Rodolfo Pérez Pimentel (Guayaquil, November 2, 1939) is an Ecuadorian lawyer, historian, and biographer. He was declared the lifetime chronicler of the city of Guayaquil, and is a member of the National Academy of Ecuadorian History. Pérez Pimentel is the author of the Biographical Dictionary of Ecuador (Diccionario biográfico del Ecuador), which consists of about 1,600 biographies of nationals and foreigners who have been an integral part of Ecuador. In 2005, Pérez Pimentel won the Eugenio Espejo Prize in the literature category for his lifetime work as a biographer. Rodolfo Pérez Pimentel is a highly respected figure in Ecuadorian literary and historical circles, known for his dedication to research, his extensive publications, and his commitment to preserving the cultural heritage of Guayaquil and Ecuador as a whole.
Bio
Rodolfo Pérez Pimentel is a renowned Ecuadorian writer and jurist, born on November 2, 1939 in Guayaquil. He is the son of Rodolfo Pérez Concha and María Pimentel Yépez. He completed all of his studies in his hometown, attending primary school at the Colegio Internacional and San José de La Salle, and secondary school at the Colegio Nacional Vicente Rocafuerte, where he graduated in 1958. In 1959, he enrolled in the Faculty of Jurisprudence, Social and Political Sciences at the University of Guayaquil, obtaining his bachelor’s degree in 1963. In 1968, he became a licensed attorney in the Republic’s courts and in 1979, he earned a Doctorate in Jurisprudence.
Throughout his career, Pérez Pimentel has held various public and private positions, serving his people with civic dedication not only in Guayaquil but throughout Ecuador. In 1975, he was appointed a member of the Department of History and Geography of the State Council. The following year, he served as a Councilor for Culture in the Municipality of Guayaquil, and in 1978, he was declared the Lifetime Chronicler of Guayaquil by the city authorities. Continuing his tireless work in support of culture, in 1981 he founded the Research and Culture Center of the Central Bank of Ecuador in Guayaquil.
Pérez Pimentel is a distinguished genealogist, biographer, and historian. As a result of his research in these fields, he has published significant works such as “Nuestro Guayaquil de Antaño” (Our Guayaquil of Yesteryear), “Relatos de Antaño” (Tales of Yesteryear), “Heráldica Ecuatoriana” (Ecuadorian Heraldry), “Parasicología” (a collection of one hundred Ecuadorian stories about the afterlife), “Cosas de Mi Tierra” (Things from My Land), “Anecdotario de Literatos” (Anecdotes of Writers), and his highly important “Diccionario Biográfico Ecuatoriano” (Ecuadorian Biographical Dictionary). The latter is a compilation of biographies previously published in major newspapers in the country, along with subsequent updates and additions. The dictionary spans over 25 volumes.
In recognition of his outstanding merits, Pérez Pimentel was appointed Corresponding Member of the National Academy of History of Ecuador in 1985. The following year, he was among the founders of the Academy of Maritime History of Ecuador. In 2005, the National Congress awarded him the Vicente Rocafuerte Medal “Al Mérito Cultural” (To Cultural Merit) as a tribute to his immense contributions.
List of accolades:
- Lifetime Chronicler of Guayaquil: Pérez Pimentel was declared the lifetime chronicler of the city of Guayaquil, recognizing his dedication to preserving the cultural heritage of Guayaquil and his contributions to its history.
- Member of the National Academy of Ecuadorian History: Pérez Pimentel is a member of the prestigious National Academy of Ecuadorian History, highlighting his expertise and contributions to the field of historical research.
- Eugenio Espejo Prize: In 2005, Pérez Pimentel was awarded the Eugenio Espejo Prize in the literature category for his lifetime work as a biographer. This prestigious award is a significant recognition of his achievements and contributions to the literary landscape of Ecuador.
- Vicente Rocafuerte Medal “Al Mérito Cultural” (To Cultural Merit): Awarded by the National Congress in 2005, this medal further acknowledges Pérez Pimentel’s immense contributions to Ecuadorian culture.
Selected works
- “Nuestro Guayaquil de Antaño”
- “Relatos de Antaño”
- “Heráldica Ecuatoriana”
- “Parasicología”
- “Cosas de Mi Tierra”
- “Anecdotario de Literatos”
- “Diccionario Biográfico Ecuatoriano”