Jose Aguilera

Jose was born in Tacajo, Cuba on February 4, 1933. The son of Fernando and Eulalia Aguilera. He was the first born and had two sibilings, Candida and Anais. As a youth, he enjoyed wildlife and going out in the fields. He raised canaries, roosters, and loved to ride horses. He left Tacajo to move to Manzanillo to pursue his accounting degree at the School of Commerce in 1958. During his time in school he met the love of his life, Lidia. After a year of courtship they were married on September 19, 1959. Their first child Jose was born in 1960, a year after Fidel Castro's triumph. Their daughter Lidia was born in 1962.

Things in Cuba began to change for the worse. Fearful of the new regime and the well-being of their children, they decided to leave Cuba. They left Cuba behind, along with their parents, siblings, and other family members in route to the United States via Spain in 1969. They lived in Madrid and spent some wonderful years there.

They arrived in the United States in 1972. He started to work for Stanford University Hospital in 1973 and retired in 1996. He has two granddaughters, Amanda and Briana who he cared deeply for since their births. They became his new world.

He was always seeking God in many religions but it wasn't until 1973 that he came to know Jesus as his personal Savior. Ever since, he has been a person that has been faithful to his God and his church, Templo La Luz. He has been and will continue to be a beautiful example of God's love and provisions. For those who knew him, knew his love for the word of God and his faithfulness to God. He was always immersed in reading and learning. He had a wonderful sense of humor and could talk about any world event. We are saddened that he has left us, but so happy to know that he is with his Savior, wife, and loved ones. We give God thanks for the blessing and example he was to our lives.