Mariano Lebrón Saviñón facts for kids
Mariano Lebrón Saviñón was an important writer from the Dominican Republic. He was born in Santo Domingo on August 3, 1922, and passed away on October 18, 2014, at the age of 92.
Mariano Lebrón Saviñón helped start the second private university in the Dominican Republic. He even named it the Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña and wrote its special song, called an anthem.
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Early Life and Education
Mariano Lebrón Saviñón grew up in Santo Domingo. His father, José Lebrón Morales, was from Spain, and his mother, Rosa Cándida Saviñón Pérez, was Dominican with family roots from the Canary Islands.
He went to school in Santo Domingo for both primary and secondary education. Later, he studied medicine at the University of Santo Domingo, finishing in 1946. He then went to Buenos Aires, Argentina, to become a specialist in helping children as a pediatrician in 1949.
A Doctor and a Teacher
Mariano Lebrón Saviñón worked as a doctor in many hospitals and clinics in the Dominican Republic. He helped lead the Santo Domingo Social Prevention hospital and worked for the Ministry of Health.
Besides being a doctor, he was also a professor. He taught medicine at the Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña and the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo. He also directed the publications for the National University Pedro Henríquez Ureña, meaning he was in charge of their books and writings.
Contributions to Literature and Culture
Mariano Lebrón Saviñón was a very influential writer. He was part of a special group of poets called La Poesía Sorprendida, which means "Surprised Poetry."
He wrote many poems and essays. One of his most famous books is History of the Dominican Culture. This book is a big and important work about the history and culture of the Dominican Republic. He also made important contributions to the Dominican Academy of Medicine and the Institute Duartiano, which promotes national values.
Awards and Honors
Mariano Lebrón Saviñón received many awards for his work. Some of these include:
- The Commander of the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez and Mella, which is a high honor in the Dominican Republic.
- The Caonabo Gold award in 1988.
- The Vasconcelos National Prize Award from Mexico in 1992.
- The National Prize for Literature in 1999, which is the highest award for writers in the Dominican Republic.
He was also the only Dominican chosen to speak at the Prince of Asturias award ceremony, which is a very important event in Spain. From 1984 to 2006, he was the head of the Dominican Academy of Language.
Later Years
In August 2014, Mariano Lebrón Saviñón had some breathing problems and was admitted to a hospital. He went back to the hospital in October because his health was very delicate. He passed away peacefully on October 18, 2014, at the age of 92.
About His Name
His last name, Lebrón, comes from Spain. You can find this name in many places in Spain, especially in Seville, and also across Latin America. It's important not to confuse his family name with another similar name, Lebron (originally Lebraun), which is found in a different part of the Dominican Republic and has different origins.
