Luis Giannattasio


Luis Giannattasio Finocchietti was a Uruguayan political figure.

Biography

Giannattasio was educated at the University of the Republic in Montevideo and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States. After graduating as an engineer, he founded the engineering company Giannattasio & Berta ; the company would be responsible for projects such as the main building of The British Schools of Montevideo in Carrasco, which opened in 1964, and the building of the Banco de la República Oriental del Uruguay on Avenida 18 de Julio in downtown Montevideo.
Giannattasio later worked for the World Health Organization. A member of the National Party, he was appointed Minister of Public Works in 1959, an office which he held until 1963. In this capacity, he was particularly identified with a significant road-building program.
In 1962 Giannattasio was elected a member of the National Council of Government. He became President of the body in 1964, succeeding his National Party colleague Daniel Fernández Crespo. Prominent members of Giannattasio's administration included Minister of Health Aparicio Méndez, who would later serve as President.
In February 1965, Giannattasio died in office of a heart attack in Punta del Este, shortly after attending the funeral of Winston Churchill in London. He was succeeded as President of the National Council of Government by Washington Beltrán, also of the National Party.

Legacy

A road in Canelones Department is named after Giannattasio.

Honours and awards