Aimée Teresa González Bolaños, a prominent intellectual originally from Cienfuegos, Cuba, who had been residing in Brazil since 1997, tragically lost her life this past Sunday after being struck by a drunk driver in the city of Rio Grande. The 81-year-old Cuban professor and writer was fatally hit in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, located in southern Brazil, as reported by the G1 portal of Grupo Globo.
The heartbreaking incident occurred on Avenida Rio Grande in the Cassino neighborhood, where González was violently thrown against a building's fence, resulting in her immediate death. The driver, a 34-year-old man, tested positive for alcohol with a reading of 0.51 mg/l. He was promptly arrested by the Military Brigade and later taken to the Civil Police station.
According to CNN Brazil, the accident happened while Professor González was walking on the sidewalk of the main avenue in Praia do Cassino. The driver was identified as Lucas Pansera. Born in Cienfuegos in 1943, Aimée Bolaños was a distinguished university professor with a specialization in literature and gender studies. She graduated from the Universidad Central de Las Villas in 1966 and moved to Brazil in 1997, where she built a robust academic career at the Federal University of Rio Grande (FURG), particularly within the Postgraduate Program in Letters.
González also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Ottawa in Canada and held the position of deputy director of the graduate program in Letters at the Institute of Letters and Arts (ILA), remaining active even after her retirement. Following her passing, FURG declared an official mourning period, and the Institute of Letters and Arts suspended classes for Monday, transitioning to remote operations in their administrative offices.
Throughout her life, she was honored as the patroness of FURG's 45th Book Fair in 2017, themed "Women's Stories," in recognition of her contributions to the study of female literature, contemporary poetry, and Cuban diaspora literature. She authored at least six books, including "Pensar la narrativa" and "El Libro de Maat," and her essays and poems were translated into English, Portuguese, French, and Arabic. Her work was celebrated with awards such as the Mirta Aguirre Literary Criticism Contest and the Distinction to National Culture, cementing her career dedicated to amplifying women's voices in literature.
Recently, the Cuban cultural scene has mourned the loss of several of its distinguished figures, prompting an outpouring of grief and tributes both on and off the island. Popular salsa artist Paulito FG recently died in a tragic car accident on Havana's Malecón, leaving an undeniable legacy in danceable popular music. His funeral was attended by crowds and marked by heartfelt farewells from colleagues and fans.
Days later, the news of the death of musician and composer Edesio Alejandro in Madrid at the age of 66 once again shook the artistic community. His passing, after a long battle with cancer, elicited numerous reactions from Cuban artists and filmmakers who praised his versatility and role in renewing national music and cinema.
Recently, the Cuban television and radio community also mourned the loss of Yamila Suárez Núñez, a writer of soap operas and radio dramas, while on March 17, literary critic and essayist Cira Romero Rodríguez passed away in Havana at 79, known for her tireless academic work and love for 19th-century Cuban literature.
Key Questions About Recent Losses in Cuban Culture
Who was Aimée Teresa González Bolaños?
Aimée Teresa González Bolaños was a renowned Cuban professor and writer, specializing in literature and gender studies, who had built a significant academic career in Brazil.
What was the cause of her death?
She died after being hit by a drunk driver while walking on a sidewalk in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
What impact did Aimée González have on literature?
Her work focused on female literature, contemporary poetry, and Cuban diaspora literature, earning her numerous accolades and recognition in her field.