Monsignor Hugo Polanco Brito of Higuey died on 13 April at the age of 78. Monsignor Polanco Brito, the founder and first rector of the Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM), “dedicated his life to the spiritual well-being of the D.R.” These words were spoken by the cardinal of Santo Domingo, Nicolas de Jesús López Rodríguez, who delivered a eulogy on 14 April. In addition to the founding of PUCMM, Monsignor Polanco Brito contributed to the founding of the San Pio X and the San Tomas de Aquino seminaries. He also helped to revitalize the Church in the east of the D.R. through his work in Higuey, where thousands of Dominicans and tourists go each year to see the image of the Virgin Mary.
Monsignor Polanco Brito made his presence felt in the political arena during the 1970’s, accompanying a group of leftist activists released from jail to Mexico as part of an attempt to settle a conflict between them and the government after the kidnapping of a U.S. military adviser. He also intervened on behalf of Claudio Caamaño Grullón, one of the members of a failed guerrilla expedition against the government in 1973. Relatives of Mr. Caamaño Grullón were present at the funeral.
15 April was proclaimed a national day of mourning by President Joaquin Balaguer.
19 April – 2 May 1996