Obituary of Fredesvinda Martinez

It is with our deepest sorrow that we announce the passing of our very sweet and beautiful mother, Fredesvinda Martinez Ruiz.  Fredi, as she was known to family and friends, left us on                Wednesday, August 11, 2021. Her two loving daughters, Sarilyn and Aurora Elena, and her son-in-law Javier were by her side.

Fredesvinda Ruiz Santa Cruz was born in Sierra Morena (Las Villas), Cuba on October 19, 1930. She was the eldest and only daughter of Catalina Santa Cruz and Jose Ruiz. She was cherished by her parents and four younger brothers Osmin, Oriol, Eliezer, and Lenin.  As a child, she studied piano, and showed a proclivity for art.  She was a bright and exceptional student.  Her proud and supportive parents encouraged and facilitated her desire to study and attend college.

At 18, Mom went to the country’s capital, La Habana, to begin college and pursue her ambition of becoming a teacher. She lived with her uncle, “Tio Picholo” and her aunt, “Tia Laura”. Eventually, her entire family moved to El Reparto El Diezmero, La Habana.

Upon being admitted to La Universidad de la Habana, she met and fell in love with the President of the Student Body, Juan Radames Martinez. Together, they studied education at the Escuela Normal para Maestros de la Habana.

After graduating from the university in 1952, Fredi married her first and only love, Juan Radames. They moved to Pinar del Rio, where she lived with her in-laws, Sarita and Juancito.

That year, she was certified as a teacher. Fredi presented her academic credentials in Pinar del Rio and began teaching in Los Palacios. Her first teaching position was in the rural settings of    La Zona Rural in “Guasimal” in El Central La Francia en Los Palacios. Our father always recalled that she was revered as la maestrica jovencita y bonita (the pretty young teacher) by her students and their parents.

As she was enjoying and thriving in her role as a new teacher, she and Rada (as she called our father) joyously welcomed, their first born, the prettiest little girl, Sarilyn. Within a few years, they aspired to expand their young family. Mom lost her second born, a baby boy.  Years after, they were blessed with another baby girl, Aurora Elena.

As Cuba’s political climate changed and worsened, our parents bravely joined the Cuban exodus.  Daddy left Cuba first, little Sarilyn left next, and Fredi and baby Aurora Elena joined them after.

Once the family was reunited in the United States, they settled in an apartment in Brooklyn, New York. Deeply grateful that they were able to flee Cuba safely and live freely as exiles in the United States, they proceeded with their self-appointed duty and privilege of becoming U.S. citizens, learning English, and reestablishing themselves as educators.

Initially, Mom took care of all the neighbor’s children in the building, before she found employment in a new public school a few blocks away from where we lived.  At P.S. 23K, she first worked as a School and Community Relations teacher. Her first school principal, Dr.  Kessler, so adored her and recognized her potential, that he urged Mom to revalidate her studies.

And so, she did. Our mother received Master’s Degrees in Bilingual and ESL Education, from Mercy College, St. John’s University, Montclair State University, and Long Island University. In addition, she held many licenses, including Guidance Counselor.

In the coming years, our family moved to Jackson Heights, Queens where we still have our lovely home. Our mom relished being a wife, mother, and homemaker.

Our mom truly treasured her role as a teacher and loved P.S.23K. Throughout her career, she worked After School Programs, Saturday Programs, and Summer School. She worked at the same school for 33 years, until her retirement. 

During their retirement, Daddy became quite ill due to an accident. Mom was by Daddy’s side every day. She became his primary caregiver, Daddy’s head nurse. Taking care of our father was her priority, her happiness.  She will be remembered for how much and how well she loved him.

She will also be remembered for how much she loved her daughters, “Sarili” and “Toti”, as she affectionately called us. She loved her nieces, nephews, and Godchildren. She loved her former colleagues and her students. Mami loved everyone. It seems to us that everyone loved her.   We are grateful.

Mom passed away from the inevitable complications of Alzheimer’s Disease. She leaves behind memories of her radiant smile, her funny stories and impersonations, her cleanliness, and her delicious meals. Mami was beauty, courtesy, grace, elegance, and very hard work.  She touched many lives with her enormous heart and spirit. For my sister and I, Mami was the center of everything.  We miss her very much. We always will.

Tribute donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. Thank you.

It is with our deepest sorrow that we announce the passing of our very sweet and beautiful mother, Fredesvinda Martinez Ruiz.  Fredi, as she was known to family and friends, left us on                Wednesday, August 11, 2021. Her two loving daughters, Sarilyn and Aurora Elena, and her son-in-law Javier were by her side.

Fredesvinda Ruiz Santa Cruz was born in Sierra Morena (Las Villas), Cuba on October 19, 1930. She was the eldest and only daughter of Catalina Santa Cruz and Jose Ruiz. She was cherished by her parents and four younger brothers Osmin, Oriol, Eliezer, and Lenin.  As a child, she studied piano, and showed a proclivity for art.  She was a bright and exceptional student.  Her proud and supportive parents encouraged and facilitated her desire to study and attend college.

At 18, Mom went to the country’s capital, La Habana, to begin college and pursue her ambition of becoming a teacher. She lived with her uncle, “Tio Picholo” and her aunt, “Tia Laura”. Eventually, her entire family moved to El Reparto El Diezmero, La Habana.

Upon being admitted to La Universidad de la Habana, she met and fell in love with the President of the Student Body, Juan Radames Martinez. Together, they studied education at the Escuela Normal para Maestros de la Habana.

After graduating from the university in 1952, Fredi married her first and only love, Juan Radames. They moved to Pinar del Rio, where she lived with her in-laws, Sarita and Juancito.

That year, she was certified as a teacher. Fredi presented her academic credentials in Pinar del Rio and began teaching in Los Palacios. Her first teaching position was in the rural settings of    La Zona Rural in “Guasimal” in El Central La Francia en Los Palacios. Our father always recalled that she was revered as la maestrica jovencita y bonita (the pretty young teacher) by her students and their parents.

As she was enjoying and thriving in her role as a new teacher, she and Rada (as she called our father) joyously welcomed, their first born, the prettiest little girl, Sarilyn. Within a few years, they aspired to expand their young family. Mom lost her second born, a baby boy.  Years after, they were blessed with another baby girl, Aurora Elena.

As Cuba’s political climate changed and worsened, our parents bravely joined the Cuban exodus.  Daddy left Cuba first, little Sarilyn left next, and Fredi and baby Aurora Elena joined them after.

Once the family was reunited in the United States, they settled in an apartment in Brooklyn, New York. Deeply grateful that they were able to flee Cuba safely and live freely as exiles in the United States, they proceeded with their self-appointed duty and privilege of becoming U.S. citizens, learning English, and reestablishing themselves as educators.

Initially, Mom took care of all the neighbor’s children in the building, before she found employment in a new public school a few blocks away from where we lived.  At P.S. 23K, she first worked as a School and Community Relations teacher. Her first school principal, Dr.  Kessler, so adored her and recognized her potential, that he urged Mom to revalidate her studies.

And so, she did. Our mother received Master’s Degrees in Bilingual and ESL Education, from Mercy College, St. John’s University, Montclair State University, and Long Island University. In addition, she held many licenses, including Guidance Counselor.

In the coming years, our family moved to Jackson Heights, Queens where we still have our lovely home. Our mom relished being a wife, mother, and homemaker.

Our mom truly treasured her role as a teacher and loved P.S.23K. Throughout her career, she worked After School Programs, Saturday Programs, and Summer School. She worked at the same school for 33 years, until her retirement. 

During their retirement, Daddy became quite ill due to an accident. Mom was by Daddy’s side every day. She became his primary caregiver, Daddy’s head nurse. Taking care of our father was her priority, her happiness.  She will be remembered for how much and how well she loved him.

She will also be remembered for how much she loved her daughters, “Sarili” and “Toti”, as she affectionately called us. She loved her nieces, nephews, and Godchildren. She loved her former colleagues and her students. Mami loved everyone. It seems to us that everyone loved her.   We are grateful.

Mom passed away from the inevitable complications of Alzheimer’s Disease. She leaves behind memories of her radiant smile, her funny stories and impersonations, her cleanliness, and her delicious meals. Mami was beauty, courtesy, grace, elegance, and very hard work.  She touched many lives with her enormous heart and spirit. For my sister and I, Mami was the center of everything.  We miss her very much. We always will.

Tribute donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. Thank you.