Permanece en el corazón de su familia y en los q lo conocieron


Our friend Humberto “Baby” Hernandez  was a true  gentleman!  Loved and respected by all who had the pleasure to have met him!  And feared by those that played golf with him.  

I remember my dear father every day. This first anniversary was very difficult because it seems like it was just yesterday that I was next to him , and he was smiling. It continues to be a difficult journey in attempting to erase the memory of his last days on earth; my strong, fearless father who conquered his world, reduced to suffering pain that left him speechless. I know he is a better place, and I know we will be together some day, but I still struggle with those last images. Mostly, it’s the emptiness left behind by the absence of that last embrace, that last kiss, and that last goodbye. 

My Dad, my hero. Cada día que pasa te extraño más querido Papi. 

Celebro la vida de mi padre Humberto Hernandez. Una vida llena de esfuerzo, trabajo y aventuras. Viajando por el mundo con nosotros su familia. Siempre atento a nuestras necesidades y dispuesto a ayudarnos. Lo recordare para siempre. Ahora esta con nuestro Senor Jesus Cristo velando por nosotros. Algun dia nos veremos de nuevo en la gracia de Dios. Te quiero papa.

My Fathers first career as a pilot and his second career in exile,  selling life insurance. He excelled at both. 

My parents beautiful wedding October 16, 1954, my mother was 15 and daddy was 27.  God blessed them  with 66 years of marriage. 

In Honor of “Tio Beby”
Although I’ve been slow to share what I feel for him I am not slow to say how much I loved him and what a special important person he was in my life. 
I remember chaperoning him and Tia Ileana when I was just a little girl and they were just starting to date way back in Cuba! .
He was one in a million and the beloved son of the distinguished Cuban officer Belisario Hernández and his wife Herminia Navares. 
Tio Beby was always kind, giving, with a contagious smile on his face, and a strength of character that exuded respect and discipline.
He had a can do attitude, pushing himself always to achieve more and strong to show love of his family.  
This attitude was contagious and always motivated me to do my best!! 
His warmth and love made a tremendous impact in my life and I my husband Ron and enjoyed being with him very much.
He is sorely missed but the footprint he left in this world is strong!! 
Love you Tio,  rest with The Lord, and we will see each other again in heaven! 



As a Grandfather his ability to make me feel safe and loved never came at the expense of an adventure, because every trip with my grandfather was an adventure.  
My grandfather was my first best friend.  I remember long car rides listening to sports talk radio, Tres Patines, or Rush Limbaugh while he would take me with him to La Gorce.  On that day he would tell his golf partner to find their own car, while we just talk.  Although I cannot recall any of those conversations at that age the collegial nature of the conversations made me feel like his peer and the most important person in the world.  Earning my grandfather’s respect meant the world to me, and to have done that so young was an honorific like few others I have had in my life. 
My grandfather was not known for being the most open minded or flexible person.  For my Grandfather t there was the Baby Hernandez way or the wrong way. As I got older, I feared that my diverging political beliefs and other superficial things would drive us apart. However, I was wrong.  Without knowing until after he passed, I now realize that we both came to an unspoken agreement, for our love and friendship there was a never a bridge to far we would not cross for each other.   
Grandpa I do not know when I will see you again.  I just hope to continue making you proud.  I could not be the man I am today or become the man I will be without having had you in my life.    I will never stop missing you.  I will never stop loving you.  I will never stop thanking you for the almost 40 years of loyal, loving, and honest friendship.  Hopefully, next time I see you we can smoke a Macanudo, listen to Linda Ronstadt, and smile over a Dolphin Superbowl.  

  


Since Baby passed away, I have struggled to properly describe and reflect on the life he lived and his impact on my life.  I found most words and my ability to put them into sentences inadequate.  I want my Grandpa to know how I feel, but I also want him to know I took the time to say goodbye in the most eloquent, sincere, and flattering way possible.  How do you describe a best friend, a hero, a role model, and my grandfather in a few paragraphs?  
My grandfather was my one of my first hero’s.  However, it was until I wrote this that I greatly underestimated his successes.  My grandfather was a child of the roaring 20s who witnessed the market crash and its eventual recovery from a window in the Bronx.  He would eventually be able to return to Cuba with his family where he discovered his first love and found a creative loophole to join the Air Force when he was 16.  He would continue flying when he left the Air Force as he started a crop-dusting business.  During that time, he would be on the Cuban National Rowing and Polo teams.  On one of his Polo Trips, he may have invented photo bombing as he appeared behind Juan and Evita Peron. He would eventually win his father in law’s blessing to marry his wife of 66 years over a game of poker.  He and my grandmother would be exiled from Cuba with their 2 children never returning to his homeland.  In exile he would again begin to crop dust in Guatemala which is where in a hotel bar he would meet an old acquaintance and over a few drinks decided to be start selling U.S. Life insurance in Latin America.  From there he would always be one of the top sellers of Life Insurance over an almost 30-year period.  As he came to early retirement, he decided to switch careers for the last time and become a full-time grandfather.  The previous adventurous and nearly mythical versions of my grandfather were legendary, the time he spent as my grandfather was mythical.  

Dear Ileana and Miguel,  
John and I are so terribly sorry to hear of the loss of your father.  We are thinking of all of you and sending much love and support.  It is so very difficult to lose a parent!  Arms around you!

My mom’s best friend in Havana and then in the US. Then came my dad & Ileana Sr. The four were always one along with dear Alina. The love & complicity they felt for each other was for us, their children, the best example of real unconditional love and friendship for the good and the bad.  They referred to each other as brothers and sisters just like Ileana Jr. & myself do. ❤️ Baby always called my dad “Gordo”. Their eyes shone when together. Their tight hugs were full of tenerness. Ever since I can remember, Baby was always there....super long family dinners, long weekend plans, canasta,poker, lots of laughs and I loved him with all my heart. My (our) first visit as soon as we arrived in Miami was for them.... where they would give us sooooo much love.... along with the best frijoles negros, picadillo, platanitos, croquetas and champagne. Great quality family time. I could go on & on with so many memories made throughout my whole life. Our stay in Miami will never be the same without you. I know you , mom & dad will have a great time up there. All my love Baby lindo.❤️

I treasure the memories of our weekends at Illi's.  We would spend the weekend, swimming, laughing, and eating great food, doesn't get better than that. For me Baby was Illi's dad, he was bigger than life, always had so many wonderful stories to tell, he was so kind and caring, I always felt at home. Now he is home with the angel. Rest in peace. I will remember you fondly.

So many have addressed Baby's many accomplishments, but I will always  remember happy times shared in our family get togethers. My black beans, savored by my kids, and now grandkids and great grandkids, was Baby's recipe. He taught me how to add his special ingredients which are top secret. He was always ready to be my dance partner and a generous host. Our young Miami exile time was shared with the cousins in the pool, and Baby and Ileana with open doors for good times. Baby: you will be missed. Thanks for the memories. Tu prima Norma

Don Humberto fue un caballero de esa generación, ya hoy casi desaparecida, donde los  principios, la  dignidad y la honestidad  son los valores más primordiales para legar a sus descendientes. Su preocupación constante fue el bienestar de su familia. Dios lo premió dándole una saludable y larga vida conservando su mente lúcida hasta el final y recibiendo el cuidado, esmero, mimos  y amor de su familia.
Descanse en Paz. 

Ileana, Humberto; I know how much you loved your dad. I realize how horrible during this pandemia the sense of separation was. He is ( never a was in the eyes of the Lord) loved and this carries through eternity.  May the Lord grant him rest in the presence of infinite love and give his family the peace of knowing this is so.

Querida Familia,
  Lamentamos profundamente la partida de Papi. Dios lo guarda y ya está en paz descansando. 
Bendiciones Siempre. 

Among the first memories I have of my father is how at 4, I cried everyday when my hair had to be combed and would run to my daddy who pretended to comb, would instead leave my hair tangled, but not hurt me. My father was strict and ruled  with an iron hand but was always there teaching me to ride a bike, to swim, and later in life how to drive a car and how to become a hard working, moral and contributing member of society.  He would often call me into his office and lecture me for hours, and how I despised the wasted time. As the years passed and I realized I had to spend time speaking to my own children, I understood the immense love and patience that goes into raising children, and became grateful for all the time my father invested in me. 

While my husband travelled for work my dad  stepped in and was a second father to my children. A gentler, wiser and older man, he had boundless love and understanding for them. Now retired,  he was able to truly enjoy my children and leave his mark on their lives. 

In his later years, Daddy transformed himself into a very gentle, grateful, humble and extremely loving man. God gave me the opportunity to erase any resentment I may have had for the past because my Dad had become all love. I am extremely grateful to God for allowing me 96 years with my father. It afforded us the time to grow and really get to know and accept each other with endless love and mutual respect.

My father made me always  feel protected, he made us all feel like no matter what happened he would take care of it, he would somehow fix anything that befell the family. I pray that he carry this superhuman quality into his next life so that he may continue to be our protector, our superstar.

 Until we meet again in the blue bayou, Daddy I miss and love you more with each passing day.

I remember him as a child walking wat too fast through downtown as I asked him to slow because my legs were too short, dancing through Swiss streets when I was five, but mostly our lunches on weekends where the man I admired and respected most shared himself and wisdom . Most of all during these lunches he both showed and told me that I had gained not only his respect but his admiration and how proud he was of the person I had become.  Forever in my heart meet you at The Blue Bayou. 

OBITUARY

Humberto "Baby" Hernandez

9 January, 1925 – 11 February, 2021

Caballero Rivero Little Havana

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