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First female Cuban
pilot honored in WNY
Jessica Rosero, reporter
staff writer. Union
City Reporter, NJ, September 19, 2004.
Captain Teresina Del Rey, the first female
aviator in the Cuban armed forces and a
former West New York resident, will always
be remembered in Cuba for her unwavering
patriotism and kind-hearted nature. Now,
thanks to her friends and family, Del Rey's
legacy and image will also be preserved
at the West New York Public Library on 60th
Street.
On Tuesday, a statue of Captain Del Rey
was unveiled and donated in her honor by
her friends, the Garcia-Berry family. The
ceremony was sponsored by the Palisades
Medical Center in North Bergen and Mayor
Albio Sires.
"It was an easy decision to sponsor
the event," said Eurice E. Rojas, director
of marketing and corporate development of
Palisades Medical Center. "We actively
pursued participation because we are part
of the community."
The ceremony brought together old friends
and family of Del Rey who had not seen each
other for many years. It was an emotional
gathering for some, as well as a time of
great pride.
Among honored guests in attendance were
Teresina Del Rey's son, Johnny Garcia, and
her long-time best friend Julia Valdivia,
who shared a few words about Del Rey during
the ceremony.
"It feels very good to see so many
friends, and to bring this bust to the library,"
said Johnny Garcia.
"Everything is beautiful," said
Valdivia. "She was my mother's friend
and mine. We worked for many years together
for the Cuban cause, and I am thankful for
having the opportunity to attend this beautiful
event."
Captain Teresina Del Rey
Teresina Del Rey was born in Holguin, provincia
de Oriente, Cuba in 1915. She was the daughter
of Angel Del Rey, an altruistic and honorable
man, and Teresa Baxter, a refined woman
of English descent.
Del Rey had always described her parents
as disagreeing only on the matters of her
education despite their strong differences
in character. Her mother wanted her to become
a famous concert artist, while her father
purely stressed being honorable with a profound
conviction.
On Del Rey's part, there was a fascination
with aviation from the time she was a child.
However, she also felt a pull toward journalism.
This led her to collaborate on some of the
most important daily newspapers and magazines
of Havana, where she mainly focused on aviation
articles and became a member of the International
Society of Aviation Writers.
It was from Del Rey's illustrious career
in journalism that she was able to fulfill
her dreams and become the first female Cuban
aviator. After having extensively covered
aviation for the press and seeing her enthusiasm
for it, one of the pilots she interviewed
began giving her lessons. Later she graduated
from la Escuela Militar de Aviacion de Cuba
(the Military School of Aviation in Cuba),
the only woman from her era to do so.
Fleeing the newly established Communist
reign of Fidel Castro, Del Rey, among other
patriots, left for the United States during
the massive exile of the '60s and '70s.
She spent her remaining years in West New
York, where she continued her patriotic
duty and her grand humanitarian labor.
Del Rey was the founder of the Fraternity
Fragua Martiana, which was responsible for
erecting the monument to the Cuban patriot
Jose Marti on 54th Street and Boulevard
East with the help of local officials. She
was also a member of Colegio Nacional de
Periodistas de Cuba en el Exilo (CNP) since
its inception, which is similar to the League
of Journalists in New York. She was named
an honorary member by then-president Ivan
Karenoff.
The ceremony
After opening introductions by Estela Longo,
the reference librarian, and West New York
Deputy Mayor Jose Miqueli, Del Rey's good
friend and writer of her biography "Primera
Aviatriz Cubana," Dr. Lucila Garcia,
shared her memories and told the story of
the woman she knew.
"In this book is the story and work
of our great friend Teresina Del Rey,"
said Garcia (who is not related to Del Rey's
son).
Garcia, who was a journalist and a teacher
for 45 years, met Del Rey in the home of
a fellow and well-respected journalist.
During that time Garcia was looking to establish
the Spanish newspaper "La Voz,"
which still runs today under the direction
of her son and husband. The two women formed
an almost instant friendship that lasted
for years.
"We loved each other very much,"
said Garcia. "We even discovered that
we were born on the exact same day at the
exact same time, but with a difference of
a few years."
Garcia became one of Del Rey's closest
confidants. As a matter of fact, it was
by Del Rey's request that Garcia wrote the
story of her life.
"This woman was the one who opened
"La Ruta de Colon" [The Colon
Route] from Cuba to Madrid," said Garcia.
"Once you read this book, you will
see how extraordinary this woman was and
how much she was worth."
Two days before she died, Del Rey called
for Garcia and gave her a box full of notes
written by hand, which told the story of
her life. She told Garcia that she was the
only one capable of writing her story, and
asked her to carry out that final request.
Garcia willingly took on that mission,
which she finally completed with the release
of "Primera Aviatriz Cubana" just
last June. The book, which contained many
of Del Rey's articles and other writings,
took about three years to finish with the
help of her family. Garcia refuses to take
credit for the book; she said the writings
were all done by Del Rey and that she simply
put it together.
"The credit is hers, and I feel very
happy," said Garcia.
However, the Garcia-Berry family felt that
more should be done. On the day of Teresina
Del Rey's funeral, Garcia remembered a man
crying. After she approached him, he identified
himself as Mario Santi, the artist who made
the Mausoleum for Jose Marti which stands
at the Santa Efigenia Cemetery in Santiago,
Cuba. He had known Del Rey for many years
as she was growing up, and even saw her
fly.
The late Santi had taken it upon himself
to create a statue of Del Rey. Garcia asked
for one as well, which he molded out of
iron. It still stands in her house.
After the successful completion of the
book, the Garcia-Berry family had two replicas
of Santi's work commissioned. One would
be donated to the West New York Public Library,
and one is for Garcia to take back to Cuba
on the day that it is liberated.
"I guarantee you that I will return
to Cuba," said Garcia. "My last
wish is to return to Cuba."
After a few more words from old friends
and officials, Del Rey's statue was unveiled
in its permanent spot on the third floor
children's department of the library. This
was also a final testament to Del Rey's
love of the written word.
"Teresina, we have finished your work.
May God have you in his glory, my dear friend,"
Garcia said.
©The
Hudson Reporter 2004
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