Clemente son's trip to fulfill dad's relief effort hits snags

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ^ | Thursday, December 30, 2004 | Jeremy Boren

[Willie Green]

A lifetime of adoration for Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Roberto Clemente has fueled a New York nonprofit's efforts to honor The Great One with a mercy mission to South Asia to help victims of the earthquake and tsunami.

The original plans called for a commemoration of Clemente's 1972 New Year's Eve aid mission to Nicaragua with Roberto Clemente Jr. in the passenger seat.

But catastrophe half a world away and a scheduling conflict over an Army transport plane altered the trip being planned by Clemente Jr. and Eliezer Rodriguez, a lawyer-turned-philanthropist from Bronx, N.Y.

"The demand for help in Asia is too compelling," Rodriguez said Wednesday night on his cell phone in Puerto Rico. "We made the decision, and our efforts have changed."

They had wanted to mark the 32nd anniversary of the elder Clemente's ill-fated flight from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Managua, Nicaragua. That mission has been pushed back to Dec. 31, 2005.

The mission will now continue to collect more food, money and supplies for the victims.

[Willie Green]

Changing priorities to address the the more pressing needs of the tsunami victims.
Admirers of Roberto Clemente may wish to contribute their donations to this charity.

[Willie Green]

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I have a cherished baseball card of Clemente's when he played for the Reds.