Diego, the concierge, was the sternest man around. You couldn't blame him for anything because he was always there bright and early. He would arrive in the morning, donned his frock coat and would watch vigilantly to see when the rest of us arrived. When we were all in our halls he would open the Museum and let the people in. He was always there, right in his place. And I can attest to his sternness because when it came time for my military service I said, "Diego, tomorrow I've got to go in for my military service, so that they can take my measurements." He said, "We'll see." "Very well. I'll just tell the state that I'm not doing my military service because you said not to." "Who told you that?" "You did." "I said, We'll see." But that's what he always said, even about your military service. "We'll see." I thought, "Okay then, I don't get to do my military service".
He began to work at the Museum as an elevator operator, then as a guard and finally, from 1997, as a carpenter for the Museum, which was his true profession.
Interview recorded on December 19, 2017