Vera Clemente facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vera Clemente
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| Born |
Vera Cristina Zabala Vivada
March 6, 1941 |
| Died | November 16, 2019 (aged 78) |
| Occupation | philanthropist |
| Years active | 1964-2019 |
| Known for | chair of the Roberto Clemente Foundation, founder of the Ciudad Deportiva Roberto Clemente |
Vera Clemente (born March 6, 1941 – died November 16, 2019) was a kind-hearted person from Puerto Rico. She was known for her charity work. Vera led the Roberto Clemente Foundation, which helps people. She also started a special sports school in Puerto Rico. Vera was even a special helper, called a Goodwill Ambassador, for Major League Baseball.
She was married to the famous baseball player Roberto Clemente. He sadly passed away in 1972. Vera was also the mother of sportscaster Roberto Clemente Jr.. In 2003, she visited the White House to accept a very important award for her husband. This award was the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Early Life
Vera Cristina Zabala was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico, in 1941. She grew up there and later went to the University of Puerto Rico. When she was a young woman, she worked as a bank teller.
Her Work and Legacy
Vera Clemente was the leader of the Roberto Clemente Foundation. She also served as a Goodwill Ambassador for Major League Baseball. In 1973, Vera and her three young sons went to the Baseball Hall of Fame. They were there when Roberto Clemente was honored after his death.
To remember her husband, Vera created the Ciudad Deportiva Roberto Clemente. This is a special sports and education center in Carolina, Puerto Rico. It helps young people learn and play sports. The center gets money from donations, loans, and a yearly TV show that Vera hosted. She once said, "My main purpose was to do what he was planning to do." She also helped set up a children's clinic in Nicaragua to honor Roberto.
Vera helped choose who would receive the yearly Roberto Clemente Award. This award goes to baseball players who are great on and off the field. She was often seen at charity events in Puerto Rico and in Pittsburgh. Her husband, Roberto, played baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 1982, Vera made history. She was the first woman to be named captain of a major league All-Star team. She led the National League team that year.
On July 23, 2003, Vera went to the White House. There, President George W. Bush gave her the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She accepted this high honor for her husband, recognizing his amazing charity work.
Personal Life
Vera Zabala married Roberto Clemente in 1964. They had three sons: Roberto Jr., Luis, and Enrique. Sadly, Roberto Clemente died in a plane crash in 1972. Vera passed away in 2019, at 78 years old. She had been in the hospital for a short time in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
