Juan García Gruber
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Juan Manuel García Grüber (September 7, 1904 – September 21, 1997) was a Venezuelan economist, financier, writer, philosopher and diplomat. As Venezuelan ambassador in seven countries
He was born in Guasipati, Edo. Bolívar, Venezuela. son of Mercedes Gruber of German descent and Dr. Juan Manuel García Parra, a leading figure of abdominal surgery in sterile women, creator of the first formula known to favor high levels of fertily and founder of the Garcia Parra Hospital in his native Guasipati,
After completing his studies in economics and finance, he held the position of Chief of the Justice Section at the Department of Internal Affairs. 1953, he became the Venezuelan General Consul to Peru and was subsequently appointed as the Venezuelan Ambassador to Nicaragua, Panama,Cuba,Peru,Costa Rica. He was standing right next to Nicaraguan President Anastasio Somoza García when he was shot to death by Rigoberto López Pérez in 1956.
Throughout his lifetime, he wrote extensively on oil, democracy, arts, renaissance and various cultural subjects. Dr. García Grüber participated in the rescue of his family when they were held captive in revolutionary Nicaragua. In 1979, a plane from the Venezuelan Air Force piloted by his wife's nephew, Captain Raúl Hernández, was hastily sent in order to help set the hostages free. According to different news broadcasts at the time, the family was a victim of the Somoza guerrilla (sandinista) and provisions had been made to kill them right before they attempeted to escape through the nearest airport. Their liberation was eventually possible when the Venezuelan aircraft opened fire against sandinista soldiers who tried to thwart the operation.
Later in his life, he became the President of the Venezuelan Institute for Hispanic Culture in Caracas, Venezuela. Dr. García Grüber received several awards for his achievements and was recognized as a peer by the most respected Hispanic language and literature academicians. among which include the Order of the Liberator Simon Bolivar. Order by represent Venezuela in Ibero American Chamber,order in first grade Venezuelan Red Cross,among others not mentioned two hundred medals, was a famous representative of his country abroad, and inside it. His death caused great sorrow, for all the great personalities, including ex former President Rafael Caldera who was his friend and liberator of the current President Hugo Chávez Frias Dr. García Grüber and his wife met Juan Carlos de Borbón, King of Spain, on his first visit to Venezuela. His strong ties to the embassies of Spain, Colombia, Perú, Panamá and Nicaragua account for his many accolades in the diplomatic and cultural fields. His work as a universal writer was published by influential editorial houses in Venezuela as he became an incisive columnist in well-known local newspapers. He regularly condemned his country's political ways and the ever growing scourge of corruption in Latin America. He had a long time personal and professional association with his brother in law, Dr. Jorge Gómez Mantellini, former Governor of Caracas. As part of his duties as head of the Venezuelan Institute for Hispanic Culture, he unveiled the first statue of Spanish monarch Isabel La Católica ever to grace a Caracas square.
He was married to Bertha Domínguez Urbano-Taylor, a sibling of Ricardo Domínguez Urbano-Taylor. According to several different sources, his wife's family comes from the prestigious Royal Court of New England, which migrated to Venezuela after her predecessor relinquished a mission entrusted upon him by the Kingdom. To this day, it remains unknown who the nobleman was and what was the assignment. He had two daughters, Bertha García-Grüber D., Morella García-Grüber D. and one son John García-Grüber D., who died in infancy. Their grandchildren: Juan Pablo Knoepffler Garcia, Luis Knoepffler Garcia, Aldo Knoepffler Garcia, Ana Knoepffler Garcia, Franco Knoepffler Garcia and Marcella Knoepffler Garcia; Mariella Barreto García, Alexandra Barreto García, Rossana Barreto García, Juan Carlos Barreto García, Carlos A. Borges García, Carla Borges García.