Acasia Onelia Valdes Cuellar

At the remarkable age of 106, our beloved Acasia Onelia Valdes Cuellar, affectionately known as “ONE,” leaves this world, but she leaves behind a legacy that will never be forgotten.

Born on December 25, 1919, in San Juan de los Yeras, Las Villas, Cuba, ONE later moved to Ranchuelo, Cuba, where she built an extraordinary life as an educator and pioneer. She became one of the first female educators in Cuba and earned her Doctorate, dedicating her life to education.

In 1965, with the Cuban Revolution having taken away her home, her livelihood, and the life she had built, ONE courageously left Cuba by boat, seeking safety and a new beginning. Her journey brought her first to Miami and eventually to New Jersey.

Determined to reclaim the accomplishments she had worked so hard to achieve, ONE traveled to Washington, D.C., where she fought to have her Cuban academic credentials recognized and to regain the doctorate that had been taken from her. She continued her education at Montclair College, earning her Master's degree.

Her passion for education led her to Brooklyn, where she became a pioneering force in bilingual education. She led a coalition of bilingual teachers and helped advance bilingual education, opening doors for generations of students and educators.

She later continued her distinguished career at Franklin School in Newark, New Jersey, where she devoted her heart and life to her students. She believed education went beyond the classroom. Through dance, the arts, and cultural traditions, she helped her students celebrate and maintain their heritage. A remarkably creative and crafty woman, ONE personally sewed costumes and helped prepare countless performances, turning every celebration into an opportunity for her students to learn, express themselves, and take pride in their culture.

ONE lived through two pandemics, numerous wars, and more than a century of history. Through it all, she remained strong, determined, creative, and devoted to education and family.

She leaves behind her beloved nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces, and godchildren, who will carry her memory and legacy for generations to come.

And on her final journey, she will be accompanied by her beloved Oreo, her faithful companion of 16 years. Together, they will depart this world surrounded by the love they shared.

She left Cuba, crossed an ocean, reclaimed her accomplishments, broke barriers, championed bilingual education, preserved culture, educated generations, and built a legacy that will never be forgotten.

Forever our pioneer.

Forever our educator.

Forever our legend.

Forever our family icon.

May ONE and Oreo rest peacefully together