António José Leitão, aged 79, served as president of the Crato Council from 1982 to 1993.
Joaquim Diogo reminisced that António José Leitão was “an example for the entire municipality,” noting that Leitão was responsible for providing water supply and basic sanitation throughout the region.
The current mayor of Crato also remembered that António José Leitão was instrumental in building several public facilities in the Alentejo area.
The former mayor had “an extraordinary memory” and a “great aptitude” for political engagement, recalled the present head of the council.
“He was arguably the most significant mayor since the April 25th revolution,” he added.
António José Leitão, also recognized as the ‘father’ of the Crato Handicraft and Gastronomy Fair, was the first president of the municipal assembly in the post-April 25th period.
The former mayor also served as an assistant to the Civil Governor of Portalegre for ten years.
The Crato Council will declare a three-day municipal mourning period, with details of the funeral ceremonies yet unknown at this time.
