Saying Goodbye To A Very Special Lady
On November 24, 2019, Mr Oliver had the Honor of being one of the speakers at the Vera Clemente Funeral in Puerto Rico.
Vera Clemente was the widow of baseball legend Roberto Clemente who was a 15-time All-Star outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Roberto Clemente was involved in charity work and was killed on December 31, 1972, in a plane crash when he was headed to Nicaragua to deliver supplies to earthquake victims.
Since then, Vera continued his humanitarian work as the chairwoman of the Roberto Clemente Foundation.
She spearheaded many charitable programs to help not only the people in her native country of Puerto Rico, but also people all over the US.
Her kind-hearted willingness to help will truly be missed.
Among the Pittsburgh Pirate representatives besides Mr Oliver were Steve Blass, and Joe Billetdeaux...
Steve Blass is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher and a current broadcast announcer for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Manny Sanguillen He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher in 1967 and from 1969 through 1980, most notably as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates teams that won five National League Eastern Division titles in six years between 1970 and 1975 and, won the World Series in 1971 and 1979. He also played one season for the Oakland Athletics.
Joe Billetdeaux, Director, Alumni Affairs, Promotions & Licensing was there offering support, and representing the Pirate organization.
Also in attendance was former New York Yankee Bernie Williams...
Al delivered another moving message, highlighting that Vera was called home to resume her place beside her husband Roberto Clemente. She kept her family together under some tragic times.
She always carried herself with a strong sense of dignity proud of the work that she was instrumental in doing.
Al thanked her for being a special part of his life, and acknowledged that he fully understood why Roberto took her as his bride.
She may be gone, but will always be remembered.