Armando Fernández Jorva

Armando Fernández Jorva (1904-1971)

He was born in Nueva Paz, a town in Havana Province on January 10, 1904. A man of humble origins whose education did no go past the elementary level, he had, nevertheless, a powerful natural intelligence, an extraordinary sense of justice and an insatiable desire to serve and to try to solve the social ills present during the times he lived in, never allowing himself to become vain or dizzy with power, as others of lesser caliber did.

He was the ideal politician, a man for others. He was the type of man who never believed that political power made him into a master of destinies; he was a true servant to all members of his community. He was a man of his time, helpful, a friend to his friends, unaffected and down to earth, with great charisma and personal courage and a great love for Güines. His affable and jovial character would change into anger when witnessing abuses, injustices and other meanness. His high sense of equity did not allow him to become an accomplice of injustice, showing the deep beauty of his character. He never allowed an angry outburst to become an obstacle to a friendship and immediately, in a sincere gesture of contrition, he had the humility to ask for forgiveness for his shortcomings. Perhaps because he knew it in his own flesh during his humble infancy, he always felt pain for the hunger suffered by others. He ignored his own needs a thousand times, in order to alleviate those of others.

He was Mayor of Güines for more than five years. When he was appointed to that office, he was working as a school custodian and had to borrow a suit for the swearing in ceremony. He filled a seat in the House of Representatives for 12 years, being elected to three consecutive terms for Havana Province.

When he retired from public service, not being a rich man, he got by on the retirement income he received from Congress and from his agricultural activities.

When the fateful Communist dictatorship reached Cuba, he escaped to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in 1967 to join his family. There he worked and struggled with the same tenacity and enthusiasm as he did in Cuba during all his life, earning his daily bread by his own effort, an example of dignity and courage without false pride, not depending on anybody, and, on the contrary, always a support and example to others.

Four years later, on December 27, 1971, the life of this good man was extinguished forever in the beautiful and friendly Quisqueyan capital, leaving a trail of memories, affections and achievements that are still present and that are reflected in the exemplary lives of his descendants.

Continue to: Arístides Fernández Vázquez