Enrique Laguerre

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Enrique Arturo Laguerre Vélez (July 15, 1905- June 16, 2005) was a well-known writer, poet, teacher and critic from Moca, Puerto Rico. His works include novels, plays and a writing newspaper columns for El Vocero newspaper.

[edit] Biography

Laguerre studied at various universities, obtaining degrees in arts from the University of Puerto Rico and at age 43 from the Columbia University.

In 1924, he attended courses on teaching in rural areas in the town of Aguadilla. The courses where taught by Carmen Gómez Tejera. After which, he becomes a teacher from 1924 to 1988, both at the elementary school and university levels.

Laguerre has been known to use the pen-names of Tristan Ronda, Luis Urayoan, Motial and Alberto Prado among others. Married for many years to the well-respected writer, Luz V. Romero Garcia, he also worked in many Puerto Rican publications before joining the staff of El Vocero.

In 1998, his peers as well as former governors of Puerto Rico, Rafael Hernandez Colon and Luis A. Ferré, advocated for Laguerre to be considered for the Nobel Prize in Literature. Despite their efforts, Laguerre was not awarded with the prestigious award.

Laguerre is an emeritus member of the Center for Advanced Studies on Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.

Enrique Laguerre died on June 16, 2005, at the age of 99, one month short of his 100th birthday on July 15. His body was laid to rest on the grounds of the Labadie Mansion, an old "hacienda" restored as a museum, in his native town of Moca.