Alejandro Caceres, who handed away on November 23, 2021, is remembered by associates, colleagues and household as a passionate trainer, musician and mentor.
Brianna Janssen Sánchez, a coordinator of trainer training at Southern Illinois College, mentioned she’d initially deliberate to pursue an undergraduate diploma in biology earlier than taking a category with Caceres. She modified majors due to his encouragement.
“It seems that I used to be actually good in Spanish,” Sanchez mentioned. “Now that I replicate on it, after all, after he’s gone, he actually modified the course of my life.”
Caceres was born in Montevideo, Uruguay, and got here to the U.S. in 1979 on a music scholarship via the Group of American States, in line with an obituary written by his pal of 42 years, Charles Slinger. Caceres earned undergraduate levels in piano efficiency and choral conducting, and a masters and doctoral diploma in Spanish literature from Indiana College.
In 1994, Cacares grew to become an affiliate professor at SIU, the place he performed an lively function supporting college students past his place as a trainer.
“I had received an award via pupil athletics, an instructional athletic award, and he joined me,” Janssen Sánchez mentioned. “Earlier than I used to be even a Spanish main, he joined me at that occasion, and I simply felt like having that help so early on from someone who wasn’t even a significant, that in all probability had an impression on me,”
Caceres additionally continued to share his love of music with the SIU neighborhood.
“This 12 months I chaired an occasion known as World Languages Day, and Dr. Caceres wasn’t in a position to take part. The occasion has been occurring for 45 years,” Janssen Sánchez mentioned. “We thought of him lots as a result of he was an avid participant. He danced the tango, and he performed the piano, and he was so concerned.”
The eagerness Caceres had for a wide range of topics was core to his capability to attach with college students, Janssen Sánchez mentioned.
“One factor I keep in mind was a undertaking that we did in one in all his literature courses, and I didn’t actually establish as a lot with literature as another college students in this system,” Janssen Sánchez mentioned. “He might have mentioned, ‘No, that’s not proper. I don’t suppose that’s the way in which you must go.’ Moderately than try this he simply actually let college students type of discover their very own manner with the fabric, and make their very own connections.”
Caceres is survived by his sister, Carmen Caceres de Cuneo, brother in legislation Roberto Cuneo, a nephew Roberto Cuneo Caceres, nieces Natalia Perez de Cuneo and Gabriela Cuneo Caceres, a terrific niece Emelia Cuneo Perez and an aunt Hilda Faroppa de Caceres all of Montivideo.
He lived to the age of 75.
A memorial service for Caceres will probably be held on March 26 at 11 a.m. at The Church of St. Francis Xavier, 303 S Poplar St.
Jason Flynn could be reached at [email protected], by cellphone at 872-222-7821 or on Twitter at @dejasonflynn. To remain updated with all of your southern Illinois information, comply with the Each day Egyptian on Fb and Twitter.