The event, held on March 25, 2026, brought together various personalities to remember Manuel Gesteiro, not only as the respected History and Geography teacher at the Leonardo da Vinci Institute and the I.E.S. Carlos Bousoño, but also as the dedicated guardian of Majadahonda's memory. Jacinto Santodomingo, former president of the Circle of Businessmen and Merchants of Majadahonda, was one of the main speakers.
During his speech, Santodomingo shared biographical details of Gesteiro, who was born in the 1940s into a family of bakers. From the age of 11, Manuel combined working in a shop and bakery with his studies, demonstrating remarkable discipline. His youth was also marked by sports, becoming Galicia champion in the 3,000 meters at 17 and third nationally at 18.
Gesteiro's academic career is equally remarkable. During his military service, he obtained permission to study teaching in Madrid. Later, he passed competitive examinations at the Naval Military School and, in 1968, received a scholarship-salary of 3,000 pesetas, intended for students with limited resources and high academic performance. With this aid, he enrolled in Philosophy and Letters at the Autonomous University, where he graduated in Geography as the top student in his class, earning an extraordinary award.
His professional career led him to the Gil de Albornoz University College in Cuenca as a Geography professor, where he met his wife, Sara. After passing his secondary education examination, he moved to Madrid and obtained his doctorate with a thesis on an area of La Mancha conquense. From the 1980s, Manuel Gesteiro began his work as a researcher, focusing on Majadahonda, where he became a chronicler by vocation, preserving memories and facts that otherwise would have been lost.
“"Your work has left its mark, not only in archives and writings, but in all the people who have learned from you. So this tribute is an act of gratitude for a lifetime dedicated to our beloved city of Majadahonda."
The tribute concluded with a reflection on public recognition. Santodomingo called on local authorities to reconsider the possibility of naming a street in honor of Manuel Gesteiro. He argued that it would be an act of justice for someone who dedicated his life to preserving the town's memory, often without official recognition, and a simple way to thank him for his invaluable contribution to the community.
