R.I.P. Dr. Jose E. Olivella

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(L to R) My grandmother, Uncle Joe, My grandfather, and my dad

I was going to continue my discussion about Fidel Castro in today's post but when I got up this morning I looked at my phone and saw that I had received two voice mails from my cousin Joe. As soon as I saw them I knew why he was calling. When I listened to the first voice mail he confirmed what I already suspected - my Uncle Joe had passed away earlier this morning.

Dr. Jose E. Olivella was a physician like his father. He was my dad's older brother. He was always extraordinarily kind and loving towards me and treated me as if I was his son. I loved him very, very much.

My dad pre-deceased my uncle by many years so I know what my cousin Joe must be going through right now even though he has had time to prepare for my uncle's passing. Uncle Joe was 93 so we all knew every day was a gift with him and that the gift could be taken from us any day.

My uncle came from Cuba, family in tow, shortly after we did. He saw the handwriting on the wall after Castro began confiscating property, summarily executing anyone who was viewed as a threat, and nationalizing industry. He managed to escape and came to the U.S. with his medical degree and years of experience as a practicing physician. But like all Cuban refugees, his degree, his experience, plus a dime would buy him a cup of coffee.

He managed to get a job as an orderly in a hospital, cleaning up operating rooms after they were used. But it was a job. It put food on the table. It clothed his children. And so he did it with a smile on his face.

And he did it knowing that if he studied when he could, learned English, and didn't sit on his ass, he could treat patients once again.

Eventually, Uncle Joe passed all of the exams necessary to become a physician in the U.S. despite the huge disadvantage of his language difficulties. He did what so many Cuban refugees did - he refused to let Castro take from him what he had worked so hard to obtain in Cuba - his career.

Uncle Joe treated patients until he retired. And now he can rest.

Today is a very sad day. But I know that Uncle Joe is with my dad once again. And I know how happy my dad must be to be with his brother once again.

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