Garachico Honors Evelia Suárez; Library to Bear Her Name

The Garachico reading club recently honored Evelia Suárez, who served as the town's librarian and archivist for 35 years. Originally from Gran Canaria, Suárez made a lasting impact on many generations in Garachico. She was key to managing the town's historical records and a strong supporter of literary initiatives, including the very club that paid tribute to her.

The tribute took place on December 16, what would have been her 65th birthday. Members of the cultural club – Olimpia Páez Rolo, Mercedes Mascareño Sanz, Hilaria González Acosta, and Silvia Lorenzo Rodríguez – chose to celebrate her life and work in the Garachico municipal library, a place where Suárez dedicated countless hours. Her husband, Salvador Suárez García, was also present at the gathering.

Members of the Garachico reading club expressed their deep gratitude, saying, "We owe so much to Evelia. She started everything and worked tirelessly to keep our group of 30 people, from Garachico, Buenavista del Norte, Los Silos, El Tanque, and Icod de los Vinos, engaged in literary activities." They added, "Even when she was ill, she insisted we continue our meetings," highlighting her unwavering enthusiasm. During the tribute, they described her as "a strong, dynamic, cheerful, generous, helpful, loyal friend, and enthusiastic woman."

They remembered that on March 14, 2017, while Suárez was having coffee in Garachico's Plaza de La Libertad, she approached a future member of the literary group to suggest starting it. Since then, the cultural events she championed have been diverse, ranging from opera to discussions of journalistic and historical texts, and even involved the cloistered Conceptionist nuns of Villa y Puerto. "Evelia devoted herself to Garachico as if she were born here, calling it her adopted home," they noted.

Suárez, originally from Gran Canaria, was also responsible for providing the reading club with all the books they needed. She would transport them to and from Santa Cruz, encouraging members to explore not only classic literature but also introducing them to new titles for their discussions.

A commemorative plaque now hangs on the main wall of the library, a place Evelia Suárez dedicated her life to, honoring her and her remarkable work in this northwest Tenerife town. Her husband shared that the Garachico Town Council plans an official tribute in March 2026, at which point the municipal library and archive will be named in her honor.

Suárez arrived in Tenerife at 17, coming from the San Lorenzo neighborhood in Gran Canaria. She earned her degree in Geography and History from the University of La Laguna. After working for a year in Adeje, she settled in Garachico in 1989. She worked tirelessly until her death in 2024, protecting the vast collection of historical documents belonging to the Garachico town council. Because of her efforts, Villa y Puerto de Garachico now has one of the best-preserved historical archives in the Canary Islands. Stepping into the archive, where Evelia Suárez meticulously organized her treasures, was like entering a world carefully classified by her own hands and patience. Every documented event in Garachico's history was handled with her expert touch.

Suárez often recalled the state of the municipal archive when she first arrived at the Garachico Town Council – it was practically non-existent, more like a garage filled with old junk. She single-handedly took on the task of preserving valuable collections, including the Cáceres family archive (dating from the late 16th century to today), the judicial archive, and donations from figures like José María Benítez Toledo, local historian Carlos Acosta (which included precious old photographs), and former mayor Pascual González Regalado.

Everyone who knew Evelia Suárez remembers her unique and genuine personality. Her husband and constant companion, Salvador Suárez García, described her as "tremendous." He added, "For Veli – as he affectionately called her – Garachico meant everything. If there was a problem, no matter the time, she would always be there. I never heard her say 'no' to anything." He continued, "Everyone loved her. We spent 35 wonderful years together, and I find comfort in those memories during this time of loss."

In May 2024, Garachico lost the dedicated guardian of its history. Yet, like a true preserver of heritage, she left her work in excellent order and inspired her friends and colleagues to ensure her spirit would live on.