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PEDRO MARTÍNEZ CUTILLAS

Sometimes, life, in one of its rare gestures of generosity, grants us the privilege of crossing paths with truly exceptional individuals. People whose very presence leaves a lasting mark; who do not impose, but inspire; who do not seek the spotlight, yet transform everything they touch. Men and women whose example reminds us what it means to live with purpose, with integrity, with passion. Pedro Martínez Cutillas was, without a doubt, one of those people. One of those who elevate. Who ennoble without trying. Who, simply by being, teach us how to be better. There are presences that illuminate without raising their voice. And there are absences that, without saying a word, fill everything, the air, the memory, the innermost corners of the soul.

Some lives transcend the ordinary, becoming a reference for future generations. Lives that seem destined to be told and that, upon their fading, leave behind a trail of memories, experiences and lessons that cannot be consigned to oblivion. His was one of those lives, rich in anecdotes, filled with events and memorable milestones. A life worthy of remembrance, admiration and preservation in our collective memory.

After facing a long period of adversity with admirable strength, met with the serene resolve of true fighters, Pedro left us on November 26, 2021, at the age of 90, leaving us bereft of his affection, yet deeply marked by the indelible imprint of his legacy.

A visionary and entrepreneurial spirit, he was an example of intelligence, unwavering perseverance and true foresight. He knew how to stay ahead of his time without ever losing touch with what is essential, always balancing reason with intuition. With a kind demeanor, warm expression, a close tone and a direct and honest gaze, his life was, in essence, a lesson in integrity, passion and generosity.

He understood business not merely as a productive structure but as a true community of people, a space where dreams are shared and wills are interwoven. He firmly believed that every business activity carries a deep social responsibility. And he always knew, without compromise, that dignified, fair, opportunity generating work, is one of the essential pillars upon which a more just and inclusive society is built. He dedicated his life to that ideal, with conviction, passion and the consistency of those who lead by example.

He loved art and every expression of the human spirit capable of conveying beauty, truth and dignity. He saw it not as a luxury, but as a necessity of the soul, as a mirror in which the noblest aspects of humanity find form and meaning.

Few people have tried to live with such fidelity to themselves. Pedro thought deeply, felt authentically and acted with integrity. He did not seek applause, nor did he need approval. He was respected, esteemed and deeply loved because he was genuine. Because his life —simple and resolute— spoke for him, even in silence. He lived a full life, marked by constant effort, clarity of purpose and an extraordinary ability to accomplish. In everything he undertook, he left behind a trail of achievements and a remarkable testimony of life.

He was born on April 8, 1931, in Jumilla, in the province of Murcia, Spain. From a very young age, he displayed a remarkable entrepreneurial spirit. At just 16 years old, he founded a tire retreading workshop in his hometown that employed six workers. He used to say, with a touch of irony, that at that age he had already achieved what many take years to accomplish: owning his own business.

Three years later, driven by a desire to explore new horizons, he sold the workshop and moved to Madrid. It was then, propelled by his boundless energy and curiosity for all forms of knowledge, that he took advantage of his voluntary military service to earn certifications as a physical education teacher and parachuting instructor, issued by the Spanish Air Force Academy.

Convinced that riveting was a relic destined to disappear, Pedro dedicated all his time, energy and talent to mastering new welding techniques that were just beginning to make their way into Spain, coming from the United States and other European countries. He didn’t just learn them, he perfected them, promoted them and played a decisive role in their development within our country. His restless nature, fueled by relentless curiosity and iron determination, soon found fertile ground in which to sow his ambitions for the future.

In 1954, at just over twenty years of age, he moved to Barcelona with a contract in hand to work on the electrification of the railway line between Mataró and the Catalan capital. That ambitious project required the installation of modern metal towers and demanded the collaboration of highly specialized companies. Pedro joined as a subcontractor to a firm working directly for RENFE.

He had no capital, no connections, no network. But he had vision, enthusiasm and an unshakeable commitment to quality work. He understood that a project of such scale could not be undertaken alone. So, he sought allies, built teams and inspired others. He knew how to see in others the best parts of himself and made them part of an endeavor that, over time, would grow in scope and significance.

As the years passed, the company born from sparks and steel evolved. What began as a technical and specialized operation gradually expanded into new industrial fields. Soon, it was active in the assembly of equipment for the chemical, petrochemical, hydraulic, automotive and other key sectors of what we now call heavy and semi-heavy industry. This was not random diversification, it was a natural evolution, guided by rigor, necessity and a future focused mindset. Each new area was not just expansion, but a rational, deliberate and necessary achievement.

Pedro quickly realized that technical knowledge alone was not enough. That to lead a company wisely, one also had to master the invisible laws of economics. So, without abandoning his responsibilities, he enrolled in the Faculty of Economics. He balanced his studies with the day-to-day management of his company, a sustained effort only understandable through absolute vocation.

That academic training only confirmed what experience had already taught him, that one of the pillars of business success lies in steering a company toward unique ideas, toward products or services where competition is scarce or nonexistent. If an entrepreneur has such an idea, he would say, the struggle lies in imposing that idea, not in fighting to defend it against others.

Tireless by vocation and by nature, Pedro did not limit himself to having built one of the most solid industrial groups of his time. His entrepreneurial spirit, always attentive to new opportunities, led him to engage in other fields, such as urban planning and tourism development. Thus, in the luminous geography of the Costa Brava, he promoted various civil engineering projects that gave rise to the residential developments Condado de Jaruco, Vinya Rosa and Los Pinares. These avant-garde projects, conceived with rigor and sensitivity, marked a milestone in the evolution of residential tourism along the Spanish coast, combining architectural vision with respect for the environment.

Honorary Doctorate from Johnson & Wales University (Providence, U.S.A.), Pedro was a member of various business and cultural associations and his distinguished career was recognized with numerous awards in Europe, the United States and Latin America, as a testament to a life dedicated to work, creation and strategic thought.

Beyond his intense professional activity, Pedro nurtured a profound and lasting relationship with art and history. He was an avid collector and, above all, a generous patron. He supported young artists, encouraged their first steps, believed in them before they were recognized and with his support, decisively helped many to consolidate their careers. His patronage was not a mere gesture, but perhaps the most intimate way of building the future.

Similarly, his passion for history led him to complete university studies in the subject at the Faculty of Geography and History of the University of Barcelona. A broad connoisseur and deeply in love with Panama, he devoted over thirty years to studying the country’s history, delving into its culture and fostering significant historiographical research in the Archivo de Indias as well as in various national and international archives.

As a result of these investigations, the works Panamá Colonial: History and Image (2006) and Veragua in the 16th Century: History and Image (2010) were published, on the occasion of the fifth centenary of the death of Christopher Columbus. All copies, published without any commercial or profit-making purpose, were donated and distributed to libraries, universities and cultural institutions worldwide.

In recognition of his remarkable merits, the Government of the Republic, through its executive branch and in the person of its president, the Honorable Martín Torrijos Espino, Head of State and Government, awarded him on March 1, 2007, the national decoration of the Order of Vasco Núñez de Balboa, in the grade of Commander. This distinction, the highest granted by the State, honors those who have made exemplary contributions to the progress and enhancement of the nation. The solemn award ceremony was presided over by the Honorable Samuel Lewis Navarro, First Vice President of the Republic and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Dr. Arístides Royo Sánchez, former President of the Republic and then Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS). The event also counted on the distinguished presence of the Ambassador of Spain, Gerardo Zaldívar Miquelarena and His Most Reverend Eminence, José Dimas Cedeño, Metropolitan Archbishop.

The Ministry of Labor and Labor Development recognized his career by naming him honorary collaborator and consultant, as well as emeritus mediator in favor of dialogue and understanding among the peoples of the region and the world. Likewise, the City Hall conferred upon him the title of Illustrious Visitor, in a gesture of respect and gratitude.

A year later, on April 9, 2008, in recognition of his invaluable contribution to national historiography, he was awarded the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa in a ceremony held at the University’s Paraninfo. The event brought together distinguished authorities, including Second Vice President Rubén Arosemena, members of the diplomatic corps, the council of rectors, historians, intellectuals and other figures from the academic and cultural spheres.

“I am deeply honored. This academic appointment fills me with pride”, he expressed emotionally during his speech, after receiving the distinction from the Honorable and Magnificent Rector of the University of Panama, Gustavo García de Paredes, who represented the entire academic hierarchy and community. The rector, aware of the significance of the moment, emphasized that in the seventy-two years of the institution’s history, the Doctorate Honoris Causa had been conferred on only twelve individuals, both national and foreign, further highlighting the exceptional nature of the tribute. Referring to Pedro Martínez Cutillas, he firmly and admiringly described him as “a true humanist in every sense” and praised his calm demeanor, insatiable thirst for knowledge, intuitive capacity and deep love for art, learning and history.

“For one month each year, between 1544 and 1739, the Panamanian isthmus became the economic hub of the Empire, a kind of Wall Street of its time, where control was exercised over two-thirds of the silver produced in the Spanish possessions of the New World, which was exchanged for the goods shipped from Seville aboard the Tierra Firme galleons,” stated Pedro Martínez Cutillas in his widely acclaimed inaugural address, entitled Panama in the First Globalization of the World Economy”.

On May 22, 2009, he received the highest distinction the Government can bestow upon a foreign citizen, being appointed Honorary Consul of Panama to the Kingdom of Spain. With this designation, he became part of the accredited Diplomatic and Consular Corps in Spain, tasked with strengthening and promoting economic, cultural and scientific ties between the two nations.

Subsequently driven by the conviction of leaving a lasting legacy for society —and guided, as always, by the humility and discretion that characterized him— on July 12, 2012, he founded the Pedro Martínez Cutillas Foundation, conceived with the purpose of expanding, rethinking and enriching the cultural fabric, as well as promoting education and the arts through research, outreach and training activities. To this end, he permanently allocated a portion of his personal assets, dedicating them entirely to the pursuit of objectives of general interest.

It is always difficult to pay tribute to a loved one without allowing emotion to blur a fair measure of their virtues. But in Pedro’s case, objectivity does not compete with affection, it is affirmed by his rich and fulfilled life, his remarkable achievements and, above all, by the extraordinary humanity that made him as exceptional as he was deeply beloved.

Pedro was a cultivated, perceptive man, tireless in his work and, at the same time, kind, approachable and generous with both his time and his words. Speaking with him was a privilege, for his clarity of thought, his sense of humor and the radiant way in which he embraced life. He made all of us who had the good fortune to share his journey better people, better in who we were and in the way we lived our lives. He taught without ever intending to teach, simply through the example of who he was.

His self-taught spirit, his enthusiasm and his brilliance made him a true source of inspiration in our hearts. Through the quiet strength with which he faced every circumstance, the vitality that animated him, his humility and the steadfastness of his convictions. That is why his absence hurts. It hurts in a quiet yet profound way, as only the loss of someone who truly mattered can.

For more than fifty years, we shared with Pedro a life woven from irreplaceable moments. Shared laughter, cherished dreams, silences filled with unspoken understanding. Lives intertwined by the privilege of his presence.

Today, as we say goodbye, we are not overcome by sorrow alone, but also by the certainty that we were witnesses to a life that was full, vibrant and beautiful. A life that does not end with death, because the essence of who he was —his example, his way of being, his way of seeing the world— remains.

Pedro is still with us: in our memories, in the values he embodied and in the way he taught us, through his example, to live with dignity, generosity and authenticity. Today we bid him farewell with love, on behalf of the many who knew him, admired him and loved him; the many whose lives were touched by his sincere friendship, his loyalty and his affection.

Thank you, Pedro.

Thank you for your example of tireless dedication, for teaching us that perseverance and passion are the true foundations of lasting success. Thank you for your clear and courageous vision, for always seeing beyond obstacles and turning challenges into opportunities.

Thank you for touching so many lives through your fairness, your timely words and your ability to lead without arrogance. For making respect a daily habit and generosity a way of life. Thank you for showing us that work itself can be an act of love and that building something great has meaning only when it is done with enthusiasm and purpose.

Thank you for your courage in facing life with dignity and for teaching us to do the same, even in the most difficult moments. For your unwavering faithfulness to your principles and for being an example of integrity to all who admired you. For your wise counsel, which still echoes in my mind and continues to guide me through life’s difficult decisions. For teaching me the value of steadfast effort, humility in success and dignity in adversity. Thank you for making your professional life a path of service, where success was never an end in itself, but an opportunity to open doors for others.

Thank you for always being present in life’s most important moments, for accompanying us, supporting us and celebrating every step along the way. For your quiet yet constant love, expressed through an embrace, a smile and the countless small gestures that are never forgotten. For so many treasured memories: celebrations, reunions, journeys, long conversations and peaceful afternoons. For being there in the great moments, but also in the small ones, which, in the end, are the ones that remain closest to the heart.

You leave us not only a story of success, but an example of how to live. Proof that true greatness does not mean being beyond reach, but being able to inspire others through love, presence, empathy and humility. Thank you for remaining with us, not in body, but in the mark you left upon our lives; not in time, but in memory. Thank you for continuing to live on, forever, in the deepest places of the hearts of those who loved you.

Your presence was and always will be, an unforgettable gift in my life.

May the light of your spirit continue to guide us, even across the distance, and may it shine for all eternity.

Francisco Massó Mora | Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe Church, Madrid.

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