The courtyard of the Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley at 520 East Fourth St. now has a large mural depicting Roberto Clemente and symbolically linking him in art to his passions during his life: professional baseball and philanthropic works for the world-wide Latino community.

The painting by Lancaster, Pa., artist Salina Almanzar was officially welcomed to the City of Bethlehem June 10 by a ceremony featuring remarks from Mayor William Reynolds and State Rep. Steve Samuelson.

A principal speaker was Rick Anderson, president and CEO of St. Luke’s University Health Network.

Anderson shared his childhood memories of listening on his radio to Pittsburgh Pirates baseball games when Roberto Clemente played.

“All of us from Pittsburgh mourned his death,” Anderson said.

Roberto Clemente died in 1974 in an airplane crash while personally delivering disaster relief supplies. Clemente was heading relief efforts to fly supplies from Puerto Rico to Nicaragua after an earthquake.

He had heard that the supplies were being stolen, so he decided to accompany the supplies. His airplane crashed while taking off from San Juan Airport Dec. 31, 1972, killing all on board.

Anderson praised the leadership of the Hispanic Center of Lehigh Valley.

“The board of directors here has done a terrific job,” he said. “Money couldn’t buy their level of dedication and passion.”

Other speakers included the former director of the Hispanic Center of the Lehigh Valley and now president of its board of directors, Olga Negron, and Donna Taggart, a past president of the center’s board of directors.

“Roberto inspired and continues to inspire generations of children,” Taggart said.

Erin Zebertavage, downtown manager of the Southside Arts District, attended. She said the new mural would be included on a tour list of the city’s outdoor art.

Also attending were Bethlehem City Council members Rachel Leon, Kiera Wilhelm and Michael Colon.