Waleska, as we affectionately called her, was born in Rio de Janeiro on 10 March 1946 and passed away on 22 May 2017, leaving behind an indelible memory and an example of how to live life.
She was a brilliant educator who built a career marked by dedication and excellence at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC/Rio). She joined the University in 1964 to study Education and later completed her PhD in the field of education at the same institution. She undertook postdoctoral studies at the University of Lisbon.
She devoted more than fifty years to academia, spanning teaching, scholarly research and academic administration. The dedication, ethics and commitment that characterised her professional career inspired generations of educators. Her intellectual output also constituted a fundamental contribution to the history of education in Brazil. We are confident that her innovative research will continue to shape the field of education. In 2016, she was appointed full professor, a natural achievement in the professional journey she undertook with such dedication and competence.
The various tributes paid to Waleska served to confirm not only just how widely recognised and loved she was, but also just how special she was to all those who enjoyed her company.
Qualities such as being generous, affectionate, dedicated, committed, competent, intelligent, charismatic, caring, inclusive, a fighter, cheerful, defiant, consistent, intense and brilliant, among many others, were repeatedly highlighted by those who spent time with her on various occasions and at different stages of her life and in different settings.
With a strong, brilliant and productive presence, Waleska made her mark on various national and international institutions – universities, associations, institutes, study and research groups, non-governmental organisations, among others – in the fields of public and private education, and higher education, particularly in the area of the History of Education.
At PUC/Rio, she influenced students, colleagues and collaborators through her passion and expertise. Sometimes with gentleness, at other times with energy, but always with sound reasoning and constructive criticism, she remained true to her convictions regarding what she considered relevant and appropriate, not only for the training of the educators under her responsibility, but also for Brazilian education as a whole, from a transformative perspective aimed at building a fairer and more dignified society for everyone.
She was actively involved with the NGO Nuevamerica from its inception in 1991, and with *Revista Nuevamerica* from 1997, when it began to be published in Brazil. At the magazine, as a member of its local Technical Committee and of meetings of the continental Editorial Board, Waleska was able to contribute in various ways: by taking part in the planning and evaluation meetings, she helped ensure the success and refinement of each issue. The editorials she wrote – of which there were many and which she always wrote with pleasure – were not only eagerly awaited but also highly praised. From the very beginning, she supported the presence of the NGO Nuevamerica in Sapucaia, taking part in the life of rural communities, in marches and demonstrations in defence of rights, in holiday missions, and in teacher training workshops.
As a member of the Teresian Association within the ACIT-Brazil association since 1988, she played an active role in the life of the association, demonstrating commitment and shared responsibility. She served on the Executive Committee and the Formation Team. She mentored several new members, passing on and inspiring the Teresian vocation, and helping to foster the human, spiritual and Teresian growth of all those around her. Always deeply Teresian and committed to human development through education and culture, she lived out her vocation with great enthusiasm. She was part of the team that organised prayer meetings at the headquarters, moments of intense exchange and growth for the Associative Unity of the Teresian Association in Brazil. She also played an active role in the Socio-Educational Movement and in various seminars on the Socio-Educational Proposal ‘Educating in Difficult Times’, promoted by the TA across the Americas.
Maite Uribe wrote of her: ‘Ana was a woman much loved by all, who carried the Teresian Association in her heart and lived out her vocation with generosity and dedication. Always faithful and committed to the message of Jesus, she leaves us a legacy of joy, integrity and friendship.’
TA Brazil.
TA Translation Team.
Published in Profiles