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Alceu Collares, First Black Governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Dies at 97 from Multiple Organ Failure

Dec 24, 2024, 12:25 PM

Alceu Collares, the former governor of Rio Grande do Sul and a founder of the PDT, passed away at the age of 97. He was admitted to the ICU of Hospital Mãe de Deus in Porto Alegre on December 16 due to severe pneumonia and his health deteriorated to a critical state. Collares, who served as governor from 1991 to 1995 and was the first and only black governor of Rio Grande do Sul, succumbed to multiple organ failure. He had been diagnosed with pulmonary emphysema eight years prior. His death has been mourned by political figures and authorities, who highlighted his legacy in social justice, workers' rights, and education through the establishment of the Centros Integrados de Educação Pública (Cieps), a pioneering model of full-time schools. The current governor, Eduardo Leite, declared three days of official mourning. Collares' wake will be held at the Palácio Piratini, and his burial will take place at the Jardim da Paz Cemetery in Porto Alegre.