Departures of note

Josep Vallverdú i Aixalà was born in Lleida, Spain, on 9 July 1923. He studied philosophy and letters at the University of Barcelona, later becoming a high‑school teacher while beginning his literary career. In the 1960s he turned his focus to children's and youth fiction, publishing the iconic novel Rovelló in 1969, which introduced the beloved puppy protagonist and later inspired a popular animated TV series.

Over a prolific career he authored more than 300 titles across poetry, essays, drama, linguistics and translation, and his works were translated into several languages. Vallverdú received numerous honors, including the Folch i Torres Prize for Rovelló, the Premi d'Honor de les Lletres Catalanes (2000), the Creu de Sant Jordi (1988), and the Gold Medal of the Generalitat de Catalunya (2019). He was also a member of the Institut d'Estudis Catalans and a respected figure in Catalan cultural activism.

Vallverdú continued to write and promote Catalan language and literature well into his centenarian years, with a 2023 tribute marking the hundredth anniversary of his birth. He died on 21 July 2026 at the age of 103, leaving an enduring legacy in Catalan letters and children's storytelling.