In Loving Memory of Dr. Teresinha Alves Pereira (Teresinka Pereira)

Dr. Teresinha Alves Pereira, internationally known as Teresinka Pereira, passed away on July 30, 2026, in Ottawa Hills, Ohio, at the age of 91.

Born on November 1, 1934, in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Teresinha devoted her life to literature, education, and the promotion of cultural understanding through the arts. She later made her home in Ottawa Hills, Ohio, while maintaining an active international literary career.

A prolific poet and author, Teresinha published more than 40 books, over 800 essays, and more than 3,000 poems in Portuguese, Spanish, and English. Her literary achievements earned international recognition, including Brazil's National Prize for Theatre, designation as Poet of the Year by the Canadian Society of Poets, and honorary doctorates from the University Simon Bolivar in Colombia, the International Academy St. Lukas in Antwerpes, and the International Academy of Culture and Political Science in Moldova.

Teresinha was the founder of the International Writers and Artists Association (IWA), established in 1978 to foster friendship, cultural understanding, and literary exchange among writers and artists worldwide. She was also an Ambassador of the International States Parliament for Safety and Peace, and a corresponding member of the North American Academy of the Spanish Language.

She earned her Ph.D. in Romance Languages from the University of New Mexico in 1972 and dedicated many years to higher education as a professor at Georgetown University, the University of Colorado Boulder, Morehead State University, and Bluffton College.

Beyond her many accomplishments, Teresinha was a devoted mother. She is survived by her children, Luis Carlos Pereira, Pedro Pereira, Emília Pereira Martins, and Luzia Martins Rifkowitz, along with her grandchildren, Gabriel Martins and Noah Rifkowitz. Throughout Teresinha’s life, she championed the universal power of literature to unite people across cultures. Her words and her vision continue to inspire generations of readers and writers around the world.