José María Rico facts for kids

José María Rico Cueto (born August 12, 1934 – died April 15, 2019) was a lawyer and writer. He was born in Spain but later became a Canadian citizen. He is best known for being the First Gentleman of Costa Rica. This means he was the husband of the country's president. His wife, Laura Chinchilla, was the President of Costa Rica from 2010 to 2014. José María Rico was the very first First Gentleman in Costa Rica's history.

Early Life and Career

José María Rico was born in Loja, a town in Granada, Spain. In 1965, he moved to Montreal, Canada. There, he continued his studies in international law. He became a Canadian citizen and kept this citizenship for the rest of his life.

Rico was a skilled lawyer. He was an expert in criminal law, which deals with crimes and their punishments. He often traveled to countries in Latin America and the United States for his work.

Family Life

In 1990, José María Rico met Laura Chinchilla. They were both working as advisors for a justice center in Miami, Florida. They became a couple and had a son, José María Rico Chinchilla, in 1996. The couple got married on March 26, 2000.

When Laura Chinchilla became President of Costa Rica in 2010, José María Rico took on the role of First Gentleman. This was a new position in Costa Rica's history.

Later Years and Passing

On July 11, 2010, José María Rico had an accident. He fell and was injured. He needed surgery, which was successful.

In 2016, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. This is a condition that affects memory and thinking. In March 2019, his health became much worse. He was taken to a hospital in San José, Costa Rica. José María Rico passed away in the hospital on April 15, 2019, at the age of 84. He died from problems related to Alzheimer's disease.

See also

In Spanish: José María Rico Cueto para niños