José Luis Sarrió García receives the recognition as Exemplary Citizen of Benidorm 2025

José Luis Sarrió García is now Benidorm's Exemplary Citizen, an honour bestowed upon him this Tuesday by the City Council and the Neighbourhood Council in recognition of his nearly 40 years of service as a physician, as well as his altruistic collaboration with organisations such as Cáritas and the Lions Club.

The award ceremony took place at an event attended by a large number of representatives from the City Council and Benidorm's civil society.

The Exemplary Citizen award is given annually by the City Council to individuals "who embody outstanding personal, civic, and ethical values" and who can serve as a role model and inspiration for other citizens.

Following the award presentation, Aurora Camps, Sarrió's granddaughter, addressed those present to express "sincere gratitude" for the award, "which represents much more than a tribute." She said her grandfather is “the embodiment of a life dedicated to service and commitment to others” and thanked the Neighborhood Council “for keeping the initiative alive,” the jury “for recognizing my grandfather’s life’s work,” the Department of Citizen Participation and its head, Ana Pellicer, “for supporting the recognition,” and Mayor Toni Pérez “for being with us today and always with such naturalness, affection, and responsibility.” She also gave a “special mention” to those who spearheaded the nomination: Juan Fuster, Jaime Fuster, and Juan Antonio Espinosa, “friends and life companions.”

“We celebrate a life dedicated to service, a life that has left its mark on hundreds of people. The ‘doctor,’ Dr Sarrió, for whom serving others was and is his way of life. Always helping quietly,” said the honoree’s granddaughter. Aurora emphasised that her grandfather “is defined by his love for Benidorm” and that “with his silence, he teaches more than many with a thousand words.” “For him, greatness lies in the everyday, in being present and in giving,” he added. For all of this, he expressed his gratitude “for teaching us that respect, kindness, and dedication are not inherited; they are learned. Today we applaud you with hearts full of pride.”

José Luis Sarrió also addressed those present to offer words of thanks “to all of you who are here and to the people of Benidorm.”

The moving ceremony concluded with remarks from the mayor, Toni Pérez, who first emphasised that “Dr Sarrió meets all the requirements and standards set by the Neighbourhood Council to be recognised as an Exemplary Citizen.”

“Today we have once again experienced a very emotional moment; you only have to see his family to know that we are witnessing a day that will be etched in the history of our city,” the mayor stressed, also recalling that Sarrió arrived in the city “coinciding with the beginning of its development.”

Pérez recalled that José Luis Sarrió “was the doctor at the Verge del Sofratge health centre, at his private practice, and at Virgen de Fátima Clinic. He was the doctor who would arrive with his medical bag wherever he was needed.” He expressed his admiration for a person who, “beyond his medical expertise, possessed the same warmth, values, and principles that he demonstrated in everything he did throughout his life.” “A native of Benidorm, born in Beneixama,” he added, “who dedicated himself to his invaluable vocation of caring for others.”

Finally, the mayor described José Luis Sarrió as “the living example of someone who never loses hope.” “Thank you so much, thank you for everything. From the bottom of my heart,” he concluded.

Also participating in the event were Teresa Garrido, responsible for awarding this prize on the Neighbourhood Council; Eusebi Chiner, the 2017 recipient and spokesperson for the jury; Ana Pellicer, Councillor for Citizen Participation; and Aroa Blanco, a professor at the José Pérez Barceló Professional Music Conservatory, who performed the musical pieces "La vie en Rose" by Edith Piaf, "Marriage d'Amour" by Paul de Senneville, and "La vita è bella" by Nicola Piovani.

Since this citizen distinction was launched, the Exemplary Neighbor Award has recognized the career and values ​​of Benidorm residents such as Francisco Fenoll Rostoll (2011), Antonio Gonzaga Picó (2012), Francisco Alvado Barber (2013), Carmen Cerdá Garrido (2014), María Rosa González Mata-Rubio and Juan José García Albarrán (posthumously in 2015), Casimiro Vila Esteban (2016), Eusebi Chiner Vives (2017), María Zaragoza Lloret (2018), Jesús Rosillo Jiménez (2019), Bárbara Pérez Llinares –María del Sufragio– (2023) and Ángel Olmo Quesada (2024).

About José Luis Sarrió

José Luis Sarrió García was born in the Alicante municipality of Beneixama on March 7, 1934, into a family deeply connected to medicine. The son of Leandro Sarrió Pérez, the city physician of Benidorm between 1958 and 1967, and the grandson of a doctor on his mother's side, he inherited the vocation for service that has marked his entire life.

He graduated in Medicine, specialising in Traumatology, from the University of Valencia in 1960. Since arriving in Benidorm in 1958, his life has been dedicated to caring for others. In the 1960s, when Benidorm was beginning its transformation into a tourist destination, José Luis wholeheartedly and compassionately embraced the challenge of serving a growing population, supporting his father in his professional practice. In 1966, following his marriage and his father's retirement, he settled permanently in the city, continuing the medical and humanitarian work his family had begun, distinguished by her warm, empathetic, and dedicated service.

He worked at Virgen del Sufragio clinic from its opening in 1976. As the years passed, his patients increased, reaching over 150 patients and exceeding the caseload of any other doctor. He also offered private medical care at his office on Gambo Street and attended to emergencies at what was then called Virgen de Fátima Clinic.

In his pursuit of further knowledge and in response to the growth of the tourism sector, she earned a degree in Occupational Medicine, providing services to numerous employees of the Rumasa Group and the Benidorm City Council, as well as to residents and tourists, until her retirement at the age of 70.

He also participates in social projects, such as those carried out by the Benidorm Lions Club, a non-profit organisation dedicated to humanitarian service. He joined the club along with his wife, Fanny, serving as its president in 1991 and 1992, and he remains a member to this day. During his time with the organisation, they undertook important projects such as the Benidorm Children's Traffic Park and the guide dog program for the blind, along with providing numerous forms of assistance to people in need.

Following his wife's long illness and subsequent death in 2014, he joined Caritas, carrying out his charitable work at the Parish of Our Lady of the Sea in Benidorm until the 2020 pandemic. His great passion has been pigeon racing, and he is an active member of the "La Isla" Pigeon Racing Society of Benidorm, a long-standing institution in the town's pigeon racing community.

He also participated in the creation of Sierra Helada Pigeon Racing Society, of which he is a founding member. He has served as president of both organisations, promoting camaraderie and respect through this sport.

From the beginning, accompanied by his close friend Jaume Fuster Llorca, he has also been a participant in "Taula del Bon Profit," an emblematic Benidorm tradition that has endured since 1972.