Also refer to our section on Brazil.

Ernesto Imbassahy de Mello

Theme

"To Dignify the Human Being"

Home Club: Rotary Club de Niterói, Brazil

Birth: 25 July 1908, in Rio de Janeiro-RJ

Death: 12 June 12, 1993, in Rio de Janeiro-RJ

Spouse: Acacia Mello of Brazil

Imbassahy joined the Rotary Club of Niteroi on 4 July 1935, under the classification of Law. He held nearly all the offices and committees positions in that club, including the chairman in 1942-43.

He was then Governor of District 27, director of the Rotary International for South America, 2nd Vice President of RI for 1955-56, and also served as the Rotary president and member of several committees.

As President of Rotary International 1975-76, offered his significant motto: "The DIGNIFICAR BE HUMAN" (To Dignify the Human Being").

During his term as President, he visited 40 countries and all states of Brazil. He was decorated with the degree of Commander, by the governments of Brazil, Panama, Dominican Republic, Colombia and Italy. He was Curator of the Rotary Foundation for six years and its Chairman for two years.

Imbassahy officially participated in programmes of international assemblies, regional conferences and dozens of district assemblies and conferences and was on several occasions, leader of group discussions of Governors in the international assembly.

He was a member of the Committee on Legislation and chairman of Committees of Alert of RI, and represented district chairmen in various conferences in Brazil and abroad

He authored and edited many articles relating to Rotary meetings were published for the benefit of visitors, keen to return home with copies in their luggage.

Brazilian, Imbassahy Ernesto de Mello was born on July 25, 1908, in Rio de Janeiro. He was the son of Dr. Vital de Melo and Judith Imbassahy de Mello. He married Acacia de Melo, with whom he had a daughter and two sons.

He began his working life at 17 years of age in several positions including at the "Cia Brasileira de Electricity" in Niteroi; for 8 years as employee in various machine tool factories, as operator of mechanical cutters, then into the electricity production industry as an operator in sub-stations processing distribution, and was sub-chief and later head of the Department of Meters and Laboratory Testing.

He was Director of the School of Labor (School Henrique Lage), vocational technical education, under the government of Ary Parreiras. He was Director of the "Institute Vital Brazil"; Director-President of "Cia Brasileira de Water and Sewage" of Niteroi; Director of "ACESITA", the mining company of Portland Cement Co. for "Cement and Pains S/A" in Minas Gerais.

Imbassahy was adviser to the President Macedo Soares in the National Conference of Industry and member of the Economic Council of that entity.

Legal Counsel, lawyer and prosecutor of Caixa Economica Federal in the State of Rio for more than 30 years. He was Judge of the Regional Electoral Court of the State of Rio de Janeiro for two decades, and lawyer and legal adviser of various entities and enterprises.

Bachelor of Law at the Faculty of Law at the University of Rio de Janeiro in 1935, where he was also in the course of obtaining his doctorate in law. Among several other courses and studies, did the course of Economics of ECLAC and the course of the Superior School of War. He published several valuable works in these areas of interest.

Dedicated to civic activities, he was chairman of the committee that erected the monument to Admiral Ary Parreiras in Niteroi, and was secretary of the reception committee of the Brazilian Expedicionária Force in Niteroi. He was a Naval reservist.

Active in sport as a youth, joined the Club de Regatas Icaraí as swimmer, and doubled as a water-polo champion.
Lawyer by profession, a member of the Bar of Brazil and the Brazilian Institute of Lawyers.

Idealistic, a worshiper, unmatched spirit of public duty, modest, skilful and communicative, Imbassahy gave everything of himself in favour of disclosure of the purpose of Rotary's credibility, as veteran member of the Rotary Club of Niteroi, and as a delegate President of Rotary International. The most important events in Brazil and abroad, where, with his verve, given with great knowledge, enthusiasm and optimism.

With the peace that characterised him, and to which we all aspire, Imbassahy died on June 12, 1993, in Rio de Janeiro at 85 years of age, creating a legend for us to miss greatly but for all Rotarians to copy.

(Source: Leng. Jose Silvano Bridges - Rotary pamphlet)  with acknowledgement

posted by RGHF Webmaster Greg Barlow 22 August 2008