Sergio Ossa
Sergio Ossa | |
|---|---|
| Minister of National Defense | |
| In office 22 October 1969 – 3 November 1970 | |
| President | Eduardo Frei Montalva |
| Preceded by | Tulio Marambio |
| Succeeded by | Alejandro Ríos Valdivia |
| Minister of Public Works and Transport | |
| In office 13 December 1967 – 12 November 1969 | |
| President | Eduardo Frei Montalva |
| Preceded by | Creation of the office |
| Succeeded by | Eugenio Celedón Silva |
| Minister of Public Works | |
| In office 7 September 1967 – 13 December 1967 | |
| President | Eduardo Frei Montalva |
| Preceded by | Edmundo Pérez Zujovic |
| Succeeded by | Last in office |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 8, 1919 Viña del Mar, Chile |
| Died | September 22, 2012 (aged 92) Santiago, Chile |
| Political party | Falange Nacional (1939–1957) Christian Democratic Party (1957–2012) |
| Spouse | María de la Luz Errázuriz C. |
| Children | 7 |
| Parent(s) | Carlos Ossa Carolina Pretot |
| Relatives | Alejandro Errázuriz Mackenna (father-in-law) |
| Alma mater | Pontifical Catholic University of Chile |
| Occupation | Civil engineer, businessman, politician |
Jaime Sergio Ossa Pretot (Viña del Mar, 8 November 1919 – Santiago, 22 September 2012) was a Chilean civil engineer, businessman, and Christian Democratic politician. He served as minister of state during the last part of the administration of President Eduardo Frei Montalva.
Early life
[edit]He was the son of Carlos Ossa Videla and Carolina Pretot Prieto.[1] He studied at the Instituto Andrés Bello in Santiago and later at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, where he graduated as a civil engineer with a thesis entitled Bridge and crane for loading and unloading at docks.[1]
Business career
[edit]From 1951 to 1962 he served as president of the Unión Social de Empresarios Cristianos. He also headed the charity Fundación Mi Casa between 1950 and 1958.
Together with friends Domingo Santa María Santa Cruz and Andrés Donoso Larraín, he co-founded in 1960 the engineering company Sigdo Koppers, which remains active.[2]
Political career
[edit]In 1964 he was appointed presidential adviser for social promotion policies.[3][4]
In September 1967 he was named Minister of Public Works, and in December the portfolio was expanded to include Transport. During his tenure he promoted works such as the elevated highway between Valparaíso and Viña del Mar and the Lo Prado Tunnel.[3]
In 1969 he became Minister of National Defense, where he played a role in calming the military unrest during the Tacnazo incident.[1][3][4]
In February 1970, leftist deputies filed a constitutional accusation against him, holding him responsible for unpaid pension adjustments to retired personnel of the Chilean Armed Forces. The National Party joined the accusation. The motion was approved in the Chamber of Deputies but rejected by a single vote in the Senate.
From 1975 to 1990 he was executive president of Minmetal Ingeniería, a company he had founded.[5]
In 1990, President Patricio Aylwin appointed him Chile's Ambassador to the Holy See, a position he held until 1995. He also served as president of the Hogar de Cristo foundation and was involved in the board of Radio Cooperativa.[3][6]
Death
[edit]He died in Santiago in 2012 at the age of 92.[3][6]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Armando de Ramón et al., Biografías de chilenos: miembros de los poderes Ejecutivo, Legislativo y Judicial (1876–1973), Vol. III, Ediciones Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, 2003, pp. 211–212.
- ^ El Mercurio (Santiago), 10 June 2006, p. C10.
- ^ a b c d e Radio Cooperativa, 24 September 2012
- ^ a b El Mercurio (Santiago), 24 September 2012, p. C4.
- ^ El Mercurio (Santiago), 18 March 2002, p. B13.
- ^ a b La Tercera, 22 September 2012