José de Jesús Martínez

José de Jesús Martínez (also known as "Chuchú Martínez" or "Sergeant Chuchú") (June 8, 1929 in Managua – January 27, 1991 in Panama) was a poet, playwright, philosopher, pilot and mathematician and a former aide to General Omar Torrijos Herrera, ruler of Panama from 1968 to 1981. Through his association with Torrijos, Martínez became a major figure in Graham Greene's 1984 book Getting to Know the General: The Story of an Involvement.

Early life

Martínez was born in Managua in 1929.

Career

Martínez became a Panamanian citizen and an aide to General Omar Torrijos Herrera, ruler of Panama from 1968 to 1981. Martínez was known as "Chuchú Martínez" in the intellectual circles, and later as "Sergeant Chuchu" among the military.

Martínez was professor of Marxist philosophy at Panama University and also professor of mathematics.[1]

In literature, Martínez was awarded the National Theater Prize in Madrid in 1952 for his play, La Perrera. In 1969 and 1971 he won Panama's national literary prize Premio Ricardo Miro for his plays and philosophical essays. For his book, Mi General Torrijos (1987) he won Cuba's Casa de Las Americas prize.[2]

Through his association with Torrijos, Martínez became a major figure in Graham Greene's 1984 book Getting to Know the General: The Story of an Involvement.[2]

Death

Martínez died, aged 61, in 1991.[2]

Selected publications
  • La perrera. c. 1952.
  • Enemigos. 1962.
  • Aquí, ahora. 1963.
  • Poemas a ella. 1963.
  • La retreta. 1964.
  • Amor no a ti, contigo. 1965.
  • Poemas a mí. 1966.
  • Amanecer de Ulises. 1967.
  • One Way. 1967.
  • 0 y van 3. 1970.
  • Teatro. San José, Costa Rica, 1971.
  • El caso Dios. 1975.
  • Mi General Torrijos. 1987.

References
  1. Greene, Graham. (1984) Getting to know the general: The story of an involvement. London: Bodley Head. Cover notes. ISBN 0370308085
  2. Jose de Jesus Martinez, Ex-Torrijos Aide, 61. The New York Times. Originally published 29 January 1991. Retrieved 9 November 2015.


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