Former Haitian President René Préval has died, his wife Elisabeth Delatour Préval confirmed to the Miami Herald. He was 74.

Préval, who was president during Haiti’s tragic Jan. 12, 2010 earthquake, died at home in Laboule, a neighbourhood in Port-au-Prince. His wife, who wasn’t with him, said she had spoken to him “three times” Friday morning.

“He was in excellent humour,” said Delatour Préval, who is traveling. “He asked, ‘When are you coming home?’ I refused to believe it. I cannot believe it.”

Préval served as president from 1996 to 2001, and again from 2006-2011. He is the only president in Haitian history to have served two full presidential terms and not be jailed, exiled or killed.