Boxing For Cuba
Encyclopedia
Boxing for Cuba: An Immigrant’s Story of Despair, Endurance, and Redemption is the memoir of Guillermo (“Bill”) Vicente Vidal published by Ghost Road Press in November 2007. The book documents the Vidal family as they flee from Cuba
in the 1960s and eventually establish a home in Colorado
. After leaving Cuba in 1961 through Operation Peter Pan
, Bill Vidal and his two brothers were taken to an orphanage in Pueblo, Colorado
. Vidal served as Mayor
of the City of Denver, Colorado
from January to July, 2011..
, Cuba, Guillermo (“Bill”) spent the first 8 years of his life living a comfortable life with his parents—Marta Teresa Ramos Almendros and Roberto Emiliano Vidal—and twin older brothers – Roberto (“Bob”) and Juan Antonio (“John”). Soon after Fidel Castro
overthrew Batista in 1959, the Vidal family began to observe a devastating situation and began to worry that their family was in danger. So, in an attempt to keep the family safe and together Marta and Roberto sent their three sons to America in 1961 as part of the Pedro Pan project with the intention of joining them soon in Miami. By 1961 the Pedro Pan project had run out of foster families, so Vidal and his two older brothers were sent to the Sacred Heart Orphanage in Pueblo, Colorado. After spending three years at Sacred Heart, Marta and Roberto finally escaped Cuba and reunited the family in Littleton, Colorado. The family succeeded despite the challenges of assimilation, discrimination, and family turbulence. By 1969 all five family members were taking classes at the University of Colorado Denver
: Roberto Senior working towards a Master’s Degree in Education, Marta Teresa taking art classes to teach elementary art, Bob studying political science, John studying speech and drama, and Bill studying engineering. After graduating from CU Denver, Bill began working as an engineer for the Colorado Department of Transportation
, eventually being appointed as Executive Director of the department by Governor Roy Romer in 1994. Vidal was appointed as Manager of Public Works and Deputy Mayor by Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper
in 2003.
In January 2011, Vidal assumed the duties of Mayor of the City of Denver, Colorado, after the current mayor, John Hickenlooper
resigned to assume the duties of governor of Colorado.
Vidal remembers the first days of Castro’s regime: watching Castro ride through the streets of a nearby town on a tank and being lifted by his parents to touch Castro’s hand. After those early days though, Vidal recounts how his life drastically changed. He narrates how soon people began to live in fear of Castro’s army and his spies, some of whom where neighbors or close friends of the Vidal’s. In September 1961, Marta and Roberto took their three boys to Havana
, Cuba, in order to send their sons to the United States for safety. The Vidal boys left communist Cuba on September 29, 1961 with other Cuban children seeking exile through Operation Pedro Pan. Upon arrival in Miami, the Vidal boys expected to be picked up by family members who had already escaped Cuba and were living in Miami, but when no one arrived the three were taken to a temporary housing camp. Eventually the boys were moved to Sacred Heart Orphanage in Pueblo, Colorado. En route to Colorado the boys met Robert F. Kennedy
, U.S. Attorney General at the time. In the span of two years, 10-year old Vidal had met two of the most influential men of the time.
Vidal’s life at Sacred Heart Orphanage was plagued with fear of the harsh treatment of its caretaker and older boys, as well as the challenges of learning English and adjusting to the oddities of American culture. In their three years at Sacred Heart, the Vidal boys seemed to completely shed their Cuban heritage and become “real” Americans, even adopting the very American names “Bill,” “John,” and “Bob.” Not knowing when, if at all, their parents would ever escape Cuba to retrieve them, the boys adjusted as best they could to their new life in Pueblo.
On April 11, 1964 the Vidal family was reunited after Marta and Roberto emigrated to Mexico and eventually the United States. The family relocated to Littleton, Colorado and then later moved into the city of Denver. Though free from the oppression and fear of Castro’s regime, the Vidal family faced innumerable challenges in their new lives in America. The family struggled financially and they were often the victims of hate and discrimination. Moreover, Marta and Roberto's marriage had greatly deteriorated adding to their erratic behavior. Vidal recounts his adolescence as an extremely turbulent time.
Despite domestic hardship the Vidal family was successful – each member of the family took classes at the University of Colorado at Denver. After receiving his degree in engineering Bill went on to work for the Colorado Department of Transportation. He married his high school sweetheart, Christine, and together they had a boy and adopted two girls. Though he flourished professionally Vidal continued to struggle with his relationship with his parents and eventually in his marriage as well. Eventually Bill and Christine divorced. Years later Vidal remarried Gabriela, a Chilean immigrant also working for CDOT.
Vidal credits Gabriela with inspiring him to reconnect with his family and his heritage. It is she who encourages him to return to Cuba in 2001 to try to face and understand his past. The book ends with Vidal returning to his childhood home to try to make sense of his life, and how very different it would be if he had not left as a 10-year old boy.
, and former President Bill Clinton
. Vidal has spoken to many media outlets about Boxing for Cuba and has most recently been interviewed about the connection between his escape from Cuba via the Pedro Pan Project and the initiative to bring Haitian orphans to the United States after the 2010 Haiti earthquake
in January .
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
in the 1960s and eventually establish a home in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. After leaving Cuba in 1961 through Operation Peter Pan
Operation Peter Pan
Operation Peter Pan , was an operation coordinated by the United States government , the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami, and certain Cubans. Between 1960 and 1962, over 14,000 children were sent from Cuba to Miami by their parents...
, Bill Vidal and his two brothers were taken to an orphanage in Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The population was 106,595 in 2010 census, making it the 246th most populous city in the United States....
. Vidal served as Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of the City of Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
from January to July, 2011..
Background
Born in 1951 in CamagüeyCamagüey
Camagüey is a city and municipality in central Cuba and is the nation's third largest city. It is the capital of the Camagüey Province.After almost continuous attacks from pirates the original city was moved inland in 1528.The new city was built with a confusing lay-out of winding alleys that made...
, Cuba, Guillermo (“Bill”) spent the first 8 years of his life living a comfortable life with his parents—Marta Teresa Ramos Almendros and Roberto Emiliano Vidal—and twin older brothers – Roberto (“Bob”) and Juan Antonio (“John”). Soon after Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
overthrew Batista in 1959, the Vidal family began to observe a devastating situation and began to worry that their family was in danger. So, in an attempt to keep the family safe and together Marta and Roberto sent their three sons to America in 1961 as part of the Pedro Pan project with the intention of joining them soon in Miami. By 1961 the Pedro Pan project had run out of foster families, so Vidal and his two older brothers were sent to the Sacred Heart Orphanage in Pueblo, Colorado. After spending three years at Sacred Heart, Marta and Roberto finally escaped Cuba and reunited the family in Littleton, Colorado. The family succeeded despite the challenges of assimilation, discrimination, and family turbulence. By 1969 all five family members were taking classes at the University of Colorado Denver
University of Colorado Denver
The University of Colorado Denver, shortened as CU Denver, UC Denver, or UCD, is a public university in the United States state of Colorado. It is one of three schools of the University of Colorado system. The university has two campuses — one in downtown Denver at the Auraria Campus, and the other...
: Roberto Senior working towards a Master’s Degree in Education, Marta Teresa taking art classes to teach elementary art, Bob studying political science, John studying speech and drama, and Bill studying engineering. After graduating from CU Denver, Bill began working as an engineer for the Colorado Department of Transportation
Colorado Department of Transportation
The Colorado Department of Transportation is the agency of state government responsible for transportation in the State of Colorado of the United States. CDOT is responsible for maintaining 9,144 mile highway system, including 3,429 bridges with over 28 billion vehicle miles of travel per year...
, eventually being appointed as Executive Director of the department by Governor Roy Romer in 1994. Vidal was appointed as Manager of Public Works and Deputy Mayor by Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper
John Hickenlooper
John Wright Hickenlooper is an American politician and current Governor of Colorado. A Democrat, he was previously the Mayor of Denver, Colorado from 2003 to 2011.-Early life, education and career:...
in 2003.
In January 2011, Vidal assumed the duties of Mayor of the City of Denver, Colorado, after the current mayor, John Hickenlooper
John Hickenlooper
John Wright Hickenlooper is an American politician and current Governor of Colorado. A Democrat, he was previously the Mayor of Denver, Colorado from 2003 to 2011.-Early life, education and career:...
resigned to assume the duties of governor of Colorado.
Summary
The book begins with Vidal detailing his early childhood. Vidal discusses the turbulent marriage of his parents as well as the political turmoil when Castro overthrew Batista. He details his close relationship with his two brothers, Roberto and Juan Antonio, and the family’s relatively comfortable life in Camaguey in the 1950s. In the early sections of the book Vidal also takes the reader through the early life of his parents and the beginnings of a turbulent marriage, detailing his mother’s depression and destructive behavior as well as his father’s excessive desire for success.Vidal remembers the first days of Castro’s regime: watching Castro ride through the streets of a nearby town on a tank and being lifted by his parents to touch Castro’s hand. After those early days though, Vidal recounts how his life drastically changed. He narrates how soon people began to live in fear of Castro’s army and his spies, some of whom where neighbors or close friends of the Vidal’s. In September 1961, Marta and Roberto took their three boys to Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, Cuba, in order to send their sons to the United States for safety. The Vidal boys left communist Cuba on September 29, 1961 with other Cuban children seeking exile through Operation Pedro Pan. Upon arrival in Miami, the Vidal boys expected to be picked up by family members who had already escaped Cuba and were living in Miami, but when no one arrived the three were taken to a temporary housing camp. Eventually the boys were moved to Sacred Heart Orphanage in Pueblo, Colorado. En route to Colorado the boys met Robert F. Kennedy
Robert F. Kennedy
Robert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy , also referred to by his initials RFK, was an American politician, a Democratic senator from New York, and a noted civil rights activist. An icon of modern American liberalism and member of the Kennedy family, he was a younger brother of President John F...
, U.S. Attorney General at the time. In the span of two years, 10-year old Vidal had met two of the most influential men of the time.
Vidal’s life at Sacred Heart Orphanage was plagued with fear of the harsh treatment of its caretaker and older boys, as well as the challenges of learning English and adjusting to the oddities of American culture. In their three years at Sacred Heart, the Vidal boys seemed to completely shed their Cuban heritage and become “real” Americans, even adopting the very American names “Bill,” “John,” and “Bob.” Not knowing when, if at all, their parents would ever escape Cuba to retrieve them, the boys adjusted as best they could to their new life in Pueblo.
On April 11, 1964 the Vidal family was reunited after Marta and Roberto emigrated to Mexico and eventually the United States. The family relocated to Littleton, Colorado and then later moved into the city of Denver. Though free from the oppression and fear of Castro’s regime, the Vidal family faced innumerable challenges in their new lives in America. The family struggled financially and they were often the victims of hate and discrimination. Moreover, Marta and Roberto's marriage had greatly deteriorated adding to their erratic behavior. Vidal recounts his adolescence as an extremely turbulent time.
Despite domestic hardship the Vidal family was successful – each member of the family took classes at the University of Colorado at Denver. After receiving his degree in engineering Bill went on to work for the Colorado Department of Transportation. He married his high school sweetheart, Christine, and together they had a boy and adopted two girls. Though he flourished professionally Vidal continued to struggle with his relationship with his parents and eventually in his marriage as well. Eventually Bill and Christine divorced. Years later Vidal remarried Gabriela, a Chilean immigrant also working for CDOT.
Vidal credits Gabriela with inspiring him to reconnect with his family and his heritage. It is she who encourages him to return to Cuba in 2001 to try to face and understand his past. The book ends with Vidal returning to his childhood home to try to make sense of his life, and how very different it would be if he had not left as a 10-year old boy.
Reception
Boxing for Cuba: An Immigrant’s Story of Despair, Endurance, and Redemption was well received upon its publication in 2007. Several have endorsed the book including, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior Ken SalazarKen Salazar
Kenneth Lee "Ken" Salazar is the current United States Secretary of the Interior, in the administration of President Barack Obama. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as a United States Senator from Colorado from 2005 to 2009. He and Mel Martinez were the first Hispanic U.S...
, and former President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
. Vidal has spoken to many media outlets about Boxing for Cuba and has most recently been interviewed about the connection between his escape from Cuba via the Pedro Pan Project and the initiative to bring Haitian orphans to the United States after the 2010 Haiti earthquake
2010 Haiti earthquake
The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks...
in January .
External links
- http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_7065915
- http://havanajournal.com/culture/entry/guillermo-v-vidal-releases-boxing-for-cuba/
- http://carpelibrisreviews.com/boxing-for-cuba-by-guillermo-vincente-vidal/
- http://m.rockymountainnews.com/news/2007/Nov/16/boxing-for-Cuba-An-Immigrants-story/
- http://boxingforcuba.wordpress.com/