the difficult situation of the Gómez-Acebo family in their most painful year

For the Gómez-Acebo family, this Christmas will be full of deep regret. The empty chairs around his table become a symbol of pain after the losses suffered in the last year. The death of two of its most beloved members in just five months has left an indelible mark on a family that had already faced other recent tragedies.

In March, Fernando Gómez-Acebo, affectionately known as “Coco”, died at the age of 49 due to respiratory complications resulting from a long recovery after suffering from COVID-19. Just five months later, in August, the family suffered another devastating loss with the death of Juan, the oldest of the four male siblings, victim of devastating cancer at the age of 54. The month of December, which under normal circumstances would have been a cause for celebration for Juan’s birthday on the 6th, now becomes a constant reminder of his absence. These recent tragedies are added to the loss in January 2020 of Infanta Pilar, mother of the five Gómez-Acebo brothers, who passed away after a battle with colon cancer. Doña Pilar, was a central and unifying figure of the family, she left a legacy of strength and unity that her children strive to maintain, despite the void left by these successive losses.

Doña Pilar, older sister of King Juan Carlos, was known for her charisma and ability to unite her family. The Gómez-Acebo relationship with the Spanish Royal Family has always been close. In fact, Infanta Pilar made sure that her children grew up alongside those of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía, forming almost fraternal bonds. For this reason, Infantas Elena and Cristina have experienced the recent losses of their cousins ​​as their own. Queen Sofía, who attended Fernando Gómez-Acebo’s funeral in April, also showed her closeness in these difficult times.

The legacy of Infanta Pilar

In addition to mourning, Simoneta, Beltrán and Bruno Gómez-Acebo have in recent years assumed the responsibility of managing their mother’s inheritance, an estate that includes emblematic properties in Madrid and Mallorca. After the death of Doña Pilar, the brothers chose to sell the properties to avoid high maintenance costs. Among the notable properties was the family home in Puerta de Hierro, in Madrid, recently sold to businessman Ricardo Fuster for nearly three million euros. Other properties included in the legacy were an apartment on Velázquez Street, two homes in the Sol de Mallorca urbanization, and a more modest apartment on Calle Mayor in Madrid. The family company San Jacobo SL, created in the 60s by Luis Gómez-Acebo, husband of Infanta Pilar, was in charge of managing these operations. According to records, after the sale of the Puerta de Hierro mansion, dividends of more than 1.8 million euros were distributed among the partners.

The weight of memory

This Christmas, the Gómez-Acebos face a double challenge: grieve recent losses while carrying forward the family legacy left by their parents. Although income from wealth management has eased financial burdens, the emotional void is impossible to fill. In a context of chained tragedies, the family continues to honor the values ​​of mutual support and resilience that Doña Pilar instilled in them, demonstrating that, even in the darkest moments, the spirit of togetherness can prevail.