Clara D. Taranco

Clara Taranco died peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on May 21st, 2022. Clara was the devoted wife of Dr. Joaquin Taranco and a 55-year resident of Plantation Florida. Clara was born in Cienfuegos, Cuba as an only child to adoring parents, Luis and Gloria Oliver. Growing up in a house full of baseball and politics as Clara’s parents were successful local leaders in her hometown and instrumental in the internationally lauded Cuban baseball scene of the 40’s. Clara’s father started one of the 4 baseball teams in Cuba, Los Elefantes de Cienfuegos.

Clara was a decorated student and pursued a doctorate degree in pharmacy at the University of Havana. She married her lifelong love, Joaquin, after a 10-year courtship. Cacho y Clarita as they were called immigrated to the United States in 1960 after a Communist Revolution in Cuba threatened their freedom and destroyed their way of life in their Homeland. They brought nothing to America except 5 dollars, their education, their principles and their ethics. They first landed in Chicago where they lived for 8 years. Clara’s two daughters, Vivian and Diana were born in Chicago. During those first years Cacho and Clarita were able to assist their parents and siblings in successfully escaping the Castro regime and after the blizzard of 1967 the whole family moved to Florida.

Cacho and Clarita interestingly chose to put down roots not in Miami where a burgeoning Cuban refugee community was in the process of transforming Miami from a sleepy port city to an international hub for business and travel, rather a small hamlet just to the north in Broward County called Plantation. In 1967 there were no houses in Plantation so the young couple, their two kids, and Clara’s parents rented in Hollywood and got to work.

Clara raised her daughters, took care of her parents and in-laws, partnered with her husband in his successful medical practice, became a civic leader through volunteer work, and maintained legions of friends. Vivian and Diana were raised as American as Cacho and Clarita could muster while at the same time their heritage and language and culture were preserved at home and with their extended family. Clara created the best of both worlds for her children and family and this is a direct result of her ability to see the best in both worlds. She was intelligent, thoughtful, disciplined and fair. She was outspoken. A great listener and strict. Very high standards for conduct and a million-dollar smile and infectious spirit that brought everyone to attention while at the same time setting them at ease.

Clara was ahead of her time in many respects. An extremely self-determined woman who chose, despite her professional Bona fides, her role as traditional mother and matriarch of her family while at the same time presenting all options to her daughters. Clara encouraged her daughters by example and through counsel to pursue education and economic independence vigorously and both received doctorate degree in their fields. She was a welcoming and inclusive mother-in-law to her two sons in laws, Jim Carsello and Francis Moll and a devoted grandmother to Francis, Oliver, Alex, Charlie, Lizzie and Eve.

Clara will be remembered by all who knew her as the consummate Lady that she was. She was a woman of a time where many forces came together to create a unique community of people especially in South Florida. Political forces, economic forces, cultural forces and spiritual forces combined to create the conditions where this particular lady, a political refugee, a professional by education, a beauty by nature and a captivating spirit touched and shaped the lives of many people in our community most importantly the lives of those who are now her legacy.

Clara is survived by her daughters and their families, Vivian and Jim Carsello, Alex Carsello, Elizabeth Carsello, Diana and Francis Moll, Frannie Moll, Oliver Moll, Isabela and Charlie Moll, and Eve Moll. Her cousins, Lou and Anne DeOcejo and family, Robert Milly and Jacklyn Gasso, The Pou family, The Miguel Family and scores of friends who will miss her spirit but who now know they have a mighty advocate in heaven as Miss Clara will without a doubt make her wishes known as that was her way.

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