Dr. Manuel F. Alsina Capo
Encyclopedia
Dr. Manuel Fernando Alsina Capo (born 1909) was a prominent Spanish-American urologist surgeon, who was a co-founder of the New Progressive Party
in 1967 and performed the first kidney transplant in Puerto Rico
in the 1960s.
Upon realising that his son was fit to study medicine, and being that he was the only offspring he had, Manuel Fernando Alsina, Sr. and the family decided to sell their booming businesses in Venezuela and once again migrated, this time to the United States, where, as expected, Manuel was promptly welcomed and admitted to the Villanova School of Medicine.
of Puerto Rico
, immediately following World War II. The entire family, along with parents and uncles and other relatives, quickly established themselves there and it was not long before they once again became well known in business, social, and political circles. The marriage of young Manuel and Rosa did not last, however, and not long after their fourth child, Maria Celeste Alsina Latimer, was born, the couple divorced following a bitter separation. The other older children were Manuel Fernando, Jose Antonio, and Rosa Gemma.
Manolin, as Dr. Manuel Alsina had become affectionately known to his family and friends, served shortly after in the US Navy Medical Branch as surgeon and for a time was stationed in the Pacific during the Korean-American War.
Upon his return to civilian life, Manolin met and married Norma Mercedes Gonzalez Sapia, daughter of Spaniard and Italian immigrant Antonio Gonzalez and Francesa Sapia Bosch. Antonio, head of the accounting department of one of Puerto Rico's main sugar mills at the time, was brother of Avelino Gonzalez, a well-known and beloved local inventor and founder of the highly successful Puerto Rican socialite retreat, the Ponce Yacht and Fishing Club.
Norma's mother, Francesca, was a well-known, cherished, and highly spirited lady who widowed at an early age, but with financial support from her brothers, Washington D.C.-resident U.S. Army General Timothy Sapia-Bosch, Banco de Ponce
Vice-President Salvatore (a.k.a. Salvador) Sapia-Bosch, and little sister Esther Armstrong
Sapia, plus her lifelong friends Rosa Serralles, Ada Valdivieso, Joaquin Villafañe, and the Cortada, Covas, and Vendrell families among others, and so Francesca, who had become locally known as Francisca and then as "Paquita", was able to raise and bring her children up (William, Edmee, Norma and Jorge Antonio) comfortably amid the difficult and perilous World War II years.
Indeed, Paquita was very glad to have her youngest daughter Norma marry Manolin, despite him being a divorcee. Elder daughter Edmee had previously married Jaime Vicens, a very successful businessman and brother of well-known sports figure and idol Pachin Vicens, and of Enrique "Coco" Vicens
, well-known doctor and ex-Senator of Puerto Rico
. Son William, to his credit, was well respected locally for having been Puerto Rico's top swimmer at one point, having been able in his twenties to swim from one island to another without tiring. He married the beautiful Mercedes Frau, a charming lady from one of Puerto Rico's most prestigious families at the time. Finally, Jorge the youngest of the four, graduated from College after serving in the US Army in Washington, D.C., subsequently marrying sweetheart Mercedes Clavell Arias, then positioning himself as Upjohn Pharmaceutical's European General Manager.
From Manolin's marriage to Norma Mercedes were born, in this order, Manuel Antonio (a.k.a., Monty, deceased 1986), Fernando Rafael, Elizabeth-Ann and Lee-Ann (twins, the latter who died as an infant while still in the hospital), Lila Mercedes and Angel Eduardo.
Dr. Manuel F. Alsina Capo loved his social, political and sports life and throughout his existence dedicated himself to serving and promoting everything from boxing, track and field, swimming, baseball, basketball, Sports Clubs and national and international sports competitions...also as an avid Republican and personal friend of Luis Alberto Ferre Aguayo, Manolin, along with Nelson Escalona and Ferre Aguayo, founded the New Progressive Party
in 1967, once again a statehood-oriented political party which in less than a year won the general elections and put its Party President Luis A. Ferré
in the governor's
seat for the next four years.
, City Hall Assembly, for four years, while maintaining his medical profession. Some of his house guests included George H. W. Bush
.
Upon wife Norma's passing away to liver cancer in 1987, Manolin became very distraught and despite intense counseling from many of his loyal friends to dissuade him eventually married Mildred Freyre Gonzalez, a very wealthy woman of whom few of Manolin's friends and acquaintances approved.
where few people could visit him, eventually passing away on February 9, 2008, two days before his next birthday.
New Progressive Party
The New Progressive Party is a name used by various political parties:* New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico* New Progressive Party -See also:*Progressive Party *List of political parties by name...
in 1967 and performed the first kidney transplant in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
in the 1960s.
Early years
Born on February 11, 1909 in Barcelona, Spain (other sources claim 1914 in Venezuela and 1919 in Puerto Rico), young Manuel Fernando traveled extensively with his progenitors Manuel Alsina Montes and Rafaela Capo, accompanied by his aunt Mercedes Alsina and uncle Pepe Girones, all which came from Barcelona to the New World at some point in the early 1900s, subsequently settling in Maracaibo, Venezuela, where Manuel Jr, if not born there, did attend a German Military Academy from kindergarten until his graduation with high honors at age 17, and city in which his father also had established a shoe factory and related leather-goods manufacturing and export venues.Upon realising that his son was fit to study medicine, and being that he was the only offspring he had, Manuel Fernando Alsina, Sr. and the family decided to sell their booming businesses in Venezuela and once again migrated, this time to the United States, where, as expected, Manuel was promptly welcomed and admitted to the Villanova School of Medicine.
Personal life
After graduation with Magna Cum Laude honors, Dr. Manuel F. Alsina Capo married Rosa Latimer, a beautiful woman of Corsican descendance, and settled in the Caribbean island, US CommonwealthCommonwealth
Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic."More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations...
of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, immediately following World War II. The entire family, along with parents and uncles and other relatives, quickly established themselves there and it was not long before they once again became well known in business, social, and political circles. The marriage of young Manuel and Rosa did not last, however, and not long after their fourth child, Maria Celeste Alsina Latimer, was born, the couple divorced following a bitter separation. The other older children were Manuel Fernando, Jose Antonio, and Rosa Gemma.
Manolin, as Dr. Manuel Alsina had become affectionately known to his family and friends, served shortly after in the US Navy Medical Branch as surgeon and for a time was stationed in the Pacific during the Korean-American War.
Upon his return to civilian life, Manolin met and married Norma Mercedes Gonzalez Sapia, daughter of Spaniard and Italian immigrant Antonio Gonzalez and Francesa Sapia Bosch. Antonio, head of the accounting department of one of Puerto Rico's main sugar mills at the time, was brother of Avelino Gonzalez, a well-known and beloved local inventor and founder of the highly successful Puerto Rican socialite retreat, the Ponce Yacht and Fishing Club.
Norma's mother, Francesca, was a well-known, cherished, and highly spirited lady who widowed at an early age, but with financial support from her brothers, Washington D.C.-resident U.S. Army General Timothy Sapia-Bosch, Banco de Ponce
Banco de Ponce
Banco de Ponce was one the largest banks in Puerto Rico. In 1990 it merged with Banco Popular creating Puerto Rico's largest bank. At this time, Banco Popular's holding company changed its name to BanPonce Corporation. Banco de Ponce had established an agency in New York that it had converted to a...
Vice-President Salvatore (a.k.a. Salvador) Sapia-Bosch, and little sister Esther Armstrong
Armstrong
- Places :* Armstrong Creek , various placesArgentina* Armstrong, Santa FeAustralia* Armstrong, VictoriaCanada* Armstrong, British Columbia* Armstrong, Ontario* Armstrong, Thunder Bay District, OntarioUnited States...
Sapia, plus her lifelong friends Rosa Serralles, Ada Valdivieso, Joaquin Villafañe, and the Cortada, Covas, and Vendrell families among others, and so Francesca, who had become locally known as Francisca and then as "Paquita", was able to raise and bring her children up (William, Edmee, Norma and Jorge Antonio) comfortably amid the difficult and perilous World War II years.
Indeed, Paquita was very glad to have her youngest daughter Norma marry Manolin, despite him being a divorcee. Elder daughter Edmee had previously married Jaime Vicens, a very successful businessman and brother of well-known sports figure and idol Pachin Vicens, and of Enrique "Coco" Vicens
Enrique A. Vicéns
Enrique "Coco" Alberto Vicéns Sastre was born in Ciales, Puerto Rico. His brother was Juan "Pachín" Vicéns. He was a senator-at-large in the Puerto Rico State Legislature from 1973 until 1978. He is a member of Phi Sigma Alpha fraternity. He played for the Leones de Ponce basketball team.By 1952...
, well-known doctor and ex-Senator of Puerto Rico
Senate of Puerto Rico
The Senate of Puerto Rico is the upper house of the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico, the territorial legislature of Puerto Rico. The Senate is composed of 27 senators, representing eight constituent senatorial districts across the commonwealth, with two senators elected per district; an...
. Son William, to his credit, was well respected locally for having been Puerto Rico's top swimmer at one point, having been able in his twenties to swim from one island to another without tiring. He married the beautiful Mercedes Frau, a charming lady from one of Puerto Rico's most prestigious families at the time. Finally, Jorge the youngest of the four, graduated from College after serving in the US Army in Washington, D.C., subsequently marrying sweetheart Mercedes Clavell Arias, then positioning himself as Upjohn Pharmaceutical's European General Manager.
From Manolin's marriage to Norma Mercedes were born, in this order, Manuel Antonio (a.k.a., Monty, deceased 1986), Fernando Rafael, Elizabeth-Ann and Lee-Ann (twins, the latter who died as an infant while still in the hospital), Lila Mercedes and Angel Eduardo.
Medical profession
Manolin co-founded and was President of the Asociacion de Urologos de Puerto Rico in 1957.Dr. Manuel F. Alsina Capo loved his social, political and sports life and throughout his existence dedicated himself to serving and promoting everything from boxing, track and field, swimming, baseball, basketball, Sports Clubs and national and international sports competitions...also as an avid Republican and personal friend of Luis Alberto Ferre Aguayo, Manolin, along with Nelson Escalona and Ferre Aguayo, founded the New Progressive Party
New Progressive Party
The New Progressive Party is a name used by various political parties:* New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico* New Progressive Party -See also:*Progressive Party *List of political parties by name...
in 1967, once again a statehood-oriented political party which in less than a year won the general elections and put its Party President Luis A. Ferré
Luis A. Ferré
Don Luis Alberto Ferré Aguayo was a Puerto Rican engineer, industrialist, politician, philanthropist, and a patron of the arts. He was the third Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from 1969 to 1973, and the founding father of the New Progressive Party which advocates for Puerto Rico...
in the governor's
Governor of Puerto Rico
The Governor of Puerto Rico is the Head of Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Since 1948, the Governor has been elected by the people of Puerto Rico...
seat for the next four years.
Civil service
Manolin also served as President of the Ponce, Puerto RicoPonce, Puerto Rico
Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
, City Hall Assembly, for four years, while maintaining his medical profession. Some of his house guests included George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
.
Upon wife Norma's passing away to liver cancer in 1987, Manolin became very distraught and despite intense counseling from many of his loyal friends to dissuade him eventually married Mildred Freyre Gonzalez, a very wealthy woman of whom few of Manolin's friends and acquaintances approved.
Final years
Manolin's final years were spent in a nursing homeNursing home
A nursing home, convalescent home, skilled nursing unit , care home, rest home, or old people's home provides a type of care of residents: it is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living...
where few people could visit him, eventually passing away on February 9, 2008, two days before his next birthday.