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Biography of Rosario Bellber Gonzalez (English Version)

Birth and Education

Rosario Bellber González was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on October 2, 1881, her parents being Martin Bellber and Julia González.

She studied at "la Normal", a graduate-level school  under Spanish rule, located in Rio Piedras, where she undertook summer courses toward a Master's Program, finishing her degree while she was still twenty one years old and living in San Juan and  other points in the island.

Professional, civic and community activities

While she worked as a teacher in San Juan she became president of  "la Sociedad de Zapato de los Niños Pobres en Puerta de Tierra" (the Society of Shoes for the Poor children of Puerta de Tierra),  an organization that provided and distributed  shoes to the impoverished children of Puerta de Tierra;  she was also the founder and vice-president of "la Asociación Insular de Maestros" (the Insular Association of Teachers)[1], the larger of two teacher associations in Puerto Rico[2]; and Secretary-Treasurer of the "Comité Pro Actividades Juveniles" (the Committee Pro Juvenile Activities), a committee representing advocacy for Youth Programs and Activities in Puerto Rican education.

All her life Rosario Bellber belonged to the Republican party.[3]  She was president of "la Liga Social Sufragista[4]" (the Social League of Suffragists), vocal in "la Directiva de la Asociación Insular de Mujeres Votantes" (voter in the Directive of the Insular Association of women's voters), vocal in "la Directiva del Club de los Moderados de la Union republicana" (voter in the Directive of the Club of Moderates for the Republican Union), vocal en la Directiva y Presidenta del "Comité de Propaganda de la "Vanguardia Femenina de la Union Republicana" (voter in the Directive and President of the Committee of Propaganda for the "Feminine Vanguard of the Republican Union)".

She believed in Spiritualism, and became president of the Federation of Spiritualists, and also became Administrator of the spiritual magazine "Fraternidad (Fraternity).

She was the municipal librarian in San Juan, and Office Manager/Director of the American Red Cross in Puerta de Tierra providing for the families of the soldiers who enlisted in Panama during the first World War.

The Preventive Care Center in Aibonito

No sooner did she retire from teaching and start receiving her pension than she was contracted by the Parent's Association to become the second Visiting Teacher to work in the José Julián Acosta School in San Juan. It was during this period that she founded and established the Educational Colony of Aibonito, which was subsequently  transformed into the Preventive Care Center with her full consent and cooperation. Later on, the Preventive Care Center became the Children's Crisis Health Center, which is still in existence to this day.[5]

Rosario was also the organizer of the summer camps programs that were established in the island under the auspices of "La Sociedad para Evitar la Tuberculosis ne los Niños" of which she was Vice-president. She was named Executive Secretary of the Commission to prevent Tuberculosis in School Age Children, a government institution where she worked in the service of the children and summer camps, until her death.

The House of Health and Convalescence

Our dearly departed friend's  strength of character and spirit of perseverance never permitted her to accept failure or defeat. Almost immediately she came up with a plan to build a house where sick and impoverished children with non-contagious diseases could find the medical care and the rest they needed while they were on the mend. Movements began anew - back and forth gestures - comings and goings - telephone calls - reunions with friends - and suddenly, there it stood again, the House of Health and Convalescence in Aibonito, her favorite place. She enrolled and admitted about 40 children. Those who could, paid; those who couldn't, were admitted under the auspices of the charities that she herself recruited as sponsors on their behalf:  notable among these were, the Juvenile Chapter of the Red Cross and several other institutions; the philanthropic societies, as well as private donors and benefactors, who made generous gifts and contributions on behalf of the sick children. Also included in this list was the Commission for the Prevention of TB in School-Age Children.

The Following  message was read at her gravesite:

Dearest friends:  We have only paid for one part of the Lot, grounds and buildings of "La Casa de Salud (The Health Center).  We still need to make good the rest of the remaining debt obligation.  Let us take a pledge here, together, now in front of our beloved friend's Tombstone to continue and finish the dedication, relentless  labor, and love that was spent with so much sacrifice to get to this point.

Rosario Bellber, good daughter, good sister, excellent friend, conscientious citizen who was never remiss of her duties or call to service, can well be the example for the women who today are answering the call to service for those less fortunate and underserved.

Her Death

Her death occurred on May 4, 1948. She left her job on April 30, around 4:14 P.M. in the afternoon, and died the following Monday, after a brief spell of illness. Her mortal remains rest in the San Juan Cemetery.

Beatriz Lassalle[6]

[1] Ideas e iniciativas de la primera etapa de la Asociación de Maestros (1911-1936); Nilda García Santiago y Eloy Ruiz Rivera, autores; El Sol, Revista Oficial de la Asociación de Maestros de Puerto Rico Año LI Núm. 4, 2010; pagina 9.

[2]At the historic first meeting of the General Assembly in 1910, President Antonio Sarriera called for a consolidation of the two teacher associations: the outcome of which was to bring about positive changes through congressional acts of legislation on behalf of all teachers, improving their benefits, salary, and professional status. El Mundo: El Diario La Mañana- Lunes 13 De Febrero De 1939, Numero 8136; El Sol, Revista Oficial de la Asociación de Maestros de Puerto Rico Año LI Núm. 4, 2010; paginas 7-12 (Act of 1910).

[3] She was just eighteen years old when the Puerto Rican Republican Party was founded in July 1, 1899 (presided over by over by Dr. Jose Celso Barbosa); and when Jose De Diego was President of the House of Representatives, and began advocating for Puerto Rican Independence.

[4]La lucha sufragista de las puertorriquenas; Publicado el 5 abril, 2012:   http://eltemplodelosincomprendidos.wordpress.com/2012/04/05/la-lucha-sufragista-de-las-puertorriquenas/

[5] Eventually it became "La Casa de Salud Rosario Bellber" still existing today and, which through an act of congress, has been turned into a Center for Autistic Children.

[6] This biography was first published in Revista, Volumen VIII, Numero 5, Septiembre de 1949. La Asociación de Maestros de Puerto Rico, páginas 149 y 158. This biographical data was also published in the "The Social Worker" a periodical dedicated to the professional concerns, of which Beatriz Lassalle and Rosario Bellber made many contributions to. Today, the University of Puerto Rico has a school called "Escuela Graduada de Trabajo Social Beatriz Lassalle".