(CNN Spanish) — Argentine writer and translator María Kodama, widow and executor of renowned author Jorge Luis Borges, died this Sunday, as reported in Twitter to his publisher Penguin Random House. He was born in Buenos Aires in 1937.
“Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial regrets the death of its author, María Kodama, with whom she worked closely in the maintenance and dissemination of the work of Jorge Luis Borges, and accompanies her loved ones at this difficult moment,” they said in the publication.
Kodama’s lawyer, Fernando Soto, also confirmed the news on the same social network, saying: “Now you will enter the ‘big sea’ with your dear Borges. Rest in peace Maria.”
In addition, the Fundación El Libro de Argentina and the state news agency Télam mourned the also professor of literature.
According to Télam, Kodama died in the city of Vicente López, Argentina.
CNN is trying to get more details about the author’s death.
a life of letters
Maria Kodama was born in Buenos Aires in 1937. She learned to read and write at an early age and with this motivation she studied literature at the University of Buenos Aires. At the age of 16 he met one of the most important figures in literature, Jorge Luis Borges. From that moment on they were inseparable. They shared studies, readings, translations, travels and passions. They finally got married in Paraguay in 1986.
Borges died less than two months later, and two years later Kodama established the Jorge Luis Borges International Foundation in memory of her husband. He was responsible for keeping the writer’s legacy alive through conferences and works such as Homage to Borges. She has received numerous awards for her work, including the Order of the Rising Sun from Japan, recognition as a Knight of Arts and Letters from France, and honorary professorship at the University of Buenos Aires.
Federico Jofre contributed to this report