130 Fundação de Rotarianos de São Paulo entered its second decade of existence with a big project in progress that would take it to the next level, both symbolically —with headquarters that tangibly reflected its importance— and operationally, by affording it the best conditions for bringing Colégio Rio Branco and the other activities in which it was engaged together in one location. It was the Rotary Building. In 1955, upon completing his second term as president of the Board of Directors of the Fundação and taking command of its Advisory Board, senator José Ermírio de Moraes handed over to his successor Marcos Gasparian a new building construction well underway and very sound in terms of its finances and paperwork. “A lot of people made played a big part in the construction of the building. That was the case, for example, of Leandro Dupré and Herbert de Arruda Pereira. From what I remember, we paid only for the materials. There was no charge for labor,” says Nelson Abbud João, a prominent Rotarian who was then responsible for the Fundação’s accounting. Construction continued, getting past every obstacle that came up, and the contours of the building were soon incorporated into the landscape of the wide, tree-lined Avenida Higienópolis. It took a few more years to complete, as it was a complex project that demanded more funding than originally anticipated. As remarked by Nórton Batista, who took over as principal of the Colégio in 1956, the group making up the Fundação were well aware of “what had to be done day after day, month after month, year after year, to enable that reinforced concrete dream (…) to come true.” At last, the new building was ready and fit for use in 1960, which was its first school year. Some of the construction phases still needed completion, but the pressure from the new owners for the properties on Rua Dr. Vila Nova to be released eventually led to the decision to move in, which was very well accepted by parents, students, teachers and collaborators. The formal opening of the Rotary Building, however, would still take a few months. The opening ceremony, on October 22, made for a special day, which Nórton Batista described as follows: “The day dawned bright and very sunny, a harbinger of heat in the afternoon. Since early in the morning, people crowded around that final section of Avenida Higienópolis near the Pacaembu observation deck. Curious, people were wondering and trying to find out why those radio mobile patrols, Army squad cars and armed contingents of the Public Security Corps were all in the vicinities in state of readiness.” Reflecting the prestige of the Colégio, as well as Fundação and Rotary leaderships, the event was attended by São Paulo’s highest-ranking officials and prominent personalities, according to Nórton Batista: “Late in that morning, there wasn’t any room left for anyone in that section of the avenue. The Colégio students, teachers and employees, the entire Fundação led by Marcos Gasparian, its president, and José Ermírio de Moraes, president of its Deliberative Council, numerous Rotarians led by José da Costa Boucinhas, president of Rotary Club de São Paulo, countless ladies, students’ parents, friends and curious people. Finally came the guest of honor, the president of the Republic Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira, next to State governor Carlos Alberto de Carvalho Pinto, with public authorities accompanying them.” The ceremony began with the Civil Guard playing the National Anthem, followed by the unveiling of two commemorative plaques by the president of the Republic and the State governor. Thereupon, José Ermírio de Moraes took the floor on behalf of the Fundação. In an emotional speech, he recalled the guiding principles on which Rotary, the Fundação and his own path were based, which right there and then had the building being opened to show as a 1956-1965 A building to match the institution
Livro Comemorativo dos 70 anos da Fundação de Rotarianos de São Paulo - Uma história de ideias e ideais
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