Adriana B. Busot

on the 14th of July, 2020.

Born on January 18, 1929, in Santa Clara, Cuba, Adriana earned a doctorate in geography at the Universidad de la Habana. Following her marriage to Aldo Busot in 1951, they lived a year in Paris. After returning to Cuba she became a professor at the Instituto Secundario de Santa Clara and at La Universidad Central Marta Abreu de las Villas. She and Aldo had three children born in Cuba. Like so many Cubans, they had to leave their home. The family made a new life in the United States, starting in Jacksonville, Florida, then on to Iowa and finally Whitewater, Wisconsin, where Adriana and Aldo raised their children, including the youngest, born in this country. Adriana and Aldo were professors of Spanish for over twenty years at the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater. They shaped and influenced the Foreign Language Department in many ways, including beginning a summer study program in Mexico. She was beloved by her students, many of whom became lifelong friends. After retiring from UW-W, Adriana and Aldo relocated to Coral Gables, where Adriana remained very active, continuing to teach at Florida International University.

Everyone who knew Adriana knew her for her unconditional love. Many of her children's friends came to regard her as their second mother. She was unfailingly generous, and dedicated herself to helping people and doing whatever was necessary to help them be happy and succeed. Her children cherish her memory and are grateful for her selfless devotion to her family. Her huge, welcoming parties were legendary, but besides being outrageously fun, they contributed to strengthening the emotional and sentimental ties of a large extended family and her displaced Cuban community.

Adriana died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones. In her final weeks, innumerable friends and relatives made it a point to visit her despite the social limitations resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic.

There will be a short graveside ceremony prior to her burial on Saturday, July 18, at 10:30 AM at Caballero-Rivero Woodlawn Park North Cemetery.

Adriana is survived by her four children Adriana C. Busot, María Victoria Busot (Kavian M. Goharderakhshan), Aldo G. Busot, and Jorge A. Busot (Alicia Burns) and by her grandchildren Kavian Dario and Shahrzad Goharderakhshan, and Antonio and Marco Busot.