Marcelino Medeiros, Radio Dirceu & Radio Vera Cruz personality

 

Marcelino Medeiros entered the working force still as a boy at Mebla (Department Store), Banco de Crédito Nacional, and later working as a radio speaker for Radio Clube de Marília having soon moved on to be Master of Ceremonies at Radio Dirceu de Marília, the man who introduced Celly & Tony Campello to thousands of young Marilians who flocked and packed the basket ball court of Yara Sports Club to watch the Wonder Siblings in 1960. Medeiros worked as a jounalist for 'Jornal do Comércio', climbing Journalism's ladder ending up as Press Secretary of Mayor Octávio Barreto Prado (1960-1964 and 1969-1973). 

Marcelino was born on 19 July 1942, his father was called Francisco Sebastião Medeiros and his mother was Victalina dos Santos. Marcelino married Marlene Cavalca on 21st July 1962, having had 3 children: Marcelino Jr. (1963); Sandra Miriam (1965) and Márcio (1967). 

Marcelino Medeiros at the microphone of Radio Dirceu de Marília in the basketball court of Yara Sports Club on 31st March 1960, a Thursday night, introduces Celly & Tony Campello to a packed audience gathered to see and hear the most popular singer in Brazil in that year. 

Marcelino seems to be saying something to Santucci at the drums while Celly & Tony Campello rock away one of their popular songs. 

Cauby Peixoto sings on 22nd April 1960, at a stage mounted on the basket-ball court of Yara Sports Club while Marcelino Medeiros watches. The musicians from right to left are: Higino B. Canales at the accordion; Rodolfo Sproesser at the rhythm guitar and Santucci at the drums. 

In 1963, even before the Mayor's mandate was through, Marcelino moved to São Paulo where he worked as a journalist at Radio & TV Record and Radio Panamericana. He would later also work at TV Bandeirantes and TV Gazeta. In 1970, Marcelino thought he'd take the next step in his career leaving São Paulo city and going back to Marília. He had a head full of plans: Medeiros wanted to build a media conglomerate purchasing a radio station and a newspaper. He soon bought old Radio Vera Cruz de Marília which lagged behind in the ratings. In 1971, Medeiros managed to incorporate the newspaper 'A Tribuna' and be the biggest shareholder of Radio Difusora of Casa Branca-SP and Rádio Tambaú starting thus what was called Grupo Verinha (Verinha being a popular moniker for Radio Vera Cruz). In 1972, Medeiros became a director of  Associação Comercial de Marília (Marília's Trade Guild). 

Saturday morning, 23rd December 1972, at 6:30,  Marcelino Medeiros left his home in Marília, in the company of Wanderley Mariano and Rubens Sgorlon in the direction of Campinas-SP. Mariano would be in the driving seat of Marcelino's Opala, and Sgorlon by his side. Marcelino stayed in the back seat of the car. Being only 2 days before Christmas the Washington Luiz Highway was busier than usual and the intermittent rain made driving more difficult. Then, at 11:00 am, at km 193, near Corumbataí-SP tragedy struck: the Opala skidded on the wet road and crashed full-on into an on-coming Volkswagen from Mogi das Cruzes, driven by Luiz Gonzaga Makiguo. The Opala capsized after hitting the VW and Marcelino got caught in the wreckage of the car. 

Marcelino was taken to Santa Casa de Misericórdia in São Carlos-SP. Marcelino was by far the most affected by the crash having suffered wounds to his head, broken some ribs and pelvis besides having damaged internal organs too. Marcelino managed to survive for another one and a half hours, having arrived at Santa Casa by ambulance. He still managed to answer a few questions from a doctor, told his wife's name and spelt the name of one of his sons. That was the last thing he said being pronounced dead at 1:00 pm having succumbed to internal bleeding. 

Mariano and Sgorlon were both taken to Hospital Santa Filomena in Rio Claro-SP, where they stayed for 2 days and then removed back to Marília's Santa Casa, already out of danger. The other car involved in the crash had a fatal victim, Teigo Kato (21), Luiz Makiguo's bride to be. Peioni (63), Tereza Demio Kato (30), Eduardo Demio Kato (4) and Maria Demio Kato (8 months of age) and the driver were all taken to Santa Filomena in Rio Claro. All were badly injured with the exception of Tereza. Apparently two of them ended up dying later. 

Corumbataí-SP (encircled in red) at km 196, next to São Carlos, Rio Claro, Araras e Limeira was the site of Marcelino Medeiros crash. 

Marília's daily 'A Tribuna' of 27 December 1973, printed by Vera Editora Jornalística Ltda, having Marcelino Medeiros as General Director and popular sportscaster Osmar A.Santos as director. 

A farewell which Marília didn't want to say: Goodbye, Marcelino!

Marcelino's biography. 

'A Tribuna' editorial about Marcelino's passing on 27 December 1972: He knew only victories!

'A Tribuna's Columna Z about how great it was to have Marcelino Medeiros as an understanding boss who would always have a good word to say about everybody's work. Zaira shows how much she loved her boss. 

'A Tribuna', 27 December 1972. 

A Tribuna, 23rd December 1981, still grieved Marcelino Medeiros tragic death 9 years before. Marília still mourns Marcelino, a irreparable loss; 9 years later. Marcelino Medeiros was still missed and revered by Marilians.