Pascual Olivera
Spanish Dancer, SGI-USA (American Buddhists) Culture Department Leader
July 15, 1944 – September 19, 2003

This page was created with the permission of Pascual's younger brother, Ray Olivera. 
Ray said he knows SGI (Buddhists) members want to share memories of Pascual's life.
To contribute to this page, please send submissions by clicking here. 
Please refer to Pascual in your email subject header. Click here to forward this page to friends.

Update: July 26, 2006--Angela Olivera passed away shortly after 4:25 PDT and on 
Tuesday, July 25, 2006 in Jaen, Spain. Angela was diagnosed with leukemia a month before 
her passing. She remained in high spirits and received expert care in Spain at that time. Two weeks before her 
death, her condition declined, however she remained asleep during that time, free of pain or discomfort. 

Definitions of the Buddhist Terms on This Page

Bodhisattvas of the Earth: Approximately 3,000 years ago in India when the historical Buddha, Siddhartha, preached his teaching known as the Lotus Sutra, majestic women and men metaphorically arose from beneath the earth. They were called the Bodhisattvas of the Earth. A Bodhisattva is someone who strives to care for and help others. The Bodhisattvas of the Earth vowed to the Buddha to lead the world to lasting happiness in a future time of unbridled suffering. The appearance of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth—along with the other occurrences that are described in the Lotus Sutra—symbolizes the unlimited wonder and power within "the earth" of each person's life. For more information about the portion of the Lotus Sutra in which the Bodhisattvas of the Earth appear, click here for the article, "Better Than HD TV--The Gohonzon's 3-D Ceremony in the Air."

Daimoku: The words Nichiren Buddhist chant when praying, which are Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Nam is a Sanskrit word that means "Devotion." Myoho-renge-kyo is a Japanese pronunciation of the title "Lotus Sutra." Nam-myoho-renge-kyo literally means "I devote my life to the Lotus Sutra teaching." Its deeper meaning is understood through the act of chanting.

Gohonzon: A white paper scroll with Nam-myoho-renge-kyo written down the center in black Chinese letters. Nichiren Buddhists focus their eyes on the Gohonzon while chanting. For more information about the Gohonzon, click here for the article, "Better Than HD TV--The Gohonzon's 3-D Ceremony in the Air."

Gongyo: Nichiren Buddhists' daily prayer ritual in which they chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and recite part of the Lotus Sutra Buddhist scripture

Gosho: "Honorable Writings." The letters and scholarly writings of Nichiren, the 13th century Buddhist teacher who widely taught the practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and founded Nichiren Buddhism

Kosen Rufu: World peace arising from the spread of Buddhism's highest humanistic ideals

NSA Nichiren Shoshu Soka Gakkai of America. The former name of the Soka Gakkai International-USA Nichiren Buddhist association, which is now commonly called the SGI-USA

Sensei: Japanese for the word "teacher". Some members of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI) Buddhist association refer to the SGI President, Daisaku Ikeda, as Sensei. 

For additional information about Buddhism on this Web site, click here.

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Message from SGI President Daisaku Ikeda
Saturday, September 20, 2003

Dear Angela Olivera and family,

Upon the news of Pascual's passing, please let me offer my heartfelt condolences to you and your family. I cannot even begin to imagine the depth of sorrow that you and your family are going through. Pascual's passing also caused a profound pain and grief for my wife and me. As soon as we heard about his passing, we immediately began chanting  Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and prayed for his peace and happiness.

As a great champion of art for the SGI-USA and a leader of the Mystic Law, Pascual gave many members and friends limitless courage and hope.

The splendid dances of victory that the two of you performed at the Tokyo Makiguchi Memorial Hall and at Soka University's Ikeda Auditorium are still vividly etched in the hearts of many friends to this day, like a great masterpiece.

With his earnest seeking mind and indomitable spirit, Pascual magnificently triumphed in his battle against the devilish forces of illness and demonstrated the actual proof of faith. The brilliant drama of his life, the life of a great actor on the stage of worldwide kosen-rufu, will be forever admired and remembered as an example of faith by SGI members throughout the world.

Angela, you must be very lonely and sad right now. But Pascual will live on forever in your heart and in the hearts of all of us, gazing warmly upon us.

I sincerely hope that you and your family will overcome your pain and sorrow as early as possible.

From the bottom of our hearts, my wife and I are praying for the repose of the great Pascual Olivera.

With palms pressed in prayer.

September 20, 2003
Daisaku Ikeda

Message from SGI-USA General Director Danny Nagashima
Tuesday, September 23, 2003

Dear Angela and the members of Central Zone, 

Please accept my sincerest condolences on the passing of our beloved comrade, Pascual Olivera. He was not only one of my closest friends, but also my great hero in life. How much Pascual inspired me is beyond measurement and more than words can express.

Even though I will miss him very much, I believe Pascual's passing was truly victorious. As President Ikeda shares, "If a person has strong and invincible faith to the very end, he or she has triumphed. There are many people who, in spite of being fatally ill and suffering greatly themselves, have prayed for kosen-rufu and the happiness of their fellow members and encouraged others right up to the very moment of death. Their lives and their bravery in the face of death have given courage and inspiration to countless people. Such people will quickly be reborn with a healthy body." 

This was Pascual. No matter what pain or adversity he was going through, he never failed to think of the happiness of others. Pascual encouraged us with his entire life, never failing to give all of himself. He showed me that together with Angela, we must succeed and become Don Quixotes. 

Also as President Ikeda states, "Just as a glorious scarlet sunset heralds a brilliant new day on the dawn, a majestic closing chapter to a life in which all desires have been fulfilled promises a next lifetime brimming with hope, good fortune and benefit." Without a doubt, the warm, bright rays of sunshine emitting from Pascual's new life, will soon shine upon all of us. I can't wait until we meet with him again. I am sincerely praying for Angela's and all of your continued happiness. Let's each of us surpass Pascual's dream of the impossible dream. 

With my deepest sympathy, 
Danny Nagashima
SGI-USA General Director          

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Flamenco dancer from Canton dies
Monday, September 22, 2003 
Canton Repository
By JAN H. KENNEDY staff writer

OLIVERA

Canton joins the world of dance in mourning the death of native son Pascual “Pat” Olivera. Olivera, 59, one of the most respected Spanish and flamenco dancers in the world, died Friday in Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago from non-Hodgkins lymphoma. His wife, Angela Del Moral, is learning how to live without the man she calls her husband, her best friend, her lover and her partner. “After I learn that, I want to fulfill his dream of  getting his life story on Broadway,” she said by phone from Chicago. “Te Amo” is a musical dance and play written by Olivera. It was given four performances at Chicago’s New Turners Theater last year. The shows and workshops were sold out and given rave reviews. “Now, I have a last chapter I have to write,” she said. “But I can’t do that yet. Not until I learn to live without him.”

The son of Pascual Sr. and the late Remidios (Cabezas) Olivera grew up on Third Street NE in the heart of the Spanish community in Canton. At 14, showing signs of dancing talent, he was sent to Spain for high school and to learn the passionate native dances. At 18, he returned to the United States and started a dance company that toured nationally and in Canada. He was discovered by Jose Greco, the most famous flamenco dancer ever, and, after a stint in the Army, went to work for Greco. He married Del Moral, a prima ballerina he met in Spain, and developed his own show, “A Romantic Celebration of Spanish Dances.” They toured the world, playing to sold-out venues, including a month long sold-out booking in Japan. 

Olivera also worked in opera with Placido Domingo and with pop artists such as Gloria Estefan. His work appeared on Broadway and his shows, “Cabernet Jarvis,” “La Verbena De La Paloma” and “La Rosa Del Azafran,” produced in Zarzuela, Spain, became PBS television broadcasts. 

Olivera and Del Moral took their show to the seas and became the top-rated act on the Holland America Cruise Line between 1997-1999. In 1999, they returned to Canton to present the first performance of “Te Amo.” He felt his greatest contribution to the world was the work he did on behalf of the SGI-USA (Soka Gakkai International of USA, a Buddhist organization for peace), Del Moral said. He was a member of SGI-USA for the past 35 years, dedicating his life to encouraging human beings throughout the world. 

“He’d tell me, ‘Angela, you have money in your pocket, you have money in the bank, but you can’t take it when you go (die),’ ” she said. “All you have is the body of your work. “He had this tremendous passion for dance,” she said. “For us, it was like the pay was for our packing everything and the travel. The dancing we did for free.” Olivera was the recipient of the “Gold Medal and World Peace Culture Award” and the “Liberty Award and Medal,” given to him by the president of the Soka Gakkai International. 

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his father, his brother Raymond and sister-in-law Pamela, their children Daniel and Amy of Plain Township, and uncles and aunts Gene and Emily Norcia and Manual and Rena Cabezas. 

A memorial service will be held Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the SGI-USA Chicago Culture Center. Arrangements were made by Colonial-Wojciechowski Funeral Home at (773) 774-0366. You can reach Repository writer Jan H. Kennedy at (330) 580-8325 or e-mail: jan.kennedy@cantonrep.com           

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Pascual Olivera Jr., renowned Spanish dancer
September 22, 2003
Chicago Sun Times

BY JIM RITTER Staff Reporter

From the time he was a little boy growing up in Canton, Ohio, Pascual Olivera Jr. was determined to be a Spanish dancer.

His father had other ideas, suggesting he perhaps join the family cement business. But Mr. Olivera finally persuaded his parents to send him to Spain, where he learned from the masters, before becoming a world-class dancer himself. Mr. Olivera also wrote, choreographed, produced and directed dance performances.

Mr. Olivera, who lived in Skokie, died of cancer Friday at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. He was 59.

Mr. Olivera did classical, regional and flamenco dances, performed with more than 50 symphony orchestras and toured every state and around the world. Once, when he toured Japan for six weeks, he sold out six months ahead of time.

For 27 years, Mr. Olivera performed with his wife, Angela Del Moral, a former prima ballerina with Antonio's Ballets of Madrid and Royal National Spanish Ballet.

"He lived for dance," she said.

Mr. Olivera, the son of Spanish immigrants, decided to become a dancer after listening to his grandfather play flamenco guitar. But Canton, home of the National Football League's Hall of Fame, "was not exactly the mecca of flamenco," he told an interviewer in 1998. "But it was a dream that I had, and I wouldn't let go of it. It was something that I just pursued relentlessly."

Mr. Olivera was premier Spanish dancer with the Jose Greco Spanish Ballet. He wrote and directed a production of "La Vida Breve" for the Opera Factory and danced and choreographed "Carmen" with the DuPage Opera Company and "Traviata" with the Midwest Opera Company.

He returned to Canton to perform "Te Amo," a musical he wrote that was based on his life.

Mr. Olivera and his wife performed "A Romantic Celebration of Spanish Dances" for the Holland America and Crystal cruise lines.

Mr. Olivera created production numbers at peace festivals on behalf of Soka Gakkai International of USA, a Buddhist association that promotes world peace and individual happiness. He immersed himself "heart and soul" into the cause of peace, said Soka Gakkai member Sondra Crotts.

"He danced for it, he cried for it," she said.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Olivera is survived by his father, Pascual Olivera Sr; and a brother, Raymond.

A memorial service is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at SGI-USA Chicago Culture Center, 1455 S. Wabash.                         

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Memorial Service, SGI-USA Chicago Cultural Center
by Tom F. with help from Deepika D. & Ray Olivera
Wednesday, September 24, 2003

Last night more than 1,000 people filled the main Gohonzon room and round Gohonzon room for the memorial for Pascual. Pascual's family from across the country was present. 

The stage was literally filled with gorgeous flowers sent from President Ikeda, Danny and Matilda and close friends. On the floor beneath the stage was an entire row of "stands" of roses that lined the entire length of the stage. Also on the stage was all of Pascual's SGI awards and medals. Friends flew in from all over the U.S. including Wayne Shorter, Wayne Green and Larry Coryeal. As an aside, it was interesting to see how well dressed everyone was—it was out of such deep respect for Pascual and his family.

Gongyo was led by Garie Murie who also flew in from L.A. Messages were read by close friends of Pascual's. They included messages from Sensei. Danny, Mrs. Liebmann and others. The service then opened with the song "What Can I Do?" There wasn't a dry eye in the house. Then their was a photo collage that showed photo's starting with pictures of him as a child up until the present. There were hundreds of photos that brought back a thousand memories and demonstrated once again the vastness of Pascual's life. Then close friends gave testimonials about Pascual's life. One was a young YWD who knew Pascual at birth. She read a "letter" she wrote to him. Other testimonials included photo's as they were speaking

Pascual & Angela, SGI-USA Chicago Culture Center, May 2002
                                             
                    click here to enlarge       view another photo    photo ©Dan Defensor

Then their was a video of his life that was simply incredible—videos of his dancing around the world, videos of him dancing for Sensei, practice dance sessions etc. The place went nuts when they watched him dance again. And again they were in awe of not only the dancing of Pascual and Angela but the sheer size of the audiences and all of the standing ovations. It was incredible.

Then Raymond spoke. It was incredibly funny and moving. Mostly funny. He said Pascual never forgot where he started—in Canton, Ohio, and he thanked the Canton members for their daimoku.] And then Angela spoke. Angela had what looked like a large hand bag and she carried it with her to the stage while she spoke. Then she opened it and held up their little dog—Sparkie. When she did this the place literally gasped because Sparkie is so precious and everyone knew how much Pascual loved Sparkie. Pascual had originally bought the dog for Angela—but the dog was a "daddy's boy" and never left Pascual's side. As she said this, the dog began licking her face!

Angela told everyone that we were Boddhisatvas of the Earth and that we needed to fullfill Pascual's dream of 3 million members in America. Angela said no matter what, she will always be together with Sensei. She said enjoy what there is to enjoy, and that this moment was enjoyment, as she could feel the hearts of everyone, and the heart of Pascual, and she will suffer what there is to suffer. Gary Murie then spoke and reminisced about Pascual and his incredible relationship to Sensei.

Wayne Shorter kept saluting Angela throughout. The service ended with the singing of the Impossible Dream. Again people were shouting it to the top of their lungs and were so determined to fulfill Pascual's dream of peace in America and the world.

Afterward everyone surrounded the entire Olivera family and Raymond and Angela. We are already planning major yearly events to celebrate Pascual's life. I hope this provides you with a sense of what happened. The audience 
represented 1,000 incredibly close friends who have been with Pascual for years. 

Tom F.            

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Memorial Service
SGI-USA World Culture Center, Los Angeles 
by Julia S.
Tuesday, September 23, 2003

I attended Pascual's memorial service in Los Angeles this evening.  What a fabulous event!  I go back to 1973 in the Gakkai.  The people who were there were a wonderful combination of the real old timers (way before that) and the artists from the arts group and young people, and lots of other lifelong SGI people who just appreciate the dedication of someone like Pascual.  Mr. Williams was there, with a great new fashionable popadom haircut, looking more modern than ever!  Still the same great hello. 

Danny, Greg Martin and so on, were in Chicago with the family. At the LA memorial Gary Murie led gongyo and was essentially the presiding person.  Lorraine Fields, the terrific dancer from the get-go in all the culture festivals with Pascual was the MC.  It was unbelievable to listen to Herbie Hancock playing on his own incredibly gorgeous Steinway grand piano.  He told us he had just recently given this, his beloved piano to SGI to the World Culture Center after talking with Pascual about giving, and Pascual's such deeply giving spirit made him want to give the very thing that meant the most to him.  Herbie played a piece he had composed a piece called "Smile" - but he used the Spanish name for it - in honor of Pascual because he had that lovely sweet smile.   

After the daimoku and incense offering, Herbie played for an incredible opera aria by a young professional singer, that spoke to the voice for the arts and creativity.  President Ikeda sent a powerful message of faith, of Pascual's devotion, and there was an extraordinarily beautifully written message from Danny, who was in Chicago.  And a hilarious remembrance of stories of Pascual (such as how he met Angela, and how he took his white polyester NSA suit (remember those days?) to the tailor and had him remake it in fine white linen with a silk lining, with a resemblance to polyester if possible!)  We watched short videos of 2 of his most beautiful dances with Angela.  A slide of his recent visit to Tokyo, in between his two cancer battles shows him absolutely radiant with Angela as they fought so hard in his situation.   

The whole memorial was so light, you cannot imagine. The high point came at the very end when Gary Murie said that Angela was on the telephone!  She spoke for a few minutes, telling us what is was like as 14 of them chanted as they took the life support off, and the hospital said it would be 5 minutes before he died.  So they kept chanting, and 5 minutes passed and then 10 and then 15, and everyone was wondering... and then 30 minutes and then an hour, everyone kept chanting, and then after an hour and a half he finally passed.  She said his skin was like porcelain.  Angela was so incredibly full of love for Pascual, for all the members who supported them and were there right then, she couldnt stop saying I love youl thank you thank you, I love you thank you thank you.  It was very moving, but to chills and joy, not to tears!   

It was the kind of amazing joyful Gakkai occasion that makes us love SGI so much. Gary Murie was hilarious.  He recalled our festivals in the past, at which Pascual was always central, and we were forever building floating islands, smoking volcanos, gigantic chairs and so on.  He told Pascual, sorry, we don't have these things for your farewell...Maybe at your comeback party... 

Over and over, from Sensei's message through the remembrances by others, the theme was clearly Pascual's incredible selfless dedication and devotion to the cause of kosen rufu, that he gave everything of himself, without exception, to that cause.   

This was a leaving party, without question.  It brought so many of us together. I found myself reunited in important ways with countless people I had not seen for ages.  There were many extraordinary people at this memorial who have done so much to lead our movement for kosen rufu in the past who we haven't seen much of for a while.  But Pascual brought them to join in, and they looked radiant.    

Isn't it amazing how much is created by the ichinen of people as they die?  This was a magnificent event.  The way SGI was this evening, and all the members and the spirit and everything was exactly, in its style and feeling, how Pascual always viewed it.  He set the tone, and we got the message! 

Julia  

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From Friends

August 16, 2006
The Word Respect Comes to Mind
Having been out of touch with the SGI for the most part for the last few years, I just now got the news that Pascual had moved on from this existence. My deepest condolences to you on your loss of a very powerful man. 

My memory of Pascual originates in 1983 in Chicago. I had just joined NSA in March, marched in a Chagrin Falls, Ohio, parade as a cape dancer in late spring, and by July had found myself in Chicago practicing for a 300 member cape dance to be performed at the Third World Peace Culture Festival in Sapporo, Japan in August. Pascual was the dance director. I kind of knew that he was a good dancer, having performed with his brother, Ray, in the Chagrin Falls parade. Little did I know what was to follow for me after that small, "tortuous" parade in Chagrin Falls. 

About two months later I'm in Japan with 500 other NSA members, preparing to perform an elaborate cape dance to the Neil Diamond tune "Coming to America". Pascual tirelessly lead the practices, always very patient, as we stumbled and bumped through the routine, not to mention the several changes he threw in! He was so encouraging to all us non-dancers. You'd think a consummate professional like him would not have the patience to coordinate such an undertaking. Yet my lasting impression is of a loving leader, teacher, and fellow human being just imparting his passion to us. 

The word respect comes to mind, also, as I think of those practices with Pascual. He never once belittled or scolded us. He apparently knew we all had our own karmic twists to contend with through our participation there. 

The peak moment for me came after the actual performance. All the performers, youth from all corners of the globe, were called back onto the stadium field for the finale. We sang a final song, then were filed quickly off the field, country by country. That's when I started sobbing uncontrollably. It suddenly hit me that THIS is what it means to accomplish world peace - to have people from all over the globe gathered together in harmony to celebrate. To actually celebrate our DIFFERENCES. Differences in culture, language, heritage. 

Not being a dancer myself, I suppose the purpose of dance is to express a passion through movement. Pascual did do that. Since 1983, I have taken ballroom dance lessons. None of my instructors came close to the pure passion for dance that I witnessed with Pascual. His example of loving leadership is something I continually work to extract from within myself. I will always remember him with warm fondness. 

Sincerely, Mark Gillen 
Lansing, Michigan

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September 30, 2003
Thank you, Pascual, for the example
My wife and I saw you and Angela speak and dance last spring at the SGI-USA community center in Mt. Ranier, MD.  You are both proof that a common mortal can be enlightened. Thank you both immensely.

Phil and Janas Lyons
Annapolis, MD

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October 16, 2003
Meeting With Him Changed My Life Forever

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Beginning
by Tom F. 
Friday, September 19, 2003

By now I am sure you have heard that Pascual passed away tonight at 5:34PM at the Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. There will be a memorial for Pascual this coming Tuesday evening at the Chicago Cultural Center at 7 PM  As you know, Pascual fought against cancer for the past two years.

I was with Pascual today with Danny Nagashima and others in his hospital room and I wanted to share some of the events of the day.  For the past two weeks Pascual was critical. He was on a ventilator. Angela has literally been watching over him around the clock for the past two years. There are simply no words to describe her devotion and love. It is almost superhuman.

Pascual is extremely realistic. He knew he was gravely ill. He wanted to assure Angela of the unbelievable benefits of the Mystic Law.  He literally held on for his wife for actually quite some time—for over one year. In the past two weeks Angela came to realize that the end was quite near. It has been so incredibly difficult for her to let go.  This morning a number of people gathered in his hospital room with Angela. She had called for Danny to come to see Pascual. Danny got on a stand by flight this morning from Los Angeles and landed at O'Hare at 1 PM. He arrived at Pascual's hospital room at 2:20 PM. Pascual was unconscious.

Danny went to his bedside and began to talk into his ear. He spoke with great power and conviction. He told Pascual the following; he said that Sensei and Mrs Ikeda were sending Pascual their daimoku, he told Pascual that he and Angela were the greatest artists for kosen rufu in the world, he said that Pascual encouraged millions of members around the world, he said that Sensei was writing the Human Revolution from 1970 and that Angela and Pascual were included in it, he said that he should not worry about the artists group, that they would be totally ok as well as Angela, he then told Pascual that this morning the Board of Directors of the International Artists Group that Sensei organized one year ago had unanimously voted to announce that the new President would be Angela. He then told Pascual that he could now go.  It was incredibly emotional. Pascual acknowledged all of this to Danny. He literally understood Danny and literally changed in front of everyone's eyes. Three hours later he passed away.      

We want to get the word out to all of the members of Pascual's passing so that they may chant for his repose. Danny will speak of Pascual's life tomorrow at 5PM  He has left behind an unbelievable legacy. All of us were deeply touched by this extraordinary human and disciple of Sensei.

Let's deeply resolve to once again respond to Sensei and to his cherished disciple Pascual by fighting to build kosen rufu over and over. Thank you so much.  

Tom F.

     
            
view another photo                               photo ©Dixon Hamby 

      For more information about the Buddhist philosophy Pascual lived by, click here for the article, 
"Better Than HD TV--The Gohonzon's 3-D Ceremony in the Air."

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Angela's Page,  From the SGI-USA General Director, Canton Repository, Chicago Sun Times, 
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