Eugenio Mendoza
Encyclopedia
Eugenio Mendoza Goiticoa (Caracas
, November 13, 1906, October 17, 1979) was a Venezuela
n business tycoon who made important contributions in the modernization of the country during the 20th Century.
He was the son of Eugenio Mendoza Cobena (the grandson of Venezuela's first president, Cristóbal Mendoza
) and Luisa Goiticoa (the grand-daughter of Simón Bolívar
's sister, Juana Bolívar). Despite his family's historical position he grew up in modest circumstances due to the monetary sacrifices made by his family during the war for Venezuelan independence and later the Venezuelan civil war.
Mendoza had seven brothers and two sisters and was the only one who did not pursue a university education, choosing instead to go into business by opening a hardware store. By 1943, he had created the "Venezolana de Cementos", the largest supplier of cement in the country, with subsections in Barquisimeto
, Maracaibo
, Pertigalete, Macuro
and Catia La Mar. Also, in the following years he conformed "Protinal", dedicated to the production of animal feed, "Venezolana de Pinturas" and "Venezolana de Pulpa y Papel". His business organization, "El Grupo Mendoza" became the largest industrial conglomerate in the 1970s encompassing everything from cement, construction, manufacturing, heavy machinery, paint, paper mills, animal feed, banking, and insurance to ownership of General Motors of Venezuela.
He founded the Fundacion Mendoza which led the philanthropic community of Venezuela for two decades primarily focusing on the founding of the largest children's hospital in Latin America and numerous schools. In 1970, he founded the Universidad Metropolitana
, a private university located in Caracas, which became the most important passion of his later years. It was the first Venezuelan university to offer careers in business management and finance. It remains one of the most prestigious private university in Venezuela.
He married Luisa Rodriguez Planas in 1938, and had four children with her (Eugenio Andres, Gertrudis, Luisa Elena and Eugenio Antonio). One son, Eugenio Andres, drowned as a youngster. Today, their three children and grandchildren continue the business and philanthropic work of El Grupo Mendoza and Fundacion Mendoza.
Along with his surviving brothers, Pedro and Eduardo Mendoza Goiticoa
he was a descendant of Simón Bolívar
's sister, Juana Bolívar (Simón Bolívar had no children).
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
, November 13, 1906, October 17, 1979) was a Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
n business tycoon who made important contributions in the modernization of the country during the 20th Century.
He was the son of Eugenio Mendoza Cobena (the grandson of Venezuela's first president, Cristóbal Mendoza
Cristóbal Mendoza
Cristóbal Hurtado de Mendoza was a Venezuelan politician. Cristobal became the first President of Venezuela in 1811.-Biography:...
) and Luisa Goiticoa (the grand-daughter of Simón Bolívar
Simón Bolívar
Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios Ponte y Yeiter, commonly known as Simón Bolívar was a Venezuelan military and political leader...
's sister, Juana Bolívar). Despite his family's historical position he grew up in modest circumstances due to the monetary sacrifices made by his family during the war for Venezuelan independence and later the Venezuelan civil war.
Mendoza had seven brothers and two sisters and was the only one who did not pursue a university education, choosing instead to go into business by opening a hardware store. By 1943, he had created the "Venezolana de Cementos", the largest supplier of cement in the country, with subsections in Barquisimeto
Barquisimeto
Barquisimeto is the capital city of the State of Lara located in west central Venezuela, halfway between Caracas and Maracaibo on the Turbio River.-Overview:...
, Maracaibo
Maracaibo
Maracaibo is a city and municipality located in northwestern Venezuela off the western coast of the Lake Maracaibo. It is the second-largest city in the country after the national capital Caracas and the capital of Zulia state...
, Pertigalete, Macuro
Macuro
Macuro, a town in Venezuela, located a few miles from Bocas del Dragón, is a small fishing town overlooking a peaceful bay on the south-west side of the Paria peninsula, in Sucre state, Venezuela....
and Catia La Mar. Also, in the following years he conformed "Protinal", dedicated to the production of animal feed, "Venezolana de Pinturas" and "Venezolana de Pulpa y Papel". His business organization, "El Grupo Mendoza" became the largest industrial conglomerate in the 1970s encompassing everything from cement, construction, manufacturing, heavy machinery, paint, paper mills, animal feed, banking, and insurance to ownership of General Motors of Venezuela.
He founded the Fundacion Mendoza which led the philanthropic community of Venezuela for two decades primarily focusing on the founding of the largest children's hospital in Latin America and numerous schools. In 1970, he founded the Universidad Metropolitana
Universidad Metropolitana
The Metropolitan University was founded in 1970 by a group of entrepreneurs led by Eugenio Mendoza Goiticoa in the terrains donated by the businessman Pius Schlageter, father of the venezuelan painter Eduardo Schlageter. It is located in the city of Caracas, Venezuela, near Petare.Today, the...
, a private university located in Caracas, which became the most important passion of his later years. It was the first Venezuelan university to offer careers in business management and finance. It remains one of the most prestigious private university in Venezuela.
He married Luisa Rodriguez Planas in 1938, and had four children with her (Eugenio Andres, Gertrudis, Luisa Elena and Eugenio Antonio). One son, Eugenio Andres, drowned as a youngster. Today, their three children and grandchildren continue the business and philanthropic work of El Grupo Mendoza and Fundacion Mendoza.
Along with his surviving brothers, Pedro and Eduardo Mendoza Goiticoa
Eduardo Mendoza Goiticoa
Eduardo Mendoza was a Venezuelan scientific researcher and agricultural engineer. He served the government of Romulo Betancourt, becoming the youngest cabinet minister in Venezuelan history at the age of 28. His appointment was problematic due to his young age and required a Constitutional Amendment...
he was a descendant of Simón Bolívar
Simón Bolívar
Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios Ponte y Yeiter, commonly known as Simón Bolívar was a Venezuelan military and political leader...
's sister, Juana Bolívar (Simón Bolívar had no children).