The Hon. Dr. John Reginald Garcia Valarino MB, ChB, better known as Reggie Valarino, (9 June 1941 – 13 March 2009) was a Gibraltarian doctor and politician.[1]

Reggie Valarino
Valarino in March 1985
In office
1976–unknown
Personal details
Born
John Reginald Garcia Valarino

(1941-06-09)9 June 1941
Madrid, Spain
Died13 March 2009(2009-03-13) (aged 67)
Gibraltar
NationalityBritish (Gibraltarian)
SpouseAnne Evans (m. 1966, div. 1980) Maria Del Carmen Rodriguez (m. 1980)
ChildrenLouise
Kathryn
Gabriella
Jonathan Frederick
Lorna
Belén
Isabella
Parents
  • Federico Garcia Montalvo (father)
  • Eugenia Valarino (mother)
Residence(s)4 Gardiner's View, Gibraltar
Alma materUniversity of Liverpool
OccupationMedical Practitioner
Politician

Early life

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Dr. Valarino was born in Madrid, Spain, in 1941 to Federico Garcia Montalvo and Eugenia Valarino. His father was a horse trainer and his mother a housewife and seamstress.

Medical career

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Dr. Valarino graduated as a medical practitioner from the University of Liverpool[2] and had been working in the field since 1967,[3] having started his professional career in Gibraltar at St Bernard's Hospital. Soon after, he opened his own private practice in Gibraltar.[2]

Political career

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Dr. Valarino was first elected to the then House of Assembly (now the Gibraltar Parliament) in the 1976 general election[3] as a member of the Gibraltar Democratic Movement (GDM). He was also a former Minister of the Association for the Advancement of Civil Rights (AACR) through several terms[4] and member of the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party (GSLP),[5] serving a total of almost 20 years as an elected representative of the people of Gibraltar both in Government and in Opposition.[1]

Later life and death

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Dr. Valarino had been a member of a number of public committees. From 1994–1996 he was chairman of the Gibraltar branch of the European Movement. He was regional representative of the British Islands and Mediterranean Region of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and was a past secretary of the British Medical Association (Gibraltar branch). He was also Life President of the Gibraltar Hockey Association.[3]

He died on 13 March 2009, aged 67, after a long illness.[2] Following news of his death, the Gibraltar Parliament observed a minute's silence in his memory on 17 March 2009.[5] A memorial service was held for him at the Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned on 18 March 2009, which filled to capacity with attendees.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Liberal Leader's Tribute to Valarino". Gibraltar Chronicle. Dominique Searle. 17 March 2009. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 2009-03-23.
  2. ^ a b c "Reggie Valarino dies after a long illness". 7 Days. 20 March 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-25.
  3. ^ a b c d "Former Minister Reggie Valarino dies". Panorama. 16 March 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-25.
  4. ^ "PDP Tribute to Valarino". Gibraltar Chronicle. Dominique Searle. 18 March 2009. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 2009-03-23.
  5. ^ a b Oliva, Francis (18 March 2009). "Parliament Observes Minute's Silence in Memory of Reggie". Gibraltar Chronicle. Dominique Searle. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 2009-03-23.