Los restos de José Luis Casado Soto descansan en el Panteón de Ilustres de Ciriego

The remains of the writer and historian José Luis Casado Soto now rest in the Pantheon of Illustrious People at the Ciriego Cemetery in Santander.

The transfer ceremony, which took place this Saturday, was attended by the mayor, Gema Igual, his widow, his two daughters, as well as family and friends.

Igual praised Casado Soto’s «brilliant» academic career and dedication to research, as well as his commitment to preserving and sharing the history and heritage of the region.

She emphasized that the City Council of Santander unanimously approved the granting of this resting place in the Pantheon of Illustrious People as an institutional expression of «gratitude and as a symbol of the admiration that many citizens feel for his career.»

«This transfer, therefore, has a collective value. It represents the desire of a city that knows how to honor those who have contributed decisively to its knowledge, projection, and identity. And we do it, moreover, accompanied by his family and friends, in a simple but profoundly meaningful ceremony,» highlighted the mayor.

In this regard, she stressed that «his love for Santander was evident in each of his projects and in his tireless effort to decipher every corner of the city, revealing its secrets and making them accessible to all.»

Likewise, Igual assured that José Luis Casado Soto «was not just a historian; he was a custodian of our memory, a defender of our heritage, and a beacon of knowledge that will continue to illuminate future generations.»

In 2014, after his tragic death in a traffic accident, the city of Santander posthumously awarded him the title of Honorary Son. In 2024, Casado Soto joined the Illustrious Santander Route. A plaque at Francisco Palazuelos Street number 28, where he lived and left an indelible mark, pays homage to the historian as part of this tourist resource in the city.

His widow, Rosa Coterillo, as well as his two daughters Clara and Carmen, who also remembered their father with texts, highlighted the figure of the historian, but above all of the husband, father, and friend «of his friends.»

CASADO SOTO

Born in Santander in 1945, he stood out from a young age for his insatiable passion for knowledge. His trajectory was an example of dedication, erudition, and love for his land.

Trained as a historian, archaeologist, and museographer, his name is synonymous with naval history and underwater archaeology in Spain, fields in which he was a pioneer and an authority.

Throughout his life, he developed a prolific career that encompassed multiple disciplines, always with a rigorous approach and a commitment to historical truth.

He directed the Maritime Museum of the Cantabrian Sea from its creation in 1981 until his retirement, a space that became a reference not only at the regional level but also nationally, thanks to his vision and effort. Under his leadership, the museum preserved valuable testimonies of maritime history and became a center for research and dissemination recognized internationally.

His contribution to naval history is invaluable. He authored over two hundred works including books and articles that have left a monumental legacy in Spanish historiography. Among his most notable works are studies on the Great Armada of 1588 and shipbuilding in Cantabria, topics that he approached with a level of detail and rigor that positioned him as one of the greatest experts of his time. His work not only helps us better understand the past but also allows us to value and preserve cultural and maritime heritage.

Casado Soto did not confine himself to academic research; he had a popularizing vocation that led him to participate in numerous projects aimed at bringing history closer to the people.

He was a driving force behind the Cultural Ring of Santander, an initiative that has contributed to preserving and enhancing the city’s rich historical heritage.

Additionally, he was always willing to share his knowledge with the younger generations, visiting schools and educational centers to teach young people about the importance of heritage, a task that his family remembers with special affection, highlighted in a press release by the City Council.