Orlando Rossardi, Influential Cuban Writer and Scholar, Passes Away at 86

Esteemed Cuban writer, poet, and scholar, Orlando Rodríguez Sardiñas, known as Orlando Rossardi, passed away on Saturday in Santiago, Chile, at the age of 86. Born in Havana in 1938, Rossardi sought exile in the 1960s, becoming one of the most influential voices in Cuban literature outside the island, according to Martí Noticias.

Rossardi's impressive academic career spanned various universities, including Texas, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, and Miami-Dade College in Florida. He was also a vital part of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting for two decades, contributing significantly to Radio Martí and TV Martí since their inception.

He was actively involved with the PEN Club of Cuban Writers in Exile and was a distinguished member of the North American Academy of the Spanish Language, as well as a corresponding member of the Royal Spanish Academy. His poetry and essays have been published in literary journals across Europe, Latin America, and the United States, with notable works such as "Teatro Selecto Hispanoamericano Contemporáneo" (Escelicer Madrid, 1971) and "La última poesía cubana" (Hispanova, Madrid, 1973).

Cuban exile writer Luis de la Paz remarked that Rossardi's passing casts a shadow over Cuban literature. Meanwhile, José Antonio Albertini, a colleague at Radio Martí, highlighted Rossardi's contributions to the station dedicated to informing Cubans: "He even served as interim director and later as news director for a long time. He had a profound love for Radio Martí and the work he did there."

The Chilean Academy of Language also expressed sorrow over his death, extending condolences to his family and friends. Rossardi's remains will be transported to Miami, where the Pen Club of Cuban Writers in Exile plans to hold a tribute next year in honor of his distinguished professional and intellectual contributions.