Born in Santiago, Dominican Republic, where his father was at work on an engineering project, Valverde was raised in Charlotte, North Carolina and then in Santurce, Puerto Rico. A graduate of the Class of 1957 ROTC program from the University of Puerto Rico with a BBA in Management and Accounting, he decided to join the Army. The enlistment turned into a career, taking Fernando on a string of assignments, including a 3 year stay in Germany, 1 year in the Dominican Republic in 1965, with the 82nd Airborne division and finally 2 missions to South Vietnam, as a Logistics Officer.
Discharged in 1970 as Distinguished Military Graduate with the rank of captain, Valverde transitioned into civilian life by means of a temporary stint at his father's Peugeot's dealer in Puerto Rico. Within a few months he had adjusted and walked into the first of many managerial positions in public relations that would lead to his stature as one of the top practitioners in the field.
"Defense of the profession " was his mantra. Always urging preparation and official accreditation of practitioners, he turned his focus into a crusade when in 1980 he became a professor at Sagrado Corazon University's newly launched School of Public Communication. Valverde was instrumental in establishing the Graduate Program in Public Relations, Puerto Rico's first, in 1985.
After eight years in the service in Armor, Quartermaster and Airborne and 32 years experience, Valverde was the author of two books on advanced public relations and is an accredited and a Fellow by the Public Relations Society of America.
"Service and charity to others" as a board member of: United Way, Boy Scouts, Salvation Army, Make-a-Wish Foundation, among others. In addition, he was cofounder of the Poinciana Medical Center.
Fernando was an avid sports enthusiast participating in many sports from a young age. Baseball, tennis, table tennis and chess were his favorites. He was an accomplished tennis player in Puerto Rico and in Solivita, where he and his wife had retired in 2003.
He also enjoyed classical music, the theater, movies and The Three Stooges.
Survived by his dear wife, Idalia;
Daughter's: Mary (Guy Decker),
Virginia (Bill Allen),
Emilie (Freddy Arroyo);
Son: Fernando Jr. (Marie Valle);
7 grandchildren & 3 great grandchildren;
Brother: Manuel (Blanca Bonnet)
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