Proud of Our Ancestry

From left to right , Dr. Fernandez's sister Lola, Adalberto Fernandez Sr., (his father), baby ,his wife, Clara G. Fernandez holding Raul Alfredo Fernandez, and Dr. A.J. Fernandez, flanked by the priest.

"I am very proud of what my parents were able to do, and of how courageous they were."

The story of Dr. A.J.& Clara G. Fernandez.

La Habana Cuba

My father, A. J. Fernandez, came from a very poor family and no one had money to help buy books to study and fulfill his ambition of becoming a doctor, so he taught himself to play the violin and played at cafes for tips in order to buy books and put himself through medical school.

After becoming a Doctor at the University of Havana, Fidel Castro came into power and all private property became property of The State.

Here is a picture of Havana, Cuba around the time my father became a Doctor.
Havana, Cuba was a prosperous city and Cuba was called “The Pearl Of The Caribbean”.

My grand parents - "Clara G. Fernandez's parents".

Upon their return to Cuba, Clara's father, Jose Jaime Hurtado and her mother finally gave Clara and A.J. their blessings and gave them two pieces of land. One parcel was in a remote location. On my fathers free time he would go to the property and pull the 'Marabu' weeds. He appreciated the land and loved to work it.

Return To Cuba

Dr. A.J. Fernandez could not wait to get back to his homeland Cuba to practice medicine and help his people. He missed the land, his family and the Cuban culture.

Finna -"La Hormiga" - Camaguey, Cuba 1946.

The beginning of "The Working of their Land" -

Finca - "La Hormiga" Camaguey Cuba 1946



Dr. Fernandez started off with a couple of Bulls that were given to him, and in time his herd was three-fold.





The land was his passion and he worked the land until it became prosperous with produce. 'that's him on the left'. The cattle were of the best quality.

Liceo 1947

Dr. Fernandez and his wife, Clara G. Fernandez enjoyed a social life in Cuba. Their plans for the future never seemed brighter!

Like a scene from a "Hollywood Red-Carpet" debut, this young couple were part of the elite back-drop of Cuba.

Villa Clarita

On the other parcel of land my father used his newly acquired medical license to establish a clinic that he called 'Clinica Villa Clarita' in honor of my mother Clara that he affectionately called Clarita. Villa Clarita was located in Camaguey, Cuba just off of Carretera Central.

Circa 1950's

A.J. and Clara are together in the background, and A.J,'s father is seen holding the baby. Also in this photo, Mrs.Lola Abaroa, who is A.J.'s sister.


Clara's Family Posing Together.

Che Kills A.J.'s Friends

In 1959 Fidel Castro came into power and all private property became property of the state.

My father never liked politics and refused to discuss them, but some of his best friends who had studied with him in Havana, and were also doctors, had strong opinions about Castro's revolution.

One night several of his best friends were rounded up by Che Guevara whom without as much as an explanation to their bewildered family lined them all up and shot them.

read more on Che here >>

Escaping Cuba

Since my father never protested nor got involved with politics, Castro never consider him a threat, and doctors were disappearing faster than Fidel could import them from China, Russia and Czechoslovakia, so he offered my father a cushy job and would allow my father to stay on his properties with security and prestige. But my father refused to meet with Castro's government officials and had made plans to leave Nuevitas by having a friend with a boat take him across Cayo Romano in the dead of night at the risk of meeting the same fate as his friends should he have been caught .

That's my father on the bow and the young boy next to him, is yours truly, Raul, better known as "cyberray". Lucky for us a Visa for a vacation to Spain was approved and the plans to leave Cuba clandestinely were aborted.