, Luis met Ron Young who became his lifelong friend and companion until
Luis’s death. Luis’s family will be forever grateful that he had such a loving friend in his life, a
friend who tirelessly supported Luis in good times and in bad. They traveled together for two
decades and especially loved their trips to the West Coast and the Miami area to visit with Luis’
family.
Luis is survived by many people: his dear friend Ron Young, his sister Aida Maza Martinez and
her husband Otoniel; his nephew Oto Martinez (wife Jeannie and their children Anna and
Duncan — his very special phone friend); his nephew Sam Martinez (wife Monica Van Beusekom
and their children Saskia and Nico); the daughters of his deceased brother Manuel Damaso
Maza (Gladys) aka the “chick-a-boom” nieces, Aida Alentado and Lissete Montes De Oca (her
children Felipe and Lucas); Dick’s sons Richard Munroe (Jennifer Ripman) and Jan Munroe
(Frances Conroy); Dick’s niece Bobbie Dow Munroe; his loving friend Javier Flores; and a host of
extended family and friends.
Luis always loved having parties. Plans will be made in the coming months for a gathering to
celebrate his life. As Luis would say, “I love it already.”