Treiyer, Humberto Raúl (1930–2015)

Humberto Raúl Treiyer had extensive professional and academic experience and served in pastoral service, in academic administration, and in teaching.¹

Early Years, Studies, and Family

Humberto Raúl Treiyer was born in Puiggari (current Libertador San Martín), Entre Ríos, Argentina, on December 7, 1930, at the house of Eduardo Urbano Treiyer (1893-1975) and María Bertha Albertina Blank (1894-1977).² He was baptized on September 20, 1950, in Puiggari, Entre Ríos. He was the younger brother of Pastor Benjamin Treiyer.³ On March 6, 1951, Humberto married Carmen Raquel Adela Teresa Bellido Ampuero, and they had three daughters. Graciela Beatriz, Silvia Inés (1956-2010) and Nancy Raquel.⁴

Adela was born on September 2, 1927 in Mollendo, Peru, from the marriage of Luis Alfredo Bellido (1900-2003) and Amalia Ampuero Matta. She was baptized on November 26, 1942, in Florida, Buenos Aires, Argentina. She studied at River Plate Academy, Entre Ríos, Argentina, where she obtained a diploma as a Bible instructor (1949).

Humberto concluded secondary studies (1948) at River Plate College, Puiggari, Entre Ríos. He then received a bachelor in theology degree (1950) and later a degree in theology (1966) from River Plate Academy. He had graduated as a geography teacher (1952), and a teacher of citizen culture and history (1957) from the National Institute of Secondary Teachers, Paraná, Entre Ríos, Argentina. After that he received a scholarship twice for postgraduate studies in the U.S.A. (1967-1968 and 1971-1974). There he obtained a master of divinity degree (1969) at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan, and a Ph.D. in theology (1974) from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky.

Teacher, Scholar, and Administrator

Treiyer taught for half a century in higher education at Adventist institutions in Argentina, Costa Rica, Colombia, and the Philippines, standing out for his memory and for the enthusiasm with which he led his entertaining and inspiring classes. He was ordained to the pastoral ministry in 1966. His teaching and academic management tasks were: professor of social sciences at River Plate College (1953-1966); professor of Argentine economic and political geography at the Higher Institute of Teachers, Paraná, Entre Ríos (1956-1965); professor in the Department of Theology at River Plate Academy (1954, 1957-1967, 1969-1971, 1974-1976, 1979-1983); director of Home Study Institute, Takoma Park, Maryland, USA, branch office at River Plate Academy (1974-1977, 1979-1982); director of the Department of Theology at River Plate Academy and headquarters director of the Latin-American Adventist Theological Seminary (1979-1982); founding director of the White Research Center at River Plate Academy (1979-1982); and academic vice director of River Plate Academy (1981).⁵

He has published academic and research papers in comparative religions, biblical archeology, biblical eschatology, New Testament epistles, as well as numerous articles in academic and popular journals in Argentina, Spain, the Philippines, and the United States. ⁶

Outside the strictly academic field, Treiyer has carried out other professional activities in the service of the church. He has been secretary of the Departments of Stewardship, and Home and Family of the Austral Union Conference (Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay) (1977-1979), and coordinator of the Spirit of Prophecy service of the Austral Union Conference (1977-1982).

He was professor of theology at the Adventist Center for Higher Education, Alajuela, Costa Rica (1983-1985) and dean of the theology faculty of the same institution (1984-1985). He was professor of theology in Colombia-Venezuela Adventist, Medellín, Colombia (1986-1987). He was a professor of theology and director of the New Testament and Ecclesiastical History Departments, director of the master of divinity, master of ministry, master of arts in teaching ministry, and master of arts in health ministry programs at the Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies (AIIAS), Silang, Philippines (1988-1998). He formally retired on November 1, 1998, after 40 years of service.

As a visiting professor, he developed academic activities at the masters and doctorate levels in theology in Chile, Brazil, Spain, Indonesia, South Korea, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Zimbabwe, Japan, Bangladesh, Taiwan, and Malaysia.

Return to Argentina and Final Years

On his return to his country he continued working as a professor in the faculty of theology at the River Plate Adventist University (1999-2003) and was a professor and thesis director in the postgraduate studies in theology at River Plate Adventist University (1999-2007). Additionally, he was a producer and director of radio and television programs on biblical eschatology.⁷

He died on October 30, 2015, at the age of 85, in Libertador San Martín, Entre Ríos, Argentina.

Dr. Humberto R. Treiyer was a renowned scholar who gave his life to the cause of Christian education. He was a passionate student of theology and a fervent teacher in the teaching of the books of Daniel and Revelation. In 2002 the Department of Education of the General Conference awarded him the Award of Excellence for his 50 years of teaching experience in various parts of the world.

Sources

Steger, Carlos A. “Humberto Raúl Treiyer.” En Como el resplandor del firmamento: Festschrift a los Dres. D. Gullón y H. Treiyer [As the glow of the firmament: Festschrift to Drs. D. Gullón and H. Treiyer], by Víctor Armenteros and Raúl Quiroga, editors. Libertador San Martín, Entre Ríos: Editorial River Plate Adventist University, 2012, xv-xvi.

Treiyer, Humberto Raúl. Religiones comparadas [Compared Religions]. Vols. 1-3. Villa Libertador San Martín, Entre Ríos: Editorial SEM, 1964-1965.

Treiyer, Humberto Raúl. Epístolas del Nuevo Testamento [New Testament Epistles]. Vols. 1-2. Villa Libertador San Martín, Entre Ríos: Editorial SEM, 1965.

Treiyer, Humberto Raúl. Apocalipsis: Apuntes de clase correspondientes a la introducción y los capítulos 1 al 14 [Revelation: Class notes corresponding to the introduction and chapters 1 to 14]. Villa Libertador San Martín, Entre Ríos: River Plate Adventist College, 1980.

Treiyer, Humberto Raúl. Doctrina de la revelación y la inspiración: apuntes de classe [Doctrine of revelation and inspiration: class notes]. Villa Libertador San Martín, Entre Ríos: Theology Department, River Plate Adventist College, 1980.

Treiyer, Humberto Raúl. Arqueología bíblica, desde la creación hasta el éxodo: apuntes de classe [Biblical archeology, from creation to Exodus: class notes]. Villa Libertador San Martín, Entre Ríos: Theology Department, River Plate Adventist College, 1980.

Treiyer, Humberto Raúl. Daniel: apuntes de classe [Daniel: class notes]. Villa Libertador San Martín, Entre Ríos: Theology Department, River Plate Adventist College, 1980.

Treiyer, Humberto Raúl. Orientación profética en el movimiento adventista: Recopilación de materiales bibliográficos [Prophetic guidance in the Adventist movement: Compilation of bibliographic materials]. Villa Libertador San Martín, Entre Ríos: Latin-American Adventist Theological Seminary, 1980.

Treiyer, Humberto Raúl. Enigmas descifrados: Conozca los fascinantes misterios de Daniel capítulos 11 y 12 [Unscrambled riddles: Learn the fascinating mysteries of Daniel chapters 11 and 12]. Mayagüez, Puerto Rico: By the author, 2006.

Wensell, Egil H. El poder de una esperanza que educa y sana [The power of a hope that educates and heals]. Libertador San Martín, Entre Ríos: Editorial River Plate Adventist University, 1993.

Notes

1. Carlos A. Steger, “Humberto Raúl Treiyer”, en Como el resplandor del firmamento: Festschrift a los Dres. D. Gullón y H. Treiyer [As the glow of the firmament: Festschrift to Drs. D. Gullón and H. Treiyer], by Víctor Armenteros y Raúl Quiroga, editors; (Libertador San Martín, Entre Ríos: Editorial Universidad Adventista del Plata, 2012), xv-xvi. Information corroborated with file 1515 of the former Austral Union Conference, existing in the archives of the Argentine Union. Accessed on April 9, 2018.↩

2. María Bertha Albertina Blank, daughter of Augusto Blank Filho and Bertha Schmiele, was baptized in 1909, studied Nursing at River Plate Sanitarium (1915-1918), married in 1919 and worked as head of female hydrotherapy of River Plate Sanitarium (1919-1930). Humberto Raúl Treiyer, email message to Roselyne Treiyer, 2011.↩

3. Benjamín Augusto Treiyer, born on September 9, 1920 in Puiggari, Entre Ríos, Argentina, and died on November 2nd, 2013 in Libertador San Martín, Entre Ríos, Argentina. He was a pastor in Argentina and Paraguay, treasurer in the Adventist food factory Argentina Branch (Buenos Aires, Argentina), treasurer of Adventist Chile Academy, manager of River Plate Academy, treasurer of Central Argentine Conference. He married Ruth Lista (1918-2008) and had three sons: Andrés (physical), Alberto (pastor) and Benjamín (pastor and professor).↩

4. Graciela Treiyer de Mansell, Silvia Treiyer de Ganeau and Nancy R. Treiyer de Costa.↩

5. Egil H. Wensell, El poder de una esperanza que educa y sana [The power of a hope that educates and heals], (Libertador San Martín, Entre Ríos: Editorial River Plate Adventist University, 1993), 165-166.↩

6. These are some of his works: Religiones comparadas [Compared Religions], 3 vols. (Villa Libertador San Martín, Entre Ríos: Editorial SEM, 1964-1965); Epístolas del Nuevo Testamento [New Testament Epistles], 2 vols. (Villa Libertador San Martín, Entre Ríos: Editorial SEM, 1965); Apocalipsis: Apuntes de clase correspondientes a la introducción y los capítulos 1 al 14 [Revelation: Class notes corresponding to the introduction and chapters 1 to 14], (Villa Libertador San Martín, Entre Ríos: River Plate Adventist College, 1980); Doctrina de la revelación y la inspiración: apuntes de clase [Doctrine of revelation and inspiration: class notes], (Villa Libertador San Martín, Entre Ríos: Theology Department, River Plate Adventist College, 1980); Arqueología bíblica, desde la creación hasta el éxodo: apuntes de clase [Biblical archeology, from creation to Exodus: class notes], (Villa Libertador San Martín, Entre Ríos: Theology Department, River Plate Adventist College, 1980); Daniel: apuntes de clase [Daniel: class notes], (Villa Libertador San Martín, Entre Ríos: Theology Department, River Plate Adventist College, 1980); Orientación profética en el movimiento adventista: Recopilación de materiales bibliográficos [Prophetic guidance in the Adventist movement: Compilation of bibliographic materials], (Villa Libertador San Martín, Entre Ríos: Latin-American Adventist Theological Seminary, 1980); Enigmas descifrados: Conozca los fascinantes misterios de Daniel capítulos 11 y 12 [Unscrambled riddles: Learn the fascinating mysteries of Daniel chapters 11 and 12], (Mayagüez, Puerto Rico: By the author, 2006).↩

7. Radial Series: “Más allá de las sombras del mañana” [Beyond the shadows of the morning] and “Certeza en tiempos peligrosos” [Certainty in dangerous times]. TV series: “Seguridad en tiempos angustiosos” [Safety in distressing times].↩