José María Rico

José María Rico Cueto (August 12, 1934[1] – April 15, 2019)[2] was a Spanish-born Costa Rican lawyer and writer specializing in criminal law who served as the First Gentleman of Costa Rica during the presidency of his wife, former President Laura Chinchilla, from 2010 to 2014. Rico was the first First Gentleman in Costa Rica's history and has been the only First Gentleman of Costa Rica as of 2023.

José María Rico
First Gentleman of Costa Rica
In role
May 8, 2010 – May 8, 2014
PresidentLaura Chinchilla
Preceded byLeila Rodríguez Stahl
Vacant (2006–2010)
Succeeded byMercedes Peñas Domingo
Personal details
Born(1934-08-12)August 12, 1934
Granada, Andalusia, Spain
DiedApril 15, 2019(2019-04-15) (aged 84)
San José, Costa Rica
Alma materUniversity of Granada
University of Montreal
ProfessionLawyer

Biography

Born in Loja, Granada, Spain,[3] he moved in 1965 to Montreal to pursue his career in international law; he would hold Canadian citizenship for the rest of his life.[1] From there he traveled frequently to Latin America and the United States. He was a lawyer and expert in penal code.[4]

In 1990, Rico met his future wife, Laura Chinchilla, while both were working as consultants for the Center for the Administration of Justice at the University of Florida in Miami.[2] The couple had a son, José María Rico Chinchilla, in 1996 and married on March 26, 2000.[5]

On July 11, 2010, Rico accidentally slipped and fell after watching the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final with Chinchilla at a hotel in Nandayure Canton. He suffered massive fractures in his hipbone, femur, and ribs. The next day he was airlifted to Hospital CIMA where he successfully underwent surgery.[6]

Rico was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2016.[2] In March 2019, he was hospitalized at the Hospital Metropolitano in San Jose, Costa Rica, as his health rapidly declined.[7] Rico died in the same hospital from complications of Alzheimer's disease on April 15, 2019, at the age of 84.[2]

References
  1. Minsky Acosta, Larissa (28 February 2010). "El Primer Caballero" [The First Gentleman]. La Nación (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 5 March 2010.
  2. Láscarez, Carlos (2019-04-15). "Muere José María Rico, esposo de la expresidenta Laura Chinchilla". La Nación (San José). Archived from the original on 2019-04-16. Retrieved 2019-04-21.
  3. Carvajal, Erick (13 February 2010). "El hombre que se robó el corazón de Laura" [The man who stole Laura's heart]. Periódico Al Día (in Spanish).
  4. Vallejo, Mar (29 June 2009). "Un granadino, presidente consorte" [A Granadan President Consort]. ideal.es (in Spanish).
  5. "Costa Rican electoral register (name search)". Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones, República de Costa Rica. 8 May 2010. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  6. Oviedo, Esteban (13 July 2010). "Esposo de la Presidenta supera cirugía tras caída" [President's husband withstands surgery after fall]. La Nación (in Spanish).
  7. "Fallece José María Rico, esposo de Laura Chinchilla". La Teja (Costa Rica). 2019-04-16. Archived from the original on 2019-04-18. Retrieved 2019-04-21.
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