Pulmonologist and former President of the Fundación Ópera de Oviedo Jaime Martínez González-Río has passed away. He had overcome laryngeal cancer in the past, but was diagnosed with a pancreatic tumor earlier this year.

According to La Nueva España, González-Río was a beloved and respected physician with two passions: rugby and opera. He was exposed to operatic pieces from a young age, listening to his father sing while shaving.

He earned his Bachelor’s from Universidad Complutense de Madrid and went on to study respiratory diseases at the Jiménez Díaz Foundation in Madrid and complete his training at Columbia University.

The physician became involved with Ópera de Oviedo by chance in September of 2003, when two days before the start of the opera season he received a call from Teatro Campoamor asking him to attend a rehearsal for Mozart’s “Idomeneo.” It was there that they explained how Ópera de Oviedo was in need of a president, and that the Board of Directors would back him unanimously. He accepted, and held the position until 2018.

González-Río was, says El Comercio, “responsible for raising the passion of opera to the point where it is at this very moment, making [Oviedo] one of the Spanish capitals of the genre.”

Ópera de Oviedo shared the news of his passing via social media: “It’s impossible to explain with words so much sadness. You will always be with us. We will take care of your huge legacy and keep alive the example of your honesty, integrity, generosity and love for the opera. We love you so much Jaime.”