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MEXICO CITY (AP) — Fernando González, who spent many years overlaying and directing main tales for The Related Press throughout Latin America, from papal visits to frame skirmishes, hurricanes and hostage standoffs, has died in Havana.
González, 60, died at his residence early Monday after struggling a coronary heart assault, Cuba’s forensic drugs director mentioned.
Gregarious and seemingly inexhaustible, González was particularly sturdy and compassionate in disaster conditions, each overlaying the information and tirelessly organizing assist when colleagues have been ailing or injured.
“Fernando represented the very best of AP. He was a terrific journalist and liked the large tales,” mentioned AP Government Editor Julie Tempo. “He was additionally a heat and caring colleague, somebody whose affect was felt throughout all corners of the group. He might be dearly missed.”
Born in Uruguay, González graduated from highschool in Santiago, Chile, after which attended the College of Miami. He labored for a neighborhood radio station earlier than finally shifting into information manufacturing, typically freelancing for The Related Press in Latin America.
González joined the AP full time in 2002 as senior producer for tv information in Havana. He moved to Washington, D.C., in 2014 as regional video editor for Latin America and the Caribbean after which to Mexico Metropolis because the AP’s deputy information director for the area in 2016. González returned to Cuba in 2020 as information director for the Caribbean and Andes.
Among the many main tales he coated have been the 1996 hostage siege on the Japanese ambassador’s residence in Peru, Hurricane Mitch’s devastating affect on Central America in 1998, and the 2004 coup that overthrew Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
In 2007 González reported from Antarctica on the go to of U.N Secretary-Common Ban Ki-moon.
González additionally coated three papal journeys to Cuba by St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis, in addition to President Barack Obama’s historic go to in 2016 and the loss of life of former Cuban President Fidel Castro later that 12 months.
“He was a very good individuals individual, and really charming, so he was in a position to get into locations others may discover difficult — a real raconteur, amiable and sensible,” mentioned Chris Gillette, senior video producer for the AP in Brazil and a highschool classmate of González.
He’s survived by his spouse Lisa, youngsters Maria Linda and Nicolas, and three grandchildren, in addition to his mother and father.
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