les News—In Memoriam
In Memoriam—Fernando Pombo (1943-2011) by Fernando Noetinger, LESI Past President
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n November 4, 2011, with the passing of Fernando Pombo, LESI lost one of those persons that go through life leaving lasting memories on everyone who was ever acquainted with him. For many years, he fought bravely against an illness that he faced with the same determination and strength as he led his professional and family life, that is, with dedication and effort. It is not easy to make an account of the life of Fernando Pombo to the LESI community. He was passionate about music and yachting, an honest and fine international lawyer —both in his knowledge and in his beliefs— a generous and model husband, dear father and grandfather —as his wife Carmen, his children Clara, Regina, Carmen and Vindio, as well as his seven grandchildren, may clearly testify. I met Fernando in 1971, when we both worked at the same professional organization. In that year, together with Ignacio Gómez Acebo, he founded what would become one of the most important law firms in Spain: Gómez-Acebo & Pombo. This was the start of a professional project with roots in his studies at the University of Oviedo and the University Complutense at Madrid, as well as in his Doctorate in Geneva and the Max Planck Institute at Munich. In 1982, at a meeting of LESI
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Delegates in Vienna, Bill Poms —the then President of LESI— told him that he was being considered as the next LESI President. Undoubtedly, it was a great honor that being only 39-years old he had been considered as leader of such a renowned organization as LESI. Thus, by the end of 1983, in Québec and at the young age of 40 years, Fernando succeeded Henry Hodding as President of LESI, in what would be a great administration which is still in the memories of all those that experienced his dedication and efforts for the benefit of our association. Fernando continued to be involved with LESI until his responsibilities at the International Bar Association (IBA) demanded increasingly more time, which logically led him to concentrate his efforts in the different responsibilities he faced. This did not mean that all those members who knew him would ignore him. He was the President of the International Bar Association in 2007 and 2008, after serving as Treasurer, Secretary and Vice-President, and also left an enduring memory in that organization. Fernando was an inveterate traveler, professor and lecturer who shared his knowledge and expertise, and never kept to himself whatever he felt could be of interest to his audience. He led every project he conceived, and did so with the same simplicity and humility that characterized his life.
Licensing Executives Society International
One of his last projects was the creation of Fundación Fernando Pombo, aimed at developing and promoting social responsibility among lawyers. Fernando’s personality made a deep mark in all of us, but one of his more outstanding qualities was especially important to all his friends and colleagues: his listening capacity. His generosity was readily visible in his conversations; it was easy to note that Fernando listened to his occasional conversational partner, in the broadest sense of the word. No matter the subject, Fernando would listen with interest, in a dialogue that was enriching to all. In other words, Fernando did not merely lend us his ear; he would dedicate entirely his time no matter which other matters needed his attention. In our times, when dialogue often seems to be a dialogue of the deaf, Fernando always lent his ear and his mind to his conversational partner. Dear Fernando, the large number of your LESI friends who today remember you with affection and admiration mourn your loss with sadness. Thank you, Fernando, for your teachings; thank you for the moments we shared; thank you for your leadership; thank you for listening to us attentively; thank you very much for your generous friendship. May you rest in peace. ■