Dr. Enrique Bledel

Family-Placed Death Notice

DR. ENRIQUE BLEDEL Retired Executive of The Coca-Cola Company Dr. Enrique Bledel, a native of Argentina, died on June 1, 2003 of leukemia. Born in Buenos Aires in 1917, he graduated from the Law School of the University of Buenos Aires in 1945, earned a Master of Comparative Jurisprudence from the Interamerican Law Institute of New York University School of Law in 1948, and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Buenos Aires in 1951. He joined The Coca-Cola Company's office in Buenos Aires in 1955 in charge of eight countries of the southern zone. It was the beginning of a challenging and interesting career in corporate and international law, with extensive travels throughout Latin America and sporadic assignments in Asia and Africa. Dr. Bledel was transferred to New York in 1965 as Senior Attorney responsible for all legal matters pertaining to Latin America and the Caribbean region, relocating in 1970 to Coral Gables, Florida, where the opening of a Zone Office became the headquarters for Coca-Cola Latin America. He was appointed Vice President of Coca-Cola Latin America and also held the position of Vice President of Coca-Cola Inter-American Corporation. When The Coca-Cola Company closed the Zone Office in 1977, he was transferred to Home Office in Atlanta, assuming the position of Executive Counsel for Latin America and the Caribbean. He retired in 1984. Dr. Bledel was active in several professional and trade organizations, such as the Inter-American Bar Association, the Southern U.S.-Argentine Center, and the Argentine-American Chamber of Commerce in New York City. He was a Board Member of the Chamber for ten years and President from 1982-1985. During his tenure as president he organized the first private sector encounter between Argentina and American businessmen at a seminar in Buenos Aires in 1984, which was attended by 360 participants and inaugurated by President Raul Akfonain of Argentina. Dr. Bledel enjoyed traveling, was an enthusiastic golfer, and a supporting member of several art and cultural organizations in Atlanta. Surviving him are his wife Inge, his son Martin of Houston, Texas, his daughter Irene of Atlanta, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. The family will receive at Spring Hill Tuesday, June 3, from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. Interment will be in Argentina. Arrangements by H.M. Patterson & Son, 404-876-1022.