Núria Gispert

Núria Gispert i Feliu (1936-2020) was a Spanish politician, Catholic activist, teacher and social worker. Born in Barcelona, she was the daughter of politician and lawyer Ignasi de Gispert i Jordà (1911-1998), and a great-granddaughter of Dorotea de Chopitea (Antonia Dorotea de Chopitea de Villota; 1816-1891), a Chile-born philanthropist and social worker based in Barcelona. A benefactor of several Catholic orders, de Chopitea was considered the principal patroness and the most important social work promoter in Barcelona in the 19th century. She contributed to the founding of Salesian schools in Catalonia. Dorotea de Chopitea was declared Venerable by Pope John Paul I on 9 June 1983. Núria Gispert i Feliu graduated in law from the University of Barcelona. She was a member of the Socialists' Party of Catalonia. She was a member of the City Council of Barcelona for the PSUC and later for the PSC (both Socialist parties) from 1979-95. She was director of Cáritas Diocesana de Barcelona (1998-2004) and president of Cáritas Española (2002-04). In 2000, she was elected a member of the Trinijove Foundation. From 2002 until her death she belonged to the Pere Tarrés Foundation, the Olof Palme International Foundation, and the Vincentian Foundation.