Renaldo Curbelo Gutiérrez

Renaldo Curbelo Gutiérrez (1923-2003)

Renaldo Rafael Olimpio Curbelo Gutiérrez was born in the Villa of Güines on June 12, 1923. The second child of Rafael María Curbelo Curbelo, a native of Melena del Sur and María Águeda Gutiérrez Gutiérrez, born in Bermeja, Matanzas Province. His sister Georgelina preceded him by three and a half years.

He went to kindergarten in Public School #5 in Güines for his elementary education, transferring in 1932 to San Julián school then directed by José Ramón Rodríguez Núñez, Parish Priest, finishing his primary education in that school and taking the entrance examination to Havana High School #1 in 1937. When Güines High School was inaugurated in 1937, Renaldo Curbelo transferred to his native Villa, graduating in 1941 as a Bachelor in Arts and Sciences. That same year he was admitted to the School of Pharmacy at Havana University graduating four years later in 1945 with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree.

He started practicing his profession immediately with Güines Pharmaceutical Company, Inc. a corporation formed by his father in 1916, under the business name of Curbelo's Pharmacy, rendering his professional services without interruption in the same enterprise for 43 years until his retirement in 1988.

He was active in social civic and religious organizations. He participated and founded with other valuable Güineros San Luis Gonzaga Fraternity in San Julián Salesian School. Years later he founded in San Julián Parish Church in Güines a group of the Cuban Youth Catholic Federation. He also belonged to the Catholic Men Union and was President of the Parish Board of Catholic Action until 1959 when all these organizations were suppressed by the Communist system established in Cuba.

Renaldo always had a deep appreciation for the arts, especially music. He was a member of Havana Philharmonic Orchestra and of Pro Musical Art Society. He attended without failure all concerts sponsored in Güines by the Fine Arts Section of Güines Lyceum, presided in different eras by distinguished Güinera ladies among them María Fortuny de Carrara, Ada Taracido de de Armas, Zenaida Valdés and others.

He traveled in the United States, Canada and Mexico in several occasions, attending scientific congresses related to his profession, where he took the opportunity to satisfy his musical inclinations, attending operas and concerts in different cities visited by him.

Throughout his life he kept a close relationship with San Julián Salesian School. His cooperation with the Sons of Don Bosco and Salesian Alumni was always unconditional and he was proud in having contributed to such endeavors.

This review of Renaldo's life through his earthly paths is the more solid proof of the human condition that characterized this great Güinero. Renaldo Curbelo Gutiérrez, an exceptional man, died in his beloved Güines on July 25, 2003.

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