Salvador Tormo
Salvador Tormo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Died | September 7, 1960 Uruguay |
| NSA member | A.B.C.P.U. 1957 - 1960 |
Salvador Tormo (d. September 7, 1960) was an Argentinean Bahá’í who assisted in the administrative development of the Bahá’í community of South America and was named a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh for pioneering to the Juan Fernández Islands.
Biography[edit]
Tormo and his wife, Adela, were introduced to the Bahá’í Faith by Frances Stewart in 1939 and they became the first Argentinean Bahá’ís. In 1940 he was elected as inaugural chairman of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Buenos Aires and in 1944 he represented Argentina at the Bahá’í All-American Convention.[1] In July 1941 he received the following letter from Shoghi Effendi:
"I was truly delighted to receive your letter and I am truly proud of the work which you and your collaborators have thus far achieved. For the success of your efforts of your historic assembly (Buenos Aires) I will specially and fervently pray. Be assured and never relax in your meritorious efforts, which the Beloved, whom you serve so splendidly, will assuredly bless. May He enable you to follow the footsteps of that valiant soul, May Maxwell, whose dust reposes in your city and whose association with your Center through her self—sacrifice and death is an eternal inspiration to all who labor in your promising country."[2]
In 1945 the Tormo's donated a property to the Faith which made it possible to found a Bahá’í Summer School for Argentina.[3]
The Tormo's pioneered to Robinson Crusoe Island, the largest of the the Juan Fernández Islands, in 1953 arriving on November 7 and they were named Knights of Bahá’u’lláh.[1] Shortly after arriving they were able to establish a Local Spiritual Assembly,[4] and they departed the islands in 1955 when Frances Stewart was able to pioneer in their place.[5] Tormo translated the Kitab-i-Iqan into Spanish while living in the islands.[1]
In 1956 Tormo represented Argentina at the first South American Bahá’í Congress held in Buenos Aires,[5] and in 1957 he was elected to the inaugural Regional Spiritual Assembly of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay.[5] He was also appointed manager of the Bahá’í Publishing Trust based in Buenos Aires in 1957 and he translated many Bahá’í writings into Spanish while serving in the role.[2]
In 1960 Tormo was elected Secretary of the Regional Spiritual Assembly,[5] however that year he died in a plane crash in Uruguay while travelling for a teaching trip to Paraguay.[6]
After his passing the Hands of the Cause in the Holy Land cabled the following:
GRIEVED NEWS PASSING SALVADOR TORMO EARLY LATIN AMERICAN BELIEVER LONG STANDING INDEFATIGABLE SERVICES UNFORGETTABLE EXTEND LOVING SYMPATHY FAMILY FRIENDS ASSURE ARDENT PRAYERS HOLY SHRINES[6]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Redman, E. The Knights of Bahá’u’lláh, 2017, George Ronald: London, p 225
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1970). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 13 (1954-1963), Pg(s) 909. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (1945). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. No 177, Pg(s) 2. View as PDF.
- ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1970). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 13 (1954-1963), Pg(s) 908. View as PDF.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Redman, E. The Knights of Bahá’u’lláh, 2017, George Ronald: London, p 226
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Baha'i News (1960). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 356, Pg(s) 3. View as PDF.
