It was forty years ago that Robert F Kennedy was gunned down by Sirhan Sirhan with Juan Romero busboy kneeling at his side.

It was 1968 and Bobby Kennedy and his wife were out celebrating the California Primary victory, well on his way to the Presidency. After his speech at the Ambassador Hotel, Robert Kennedy walked through the pantry and kitchen of the hotel where he was to meet with the kitchen staff including a young busboy Juan Romero. Moments later the third young Kennedy* was lost to a Nation by the hand of Sirhan Sirhan (possible; more on that in another article). As Kennedy lay on the floor with Juan Romero busboy leaning over his, rosary in hand it is said that Bobby spoke the now famously unselfish words, “Is everyone alright”.

It’s at that moment that the iconic picture, taken by Bill Epprige, of a wounded Kennedy (he actually died in hospital the next day) lay on the ground with Juan Romero busboy kneeling at his side. Juan Romero actually met the president-in-making the night before. He had traded a lot of dirty work woth a co-worker for the right to make a room service call the night before. Kennedy was known for supporting immigrants like Romero at a time when it was not fashionable so Romero was eager to meet him again and shake his hand (which he apparently did).

Juan Romero busboy did what many immigrants did at that time, moving from job to job until about 1974 when he finally married and settled in the San Jose area. He was contacted on a few occaisions years later by Time magazine. His life was never glamorous but perhaps fulfilling. He has three children, is now a grandfather. Romero worked in the paving business and provided well for his family all while following his own father’s advice that you should never profit from another man’s tragedy. At one point he even declined a paid tuition that was being offered for his story.

For all eternity iconic, presidential hopeful Robert F Kennedy will be engraved in people’s minds alongside a humble simple man representing all that Mr. Kennedy believed in and supported; a good life for all that are willing to work hard.

* The Kennedy clan, while often pictured as a group of three handsome young men, Bobby, John, and Ted, were actually a band of four brothers. Eldest brother Joe Jr. died in an aircraft accident during world war two.