Milton Soldani Afonso dies at 104 and leaves legacy in healthcare and in.
The businessman and philanthropist passed away in Rio de Janeiro after being admitted to an ICU, remembered for his contributions to Adventist healthcare, education, and media.
Milton Soldani Afonso, the businessman who founded Golden Cross and supported the expansion of Adventist media, passed away this Wednesday (2) at the age of 104 in Rio de Janeiro. The philanthropist's death sparked intense internet searches, as his trajectory marked healthcare, education, and religious communication in Brazil.
Foundation of Golden Cross and impact on the healthcare sector
In 1971, Afonso left the Silvestre Adventist Hospital and opened a small office to sell health insurance plans. This initiative gave rise to Golden Cross, a company that became one of the leading health insurance operators in the country, achieving prominence in South America in 1984. Part of the profits was allocated to educational, social assistance, and evangelization projects, as reported by government sources.
Investment in Adventist education
Starting in 1985, Afonso took over the administration of the Organização Santamarense de Educação e Cultura (OSEC) and, between 1985 and 1994, contributed resources that culminated in the consolidation of the University of Santo Amaro (Unisa). His scholarship program paid the tuition of thousands of students in Adventist institutions, benefiting young people who often never met him in person.
Patron of Adventist communication in South America
In 2012, upon turning 91, he received the title of patron of Adventist communication in South America. On the same occasion, a studio complex bearing his name was inaugurated in Jacareí (SP), part of the Rede Novo Tempo de Comunicação, which today broadcasts in Portuguese and Spanish to millions of people. His support included the acquisition of radio stations, such as Rádio Ipanema, and the expansion of the Adventist presence on television.
Cultural donations and institutional recognition
Milton Afonso donated around 1,600 numismatic artifacts and rare works to the Adventist University Center of São Paulo (Unasp), forming the basis of the Museum of Biblical Archaeology. In 2021, he received the Pedro Ernesto Set of Merit Medals from the municipality of Rio de Janeiro, the highest municipal award. The Seventh-day Adventist Church celebrates his legacy as an example of faith and service.
Family and final days
Married to Arlete Carvalho da Silva Afonso, who passed away in 2020, Milton leaves behind four children – Celso, Carlos, Neide, and Paulo César – as well as grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In his final days, he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the Samaritano Hospital, in the capital of Rio de Janeiro state, where he passed away in critical condition.
With information from Notícias Adventistas, G1, Rede Novo Tempo de Comunicação.
Source: Notícias Adventistas, G1, Rede Novo Tempo de Comunicação