Cesar F. Martino

Cesar F. Martino passed away on Saturday, May 7, 2022 at the age of 78. He was born on September 15, 1943 in Havana, Cuba, and was preceded in death by his mother, Maria del Carmen Uriquiaga, his father, Angel Cesar Martino, and sister, Maria de los Angeles Martino. He is survived by his loving wife of 30 years, Mary Vega and sweet Lili, his son, Cesar A. Martino, daughter, Tuly O’Neil, and his sister, Norma del Carmen Martino, of Havana, Cuba. Cesar was a proud Abuelo of five grandchildren, Liam O’Neil, Sean O’Neil, Arianna Martino, Gianni Martino, and Luca O’Neil. Loving uncle to his nieces, Patricia Martino and Viviana Martino, both of Havana, Cuba, and adopted nieces, Richelle Monier and Angie Tillman.

Cesar had a real zest for life. His love of music, dancing, enjoying his favorite restaurants, weekends at his country home, and spending time on his boat are where he enjoyed life to the fullest. He was just as happy cruising out to the lake in his favorite sportscar as he was driving his tractor on his farm.

As a Cornell graduate, he started his career as a hotelier in Puerto Rico with Hilton International before being recruited to New Orleans to the Royal Sonesta and then general manager of the St. Louis Hotel which he opened and was the only five-star hotel at the time. The Saint Louis hosted many legendary Hollywood stars, past US President Gerald Ford, and dignitaries, which included the President of France, Giscard d’Estaing, during his visit to New Orleans in 1976. He is a past President of the GNO Hotel Association and was on Mayor Moon Landrieu’s Super Bowl task force that secured the first two Super Bowls for New Orleans. Cesar then moved to Florida and managed hotel properties in Palm Beach and Miami through the 80’s before returning to New Orleans.

In the early 1990’s, President Bill Clinton invited Cesar to form part of a team, which was to explore a policy of engagement with Cuba, which took him to the present. As a Cuban, whose life had been upended by the diaspora, Cesar’s passion and mission was to seek change with the authoritarianism that forced him and so many of his friends and family into exile. By then he had realized that the U.S. embargo, the travel restrictions, and other U.S. sanctions, were not working to dislodge the Castro’s or the ruling 1% of the island. In fact, these hostilities were only profoundly hurting the people of Cuba. Cesar chose to become “Our Man in Havana” and work for sane, peaceful, beneficial change.

In 1998, he was instrumental in bringing Archbishop Hannan to Cuba for the historic visit of Pope John Paul II, first Pontiff to visit Cuba. During one of his visits promoting cultural exchange of the Arts, we found one of our precious puppies, Paca. Through much diplomacy and craziness, she arrived in Miami and was welcomed into the U.S.

In 2009, Cesar became a founding member of the International Cuba Society (ICS), a local non-profit, which strives to foster U.S. – Cuba engagement in Louisiana by pragmatically showing how damaging the U.S. embargo and travel restrictions have been to these historic trade and tourism partners. With ICS, Cesar helped arrange NOLA visits of the head of the Cuban interest section in Washington (later Ambassador) Jose Cabanas, as well as the Historian of Old Havana, Dr. Eusebio Leal-Spangler, who has been credited with saving that world heritage site from ruin. The introduction to Dr. Leal developed into a very warm, endearing friendship. Soon after, President Obama suspended six decades of hostilities and offered Cubans a free market and unrestricted travel. A pinnacle moment was when Cesar was able to partake in the historic trip when President Obama, who was the first President of the U.S. in 88 years, and members of Congress, on their visit to Havana. He also led the ICS mission of Louisiana’s political, social, and economic leaders to Havana.

He was a guest of Dr. Leal at the unveiling of a replica of the statue to Jose Marti which stands in Central Park, which was donated by the city of New York to Havana in celebration of the latter’s 500th anniversary.

It was Cesar’s dream that in his lifetime he would get to see an alliance between Cuba and the U.S. Cesar devoted the later part of his life and never gave up his passion and mission hoping for this change.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Memorial Mass at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, 6367 Saint Charles Ave. in New Orleans, on Thursday, May 26, 2022 at 11:00AM. A visitation will be held at the church beginning at 10:00AM. The interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Cesar’s memory to the American Heart Association, www.heart.org, or to the Louisiana S.P.C.A., www.louisianaspca.org.

To view and sign the guest book, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com