María Teresa Castillo

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 Athenaem 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]

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] 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][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]

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

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 Roche Rodríguez, Michelle (2012-06-22). "María Teresa Castillo: 103 años dedicados al progreso de Venezuela". El Nacional (Caracas). Retrieved 2012-06-22.
  2. ↑ Durand, Irelis (2012-06-22). "Manifestaciones de pesar por el fallecimiento de María Teresa Castillo". El Nacional (Caracas). Retrieved 2012-06-22.