Aníbal Meléndez Rivera

Aníbal Meléndez Rivera was born on November 11, 1948, in Naguabo, Puerto Rico. His parents are Luis Meléndez and Angélica Rivera. He grew up in Daguao, a barrio of Naguabo. He graduated from the Rafael Rocca High School of Naguabo.

In 1965, Meléndez enrolled at the University of Puerto Rico at Humacao. He received his Bachelor's degree in 1969, and then completed a Master's in Business Administration.

Since his youth, Meléndez distinguished himself as an athlete, specifically in baseball and track and field. He played Class A and Double AA baseball, the latter with Cataño. In later years, he was involved with the Cariduros de Fajardo team in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional league, serving as sports commentator for 18 years, and also as owner of the team.

Meléndez worked as a college professor at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico Fajardo Campus, with the Business Administration faculty. He also occupied several administrative positions with the Government of Puerto Rico.

Meléndez was first elected as mayor of Fajardo at the 1988 general elections. After that, he has been reelected on seven consecutive terms (1992, 1996, 2000, 2004,[1] 2008, 2012 and 2016). For the 2008 general elections, He is also a former President of the Puerto Rico Mayors Federation, Meléndez received more than 70% of the votes. His margin of victory was the second largest, after Aníbal Vega Borges of Toa Baja.[2]

Amibal Meléndez Rivera presented his resignation as Mayor of Fajardo after 31 years of in office effective February 19, 2020.[3]

Meléndez met his future wife, Diana Méndez, while in college. They have three children together: Grace, Diana, and José Aníbal. The latter served as Sergeant at Arms of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives until resigning March 2011 due to a positive drug test result. [4]

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