Born in Farroupilha/RS, the son of Seu Reinaldo and Dona Rita, he chose São Leopoldo as a child to build his life and his dreams. This was while he accompanied his father, a simple man, selling grapes on his way down from the Serra Gaúcha region to the Vale dos Sinos, in the greater Porto Alegre area. It was also with him that, in the 1950s, he generated electricity for his home from a small stream at the back of his house, awakening the visionary entrepreneur and innovator that he would become.

With a marked simplicity, he was proud of his origins and kept his characteristic “gringo accent”, as he used to say. With a firm hand and a broad smile, he aggregated, led, developed and patented innovative ideas in the service of sustainability for the world.

His legacy and trajectory have impacted and transformed not only the lives of the hundreds of families of employees he has had in his companies – to whom he has always made a point of guaranteeing good health plans and benefits – but also the communities in which he has worked, demonstrating a business leader ahead of his time.

Silvino traveled the world and achieved international recognition, but he made a point of being present at his company every day. I visited all the sectors, got to know the employees’ lives and encouraged everyone.

Silvino Geremia, a man who worked with passion

In his career, he has been a lathe operator, a milling machine and toolmaker, an industrial designer and, in the 1970s, together with his brother, he founded Bombas Geremia, where he became an international leader in the oil industry.

Among his achievements, he was director of SINDIMETAL for 15 years and director of FIERGS for 15 years. A great defender of industry and promoter of education, he served on the Advisory Boards of SESI and SENAI and, in 1996, published an article in Exame magazine calling himself an “Outlaw”, in protest at being fined for paying tuition at private universities for his employees.

During his time as president of ACIST-SL (1988 to 1990), at the time of the democratic opening, Silvino played a strong role in defending free enterprise. Restless and always open to new ideas, he coordinated the opening of a communication channel to hear ideas from all political parties. At the same time, with the arrival of Trensurb in São Leopoldo, he led the campaign at ACIST-SL for the company’s urban train project to be underground or aerial, avoiding the division that occurred in other cities in the region.

In 2000, he founded HIGRA and developed the Amphibious Pumps, a 100% Brazilian innovation recognized and used in the three Americas, Asia, Oceania and Africa. Today, the company, whose mentor is Silvino Geremia, stands out for producing highly energy-efficient equipment for pumping systems, water and sewage treatment systems and clean energy generation systems.

Silvino Geremia rested at the age of 79, 54 of them married to Dona Mari. Father of Alexsandro Geremia (CEO of HIGRA) and Lisiane Geremia, he has 5 grandchildren. Proudly, he has always been passionate about his family, “I don’t know if I have a family business or an entrepreneurial family, but in my companies I have always treated my employees like children. We can show them the way, but it’s up to them. I’ve always believed in the zero boss model. In life, we are all entrepreneurs.

More than a work colleague, more than a successful businessman, Silvino was and always will be an unforgettable friend, partner and motivator. Aware of the greatness of his achievements and with unparalleled humility, he made it clear that his duty was done: “What we can do, we’ve done so far, it’s time to pass the baton. We can advise, but the future lies with the new generation of entrepreneurs, now it’s up to you. And I know you’re ready!”

In the end, the heart, which had captivated us so much, made us cavort. And the man who told and made history, the entrepreneur who loved challenges, conquered one more: the ability to become eternal energy and inspiration.

Thank you, Mr. Silvino.