Ofelia Tabares Fernandez

La Dra. Tabares Fernández nació en Camagüey de Cuba, el 20 de mayo de 1929 y, poco después, se mudó con su familia a Pinar del Río. Obtuvo carreras de la Universidad Católica de Santo Tomás de Villanueva y de la Universidad de la Habana, ambas de Cuba. Acabó recibiendo un doctorado en economía y ejercía su profesión al tiempo de la Revolución Cubana. Reconociendo los aspectos totalitarios que adoptaba el régimen castrista, se exilió a Miami, Florida, en 1960. En apoyo de la causa de su patria, sirvió como investigadora asociada en el Cuban Research Project y como directora del College Center for Latin American Studies. Eventualmente, también recibió una maestría de la Universidad de Miami.

Como empresaria, la Dra. Tabares Fernández se destacó como banquera, consultora de mercadeo y dueña de una galería de arte. Políticamente, fue active en el partido republicano, trabajando en varias campañas y sirviendo como Executive Committeewoman. Pero más que todo, su vida como exiliada se destacó por una dedicación a servir a los demás, especialmente su familia, pero también la juventud y la educación, las artes y una Cuba libre. Su energía inagotable y su determinación le permitieron servir en un impresionante número de actividades cívicas y culturales. Trabajó con el Jackson Memorial Hospital, el Centro Mater, la Liga Contra el Cancer y el UNICEF, dirigiendo varios proyectos de importancia. Adicionalmente, sirvió en varias juntas para una amplia variedad de organizaciones, incluyendo el Girl Scouts Council of Tropical Florida, United Family and Children’s Services, Council for the Continuous Education of Women, y March of Dimes. También sirvió en una junta de asesores de planificación municipal y como fideicomisaria de Miami-Dade College. La Dra. Tabares Fernández también fundó y sirvió como directora de varias organizaciones cívicas, incluyendo, el Cuban Women’s Club, Cuban Patriotic Education Board, y el Museo Cubano de Arte y Cultura, al igual que el Museo Cubano (que ahora se conoce como el American Museum of the Cuban Diaspora). También sirvió como productora y directora de Cultura Cubana, un programa local de televisión, que se televisaba semanalmente.

Durante su vida, la Dra. Tabares Fernández fue reconocida por varias organizaciones por su servicio ejemplar a los demás, incluyendo B’nai B’rith, los Contadores Cubanos en el Exilio, el Dade Business and Professional Women’s Club y Florida International University, recibiendo varios reconocimientos, incluyendo B’nai B’rith Woman of the Year, y los premios Dr. Juan J. Remos, Floridana, Lincoln-Martí, Community Headliner Award y Outstanding Woman Citizen of the Year Award.

Ya habiendo fallecido su hijo, Rubén Emilio, y su hermano, José Raúl, le sobreviven sus otros hijos, José Rafael, Juan Marcos, Cesáreo, Aurelio, y Josefina, sus cónyuges, 19 nietos, 8 bisnietos, y varios parientes que mucho la querían.

Su funeral tendrá lugar en Miami, Florida, empezando con un velorio en Caballero Rivero Funeral Home, 3344 SW 8th Street, este viernes, 10 de agosto, desde las 2:00 p.m. en adelante. La misa se celebrará en el Seminario de S. John Vianney, 2900 SW 87th Avenue, el sábado, 11 de agosto, a las 10:00 a.m., seguido inmediatamente por el entierro en Flagler Memorial Park, 5301 West Flagler Street.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.dignitymemorial.com for the Fernandez family.

Dr. Ofelia Tabares Fernandez passed away on August 4, 2018, in Plantation, Florida, at the age of 89. She will be fondly remembered as a matriarch, economist, businesswoman, activist, and patriot.

Dr. Tabares Fernandez was born in Camaguey, Cuba, on May 20, 1929, and, soon thereafter, moved with her family to Pinar del Río. She earned degrees from St. Thomas of Villanova Catholic University and the University of Havana, both in Cuba, ultimately earning a Doctorate in Economics. She was working for the equivalent of the Commerce Department in Cuba at the time of the Cuban Revolution. Recognizing the totalitarian bent of the Castro regime, she went into exile in Miami, Florida, in 1960. Raising awareness of the situation in Cuba, she served as a research associate for the Cuban Research Project and director of the College Center for Latin American Studies. Eventually, she also earned an additional Master’s Degree, this time from the University of Miami.

As a businesswoman, Dr. Tabares Fernandez will be remembered as a banker, marketing consultant, and small business owner. Politically, she was active in the Republican Party, working on numerous campaigns and serving as an Executive Committeewoman. Most of all, her life in exile was marked by a dedication to service, particularly to family, children, education, the arts, and the cause of Cuban freedom. Her seemingly inexhaustible energy and force of will allowed her to serve others and achieve results in an unbelievable number of civic and cultural activities. She actively volunteered with Jackson Memorial Hospital, Centro Mater, Liga Contra el Cancer, and UNICEF, organizing numerous, important projects. Additionally, she served on numerous Boards, for a wide variety of organizations, including the Girl Scouts Council of Tropical Florida, United Family and Children’s Services, the Council for the Continuous Education of Women, and the March of Dimes. She also served on a local planning advisory board and served as a Trustee of Miami-Dade College. Dr. Tabares Fernandez was also a founder and officer of several civic organizations, including the Cuban Women’s Club, the Cuban Patriotic Education Board, the Cuban Museum of Arts and Culture, as well as the Cuban Museum (since renamed the American Museum of the Cuban Diaspora). She also served as a producer and director of a local, weekly, television show, Cuban Culture.

During her lifetime, Dr. Tabares Fernandez was recognized by several organizations for her outstanding professional and community service, including B’nai B’rith, the Cuban Accountants in Exile, the Dade Business and Professional Women’s Club, and Florida International University, receiving several awards, including the B’nai B’rith Woman of the Year Award, the Dr. Juan J. Remos Award, the Floridana Award, the Lincoln-Marti Award, the Community Headliner Award, and the Outstanding Woman Citizen of the Year Award.

She is predeceased by her son, Ruben Emilio, and her brother, Jose Raul. She is survived by her other children, Jose Rafael, Juan Marcos, Cesareo, Aurelio, and Josefina, their spouses, 19 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, and a large and loving, extended family.

Her funeral will take place in Miami, Florida, beginning with a wake to honor her memory at Caballero Rivero Funeral Home, 3344 SW 8th Street, this Friday, August 10th, from 2:00 p.m. on, followed by a Funeral Mass at St. John Vianney College Seminary, 2900 SW 87th Avenue, on Saturday, August 11th, at 10:00 a.m., with burial immediately following at Flagler Memorial Park, 5301 West Flagler Street.