Goodbye to Enric Morist, the activist who worked for social justice

EqualizerMassive farewell to Enric Morist, president of the Third Sector Roundtable, died of a heart attack at the age of 59. On Friday, May 2nd, in Igualada, the farewell ceremony for the activist, who for two decades had been coordinator of the Catalan Red Cross, was attended by family, friends, members of social organizations, as well as a broad political representation, led by the Minister of Social Rights and Inclusion, Mònica Martínez Bravo, and a large part of the senior management. Former President Pere Aragonès and former advisors from different governments who had treated Morist also attended. The large turnout at the funeral home in the capital of Anoia on Monday made it necessary to hold the ceremony outside, where the simple coffin was received with applause.

The ceremony was marked by the emotion of those in attendance, still shaken by the sudden death of the activist. They highlighted his good nature, his uncompromising leadership, and his unwavering commitment to peace, social justice, and the inclusion of people with disabilities. A friend of his has described Morist as a "tree person" for his deep dedication to the social causes that motivated him and his ability to always keep his friendships top of mind. "He taught us to live anything with passion," she asserted.

Morist's greatest passions have been his family, the mountains, and FC Barcelona, ​​​​to which he would dedicate his time, scraping and scrambling to accompany his children to children's soccer games and even posing as a representative, an anecdote told by one of his children that brought a smile to the audience. Another of his children described his father as an "unconventional" man and "the rock" who supported him and helped them get back on their feet after a difficult time.

A social educator by training, Morist has been a professional in the management of organizations such as the Red Cross, where he responded to the arrival of the first refugees fleeing the Bosnian war in the 1990s, and coordinated the COVID-19 social and health crisis that erupted in the Basin. It is in this area that an emotional Francina Alsina, a friend and his predecessor as president of the Roundtable, wanted to emphasize the great mark Morist leaves on the sector, thanks to his capacity for dialogue and cohesion, and promised that they will complete all the work promoted by the activist.