ICE founder, former Vice President Jorge Manuel Dengo dies at 93

Former Costa Rican Vice President Jorge Manuel Dengo died Monday in his home at age 93, according to multiple reports. He died from respiratory failure after a bout with pneumonia.

Dengo acted as vice president during Oscar Arias’ first government between 1986 and 1990. In 1949, he founded the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) and was its first general director. He served as foreign trade minister from 1982 until 1986. 

Dengo also founded the National Emergency Commission in 1994, for which he received an environmental award in 2005 (TT, Nov 11, 2005).

“We have lost our dear Jorge Manuel Dengo, an integral man, a role model. He leaves his mark on all Costa Ricans,” President Laura Chinchilla wrote on her Twitter account Monday night.