Former Haitian President Rene Preval died Friday, his wife Elisabeth Delatour Preval confirmed to the Miami Herald. He was 74.
Preval, who was president during Haiti's tragic Jan. 12, 2010, earthquake, died at home in Laboule, a neighborhood in Port-au-Prince. His wife, who wasn't with him, said she had spoken to him "three times" Friday morning.
"He was in excellent humor," said Delatour Preval, who was traveling. "He asked, 'When are you coming home?' I refused to believe it. I cannot believe it."
Preval served as president from 1996 to 2001, and again from 2006-2011. He is the only president in Haitian history to have served two full presidential terms and not be jailed, exiled or killed.
Jerry Tardieu, a member of the Lower House of Deputies, was equally surprised by the news. He had spent two hours with the former president at his home Friday morning. Preval had wanted to meet with him to discuss a law to protect national production.
An agronomist by training, Preval devoted his years out of the presidency to turning bamboo into furniture to create jobs, and to boost the national production of agricultural products. A savvy politician, he continued to be sought out by foreign diplomats as Haiti reeled from one political crisis to another in recent years.
"He was fine," said Tardieu. "He looked no different than any other day. I am in shock."
At one point during their discussion, former Haitian minister of culture Daniel Elie walked into the room and Preval, in his usual humor, turned to Elie and said, "I know that you know Jerry Tardieu. But you don't know the congressman who is going to defend national production."
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his two daughters and a son, and two grandchildren.
