Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, March 29, 2009 - The FIVB and the Norceca Confederation are in mourning after the death of Libertario Perez, the second president in the history of NORCECA and former president of the Puerto Rican Volleyball Federation, who passed away in San Juan on Saturday, March 28, after a long illness.
Perez, a lawyer by profession, was president of the International Volleyball Tribunal and also presided over the Puerto Rican Volleyball Federation from 1976 to 1978. He succeeded Dr. Rubén Acosta Hernandez as president of Norceca in 1984-88, when the former was elected for the first time to the presidency of the FIVB.
Perez, a distinguished sport and social personality, was also an Executive Board Member of the Puerto Rican Olympic Committee and founder of the Caguas franchise in the Puerto Rican Superior Basketball League.
He was the Chief of Mission for Puerto Rico’s delegation to the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, defying the boycott of USA to the Games and was one of those who embraced with most passion the cause of Puerto Rican’s sport sovereignty.
Last year, during the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Puerto Rican Volleyball Federation, Perez was recognized as one of its founders.
"Mr. Libertario Perez was one of the pioneers of our Norceca Confederation and a source of inspiration for all those who followed his steps in the crusade in favor of volleyball in our continent," said Mr. Cristobal Marte Hoffiz, President of Norceca since 2001. "On behalf of the Volleyball family in the Americas and throughout the world we extend our deepest and sincere condolences to both the family of Libertario Perez and the Puerto Rican Volleyball."
