This morning all the nation’s newspapers lead with the news of the passing of one of its greatest citizens, Jose Armando Bermudez (Poppy), after a long illness yesterday, Wednesday 3 December 2014. He would have celebrated his 86th birthday next week. Funeral services will be held at the Politecnico Femenino today, Thursday 4 December 2014 and he will be laid to rest at 4pm this afternoon at the 30 de Marzo Cemetery in Santiago.
The eminent rum industry businessman was also one of the pioneers of color television in the Dominican Republic. He founded Color Vision (Channel 9) at the premises of the Hotel Matum in Santiago. The station later moved to Santo Domingo.
Bermudez was also the founder of several business and banking associations as well as savings and loan associations. As a founder of the Development Association in Santiago, he promoted the Superior Agricultural Institute (ISA), now the ISA University, as well as the Cibao Savings and Loan Association. He also served as an advisor to many Dominican business leaders.
He is survived by his wife Elba Madera de Bermudez, his widow, his children, Elba Josefina Bermudez de Bobadilla, Jose Armando Bermudez Madera, Julia Aurora Bermudez de Reid, Ana Estela Bermudez de Lama and Domingo Octavio Bermudez Madera, as well as 12 grandchildren.
Don Jose Armando Bermudez received numerous awards and diplomas in recognition of his valuable contributions to art, education, the church and social welfare projects, and on one occasion he was declared A Distinguished Son of the City by the local municipality.