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”.

July 5th 1946

My father left Cuba and went to Boston, Massachusetts to do his medical internship.

Meanwhile, my mother, his fiance, was still in Cuba awaiting his return. Her father, Jose Jaime Hurtado, a banker in Camaguey, Cuba, did not want my mother to marry my father because he came from such a humble and poor family.

My mother flew to Boston, Massachusetts, joined my father and it was there they were married.

A.J. Played Baseball for the CC Camaguey Team

Dr. Fernandez, from left to right, is standing, sixth person in photo.

Sports was also his interest and he considered it therapy and exercise for the mind, body, and soul.

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 >>