María Teresa Castillo

María Teresa Castillo
Black and white portrait of a woman in white background
Castillo in 2012
Personal details
Born(1908-10-15)October 15, 1908
Cúa, Miranda, Venezuela
DiedJune 22, 2012(2012-06-22) (aged 103)
Venezuela
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1946; died 1985)​
Children
  • Miguel Henrique Otero
  • Mariana
Alma materCentral University of Venezuela
Occupation

María Teresa Castillo (October 15, 1908 – June 22, 2012) was a Venezuelan journalist, politician, political activist, human rights activist, and cultural entrepreneur. She was the founder of the Caracas Athenaeum, a leading cultural institution which promotes the arts of Caracas.[1] She also served as the president of Caracas Athenaeum from 1958 until her death in 2012.[1] Castillo, a proponent of human rights, also played a major role in the formation of Amnesty International's Venezuelan chapter in 1978.[1]

Biography

María Teresa Castillo was born on October 15, 1908, in a hacienda, called "Bagre," in Cúa, Miranda State, Venezuela.[1] She graduated from the School of Social Communications at the Central University of Venezuela.[1]

In 1934, Castillo emigrated to New York, United States, where he worked in a factory as a seamstress. After she tried to stay in this country but their efforts are futile because she was syndicated as a revolutionary.[2]

In 1989, she was elected to the Venezuelan Chamber of Deputies, the former lower house of the national legislature.[1] As deputy, Castillo served as the first President of the Chamber's Permanent Commission on Culture.[1] She was also a member of the Chamber's Committee on Regional Development during her tenure.[1]

Castillo married Venezuelan journalist, Miguel Otero Silva, in 1946.[1] They had two children, Miguel Henrique Otero, the current editor of El Nacional newspaper, and Mariana.[1][3]

Death and legacy

María Teresa Castillo died in Caracas on June 22, 2012, at the age of 103.[1]

In Salou, Catalan province of Tarragona, there is a street named after Maria Castillo. The street is called Carrer de Maria Castillo.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Roche Rodríguez, Michelle (2012-06-22). "María Teresa Castillo: 103 años dedicados al progreso de Venezuela". El Nacional (Caracas). Retrieved 2012-06-22.
  2. ^ María Teresa Castillo, luchadora democrática (July 28, 2011). "El ABC de María Teresa Castillo – Luchadora democrática y promotora cultural" [The ABC of Maria Teresa Castillo - democratic and cultural promoter Luchadora]. abcdelasemana.com (in Spanish). abcdelasemana.com. Archived from the original on June 4, 2016. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  3. ^ Durand, Irelis (2012-06-22). "Manifestaciones de pesar por el fallecimiento de María Teresa Castillo". El Nacional (Caracas). Archived from the original on 2012-06-22. Retrieved 2012-06-22.