The tragic news came this afternoon from Lander Santamaria from Elizondo, who had in turn been notified by his friend Ondikol, chronicler and photographer from Baztan that Alberto Alday had died. Some had found it strange that Alberto had been uncharacteristically absent from the Vascosmexico on-line forum recently, but now we know that he had been battling lymphoma, since being diagnosed a month ago. Finally, it was the lymphoma and other complications that took him. A great friend to Baztan and to Mexico, Alberto Alday Garay was a researcher who specialized in the Basque Diaspora, particularly that of Baztan. His connections to the Diaspora were more than just professional; he also has family in Salt Lake City, Utah, a cousin to Mary Gaztambide former NABO president.
Donostia-San Sebastian. Alberto Alday Garay died this afternoon, April 29, 2011, in Bilbao after a month-long battle with the disease that took him in a blink of an eye. He was a man that knew many in the Basque communities in America, and was very connected to the Diaspora, where many had not even heard about his diagnosis, let alone of his passing. This urgent notice was written just after confirming the news with his sister by phone.
He was forty five years old, a lawyer and historian, specialized in immigration from Navarre, and in particular from the Valley of Baztan to Mexico, another country that he knew well.
Others knew him from his participation on ETB on the program Firin-Faran where he was a regular participant.
You are in our thoughts, Alberto. Gogoan zaitugu.
For those who read from the Basque Country, the funeral will take place on Monday at the San Nicolas church in Bilbao at 7pm. Sunday the complete obituary will be published.
Joseba Etxarri
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