The academic community at the University of Oriente (UO) in Santiago de Cuba, including professors, students, and staff, expressed their sorrow on Tuesday over the passing of the respected Professor Juan Sánchez Evangelista Rosado. According to the university's Facebook page, he was affectionately known as "profe Juan" by numerous generations of students and colleagues. He was 75 at the time of his death.
Professor Evangelista made significant contributions as an educator in Political Economy and was part of the Department of History and Marxism-Leninism. Among his achievements was earning a Master's degree in Agroecology from the University of Agricultural Sciences in Havana. His distinguished career also included roles as a literacy teacher, an internationalist, a member of the construction contingent for the UO, and Secretary of Organization for the ANEC's base association.
Legacy of Dedication and Humility
Throughout his career, Evangelista was celebrated for his dedication to his work and his unwavering commitment to university teaching. He was admired for his perseverance, exemplary character, camaraderie, humility, and strong sense of belonging to the academic institution. "Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends, colleagues, and the students who fondly remember him," stated the university’s announcement.
Recent Losses in Cuban Cultural and Sports Spheres
On the same day, the broadcasting community and cultural sector in Guantánamo mourned the loss of Marlene Salazar, a recipient of the National Radio Award, who passed away early Tuesday morning. Salazar was a prominent figure in the province, honored with the Distinction Hermandad, the Raúl Gómez García Medal awarded by the National Union of Cultural Workers, and the National Radio Award, as confirmed by the Provincial Directorate of Culture in Guantánamo on Facebook.
Recently, Luis Zayas Travieso, the last living Cuban resident on the island with experience in the Cuban Professional League, died in Havana at age 87. Before Fidel Castro's rise to power in 1959, Zayas Travieso played professionally for teams in Havana and Cienfuegos.
In another recent passing, Bárbara Dane, a jazz and blues singer and mother and grandmother to Cuban musicians Pablo and Osamu Menéndez, died at 97 in her Oakland, California home after a prolonged battle with heart failure. Pablo Menéndez, one of her four children, shared his feelings on Facebook with a simple yet poignant message: "Peace, love... and music. We must fight."