In Memory of

Rebeca

Torres-Rivera

Obituary for Rebeca Torres-Rivera

TORRES-RIVERA, REBECA, age 89, of Mt. Pleasant, passed away Monday, November 2, 2021.

Dra. Rebeca Torres-Rivera was born in Valparaíso, Chile on December 31, 1931. A lifelong academic, Dra. Torres-Rivera received degrees from La Escuela Normal No. 2 (B.A. in Elementary Education, 1950), Universidad Técnica del Estado de Chile (B.A. in Spanish Literature and Languages, 1966), University of Nebraska with Fulbright Scholarship (M.A. in Spanish, 1970), and the University of California, Riverside (Ph.D. in Latin American Literature and Culture and Stylistics, 1983).

Her love of learning inspired Dra. Torres Rivera’s 50-year long teaching career. During her tenure at Central Michigan University, she served as an advisor for Sigma Delta Pi Honor Society, received the 1994 Excellence in Teaching Award, and served as Grand Marshall for the 2004 Commencement Ceremony at CMU. Upon retirement, she was awarded the honor of Associate Professor Emeritus in the Department of World Languages and Cultures.

Aside from her academic pursuits, Rebeca was a talented singer, artist, and writer. But, most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her beloved family, friends and cats.

Rebeca Torres-Rivera was preceded in death by her parents Mario Enrique Valdes Barrera and Camila Tapia Aracena, and son, Vincente Torres Rivera. She is survived by her daughter Camila Torres Rivera from Riverside, California; and grandson Thomas Bertrand of Tempe, Arizona.

A Celebration of Life will take place on Thursday, November 11, 2021, at 6 p.m. at Pearce Hall 127 on the Central Michigan University campus (service will also be available on Zoom). In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to https://www.gofundme.com/f/honor-dra-rebeca-torres-rivera?member=15113453&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer /