Father Julio Perelló (1926 -2015) passed away today, May 5th, 2015, in the city of Quito. "Che Perelló", as his friends and students called him, was born in Mendoza, Argentina in 1926. He came to Ecuador in 1960 and as a teacher and writer he promoted a pedagogical system which focused on people, he synthesized Paulo Freire's pedagocial work and the Rogerian model, and was also able to creatively include the communication process between the teacher and the student.

His contributions are expressed in books like "Apuntes de Historia de la Educación" (1995), "Sexualidad" (1991). He also wrote many articles on didactics and catechesis. Father Julio had broad experience in several education fields (he supported street children, taught religion and carried out pastoral activities), he also advised educational institutions and created the Familiar Cristiano Movement.  

His career started in 1961 as a teacher in Instituto Superior Salesiano and it ended in 2008 as a professor at UPS, where he was also the Dean of the Pedagogy Faculty from 1994 to 2000. During that time he helped consolidate and shape today's pedagogy faculty by always following the Salesian Preventive System. 

In 2011, UPS awarded him the distinction of Doctor Honoris Causa for being a leading proponent in the development of pedagogy in Ecuador, during Father Perelló's speech, he talked about "Education focused on the students" and said that the aim of education is not to take students to their psychological maturity, but to an ethical adulthood.

Everyone at UPS mourns the death of such an illustrious priest.