Enric Corominas Vila, founding member of the Cercle d'Economia, of which he was president at the end of the 1980s, has left us, a responsibility from which he promoted the creation of the Fundació Cercle d'Economia, which he later also chaired.
Enric Corominas showed from a very young age a business imprint closely linked to the industrious city of Sabadell. Responsible for the family manufacturing activity, he maintained close ties with Banc Sabadell, of which his great-grandfather, Juan Bautista Corominas, was its first president and his brother, Joan Corominas, was the last member of the family to assume the presidency of the bank. His last professional stage was articulated around the Caixa d'Estalvis i Pensions de Barcelona, as a member of its board, as well as other related companies.
He also transferred his commitment to business to the institutional sphere, participating actively in the main Barcelona institutions, both in the Chamber of Commerce and in Foment del Treball, although his greatest contribution was made from the Círculo de Economia.
Many of us remember his presidency, especially for his position in favor of Spain's entry into NATO, a paradigmatic example of his personality and his way of understanding the meaning of civil society. The Círculo was the only private entity that, openly, was in favor of Atlantic integration. He considered, and time proved him right, that Spain's entry into the Atlantic Alliance would favor the political and economic stability of our country, improve collective security and contribute to the consolidation of our, at that time, still fragile democracy. It was undoubtedly a wise decision, although it was misunderstood by broad sectors of the economy, which prioritized short-term partisan interests. Enric Corominas publicly defended the Cercle's position at a time when the representatives of civil society mostly chose to hide and stay away from the political noise.
His leadership, as discreet as it was effective, allowed him to bring people together and coordinate interests in all the areas in which he was involved. Thus, through the Fundació Cercle d'Economia, he promoted the creation of the first and main private university in Catalonia, the Universitat Ramon Llull, which he presided over after the death of its founder, Cardinal Narcís Jubany.
As president of its board of trustees, he brought together the various university centers, some of them with a long tradition, around a common project, developing new and ambitious shared educational projects, as well as providing the university with various facilities, from student residences and sports areas to a new rector's office. All of this was essential in order to create a common educational proposal, respecting the diversity and personality of the respective university centers.
He also stood out in the world of sport, in whose institutional modernization he was actively involved, especially as president of the Catalan Swimming Federation and vice-president of the Spanish Federation; in recent times, he presided over the Real Club Náutico de Barcelona, driven by the desire to preserve his legacy and, in turn, open the organization to Barcelona society.
In the Cercle, he also leaves us a sample of one of his great passions: art, especially painting. Most of the pictorial work of our headquarters is a donation of Enric Corominas. A way to remain in what was his home.
But we will especially remember him for having been a very friendly person, easy to deal with and kind; who has gone with the same discretion he maintained in his long years of professional and institutional activity, leaving behind him a relevant business, sports and educational legacy.
May the good friend Enric "Quique" Corominas rest in peace.
Jaume Guardiola
President of the Cercle d’Economia
Pedro Fontana
President of the Fundació Cercle d’Economia
