Pedro Vázquez (politician) explained

Pedro Vázquez
Order1:8th
Office1:Secretary of State of Puerto Rico
Term Start1:1979
Governor1:Carlos Romero Barceló
Predecessor1:Reinaldo Paniagua
Successor1:Carlos S. Quirós
Term End1:1981
Birth Date:December 16, 1934
Birth Place:San Juan, Puerto Rico
Death Date:June 23, 2011 (aged 76)
Death Place:San Juan, Puerto Rico
Party:New Progressive Party
Democratic Party
Spouse:Carmen Iris Alsina
Education:United States Naval Academy (BS)
Allegiance: United States of America
Branch: United States Marine Corps
Rank: Captain

Pedro Rafael Vázquez Rivera (December 16, 1934 – June 23, 2011), served as Puerto Rico's eighth Secretary of State from 1979 to 1981 under Governor Carlos Romero Barceló, Deputy Mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico from 1984 to 1988 under Mayor Baltasar Corrada del Rio and Executive Director of the publicly owned Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) from 1977 to 1979. He was an attorney and engineer.

Public life

A United States Naval Academy graduate in 1957, he served in the United States Marines Corps during the late 1950s and early 1960s. During the Lyndon B. Johnson administration, he served as Deputy Counsel and General Counsel of the United States Department of Commerce. He served in multiple public sector roles at the Federal, state and municipal level, in addition to practicing law, serving as president of the now-defunct El Mundo newspaper and working as a developer and project manager.

During his stint as PREPA's Executive Director, the authority went through one of its most difficult strikes.

As Secretary of State, he not only headed Puerto Rico's Department of State, but fulfilled the role of Lieutenant Governor, serving as Acting Governor whenever Gov. Romero was off the island.

Private life

Born on December 16, 1934, Vázquez died on June 23, 2011, at the age of 76.[1] He was married to the former Carmen Iris Alsina and had three daughters and a son, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, he was interred at the Puerto Rico National Cemetery in Bayamón, Puerto Rico where he was eulogized by his successor, current Secretary of State Kenneth McClintock. Flags flew at half-staff for three days in his honor after his death.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Muere exsecretario de Estado. June 23, 2011. El Nuevo Dia.