 The two left Puerto Rico separately , met , and married during World War II after Celina served in the Women 's Army Corps . Juan Sotomayor had a third @-@ grade education , did not speak English , and worked as a tool and die worker ; Celina Baez worked as a telephone operator and then a practical nurse . Sonia 's younger brother , Juan Sotomayor ( born c . 1957 ) , later became a physician and university professor in the Syracuse , New York , area . 
