A tribute to Carlos Canseco, 1921-2009

 

 

Carlos Canseco

C arlos Canseco, one of the most beloved presidents of Rotary, passed away 14 January in Monterrey, Mexico.

Carlos was born in 1921 in Mexico City and spent his youth in Tampico, where his father was a respected physician. He earned a degree in medicine from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, then studied under allergy specialist Samuel Feinberg at the Northwestern University medical school in Chicago before moving to Monterrey.

Many in our family of Rotary were aware that Carlos was being treated at the Autonomous University of Nuevo León hospital, where he served for most of his professional life. During his illness, his wife, María Aurora, his 10 children, his 28 grandchildren, and many other family members and close friends were with him often. Carlos received e-mails, phone calls, and letters from Rotary leaders and ordinary Rotarians alike.

As president of Rotary International in 1984-85, Carlos – along with the RI Board – was the first to focus our attention on eradicating polio. Rotarians had carried out a polio vaccination program in the Philippines, and in that Carlos saw an opportunity. On the strength of his vision, Rotary launched what became PolioPlus, which has brought Rotarians around the world together for a common cause: freeing children from the scourge of polio. In many ways, it was Carlos Canseco’s initial efforts to eradicate this disease on a worldwide scale that brought Rotary into the major leagues of internationally recognized nongovernmental organizations.

Carlos served Rotary in almost every position, starting in his home club, the Rotary Club of Monterrey, which he joined in 1950. As RI president, he asked Rotarians to Discover a New World of Service. We will remember Carlos for his winning smile and his ever-present bow tie and yellow jacket, which marked the start of district governors’ jackets. He is also fondly remembered for his famously long speeches, which were filled with his particular brand of humor.

Admired and respected in Mexico and abroad as an internationally renowned allergy specialist, Carlos was the director of the Regional Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Allergies at the Autonomous University of Nuevo León School of Medicine and a fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. He also served as minister of health for the State of Nuevo León.

In 1982, as head of Coordinated Health Services in Nuevo León, Canseco assisted Albert Sabin, developer of the oral polio vaccine, in formulating an aerosol vaccine to prevent measles. He was named a Public Health Hero of the Americas by the Pan American Health Organization in 2002, and two years later, he received Mexico’s highest award, the Belisario Domínguez Medal of Honor.

In addition to his government work and humanitarian endeavors, Carlos is remembered for bringing professional soccer to Monterrey, one of Mexico’s largest cities, in 1953.

How I wish Rotarians around the world could have seen the coverage given to the passing of Carlos in the Mexican media. National television stations aired celebrations of his life, including his work with Rotary. It was moving to see the outpouring of love shown for Carlos and his family by those at the memorial services, which included honor guard ceremonies at the Monterrey state capitol building and at his university’s hospital and medical school. A special mass was attended by hundreds of people, including many members of our Mexican family of Rotary: among them, RI Director José Alfredo Sepúlveda, Past RI Director Francisco “Paco” Creo, and many district governors and club presidents.

It was an honor for me to have had a special relationship with Carlos. I served as his aide for Rotary affairs in Mexico during his term as president of RI. Many others in Rotary also recall how they served one of Rotary’s most loved and respected presidents. He left a legacy for all of us to continue in his footsteps to Discover a New World of Service.

Frank Devlyn served as RI president in 2000-01.