At the age of 77, Dr. Juan Vela Valdés, former rector of the University of Havana and Minister of Higher Education. Students, academics and institutions mourn his death. The community of that high house of studies defines his death as a “shocking impact”.
“The academic community of the University of Havana suffers the shocking impact of a very painful physical departure. One of the figures most linked to the destinies of the institution since the emblematic sixties of the 20th century, the president of the FEU, the rector Juan Vela Valdés has passed away. But the sadness has to be overcome by the vitalistic tribute to whom so much responsible, fertilizing and enthusiastic energy gave to the University”, reads the obituary published on the institution’s Facebook profile.
Born on November 7, 1945, Vela Valdés was a “Conrado Benítez” literacy teacher, responsible for assistant students and undergraduate instructors at the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the University of Havana and president of the FEU, according to the note.
From a doctor in Maisí he went on to serve as director of the hospital where he worked and, later, regional director of Public Health of Baracoa and Guantánamo, a responsibility continued by that of director of Public Health in the Province of Camagüey, a region where he was founding rector of the University of Camaguey.
After completing his work at the head of the University of Havana, he was in charge of the Ministry of Higher Education, and later held various responsibilities in the Ministry of Public Health. According to the official newspaper Granmaaccumulated 31 years as rector in the universities of Camagüey, Medical Sciences of Havana and the University of Havana and later in the Minister of Higher Education.
The Ministry of Public Health lamented his death, stressing that “medicine, public health, higher medical education and the Cuban Revolution have suffered a great loss, with the physical disappearance of the outstanding professor and public health worker.”
Today medicine, higher medical education and the Cuban Revolution have suffered a great loss, with the death of the professor and public health worker DrC. Juan Vela Valdes.
Our most sincere condolences reach his family, friends and colleagues.? https://t.co/bg86gCwBDt pic.twitter.com/P2nFyjy83y
— Cuban Ministry of Public Health (@MINSAPCuba) April 28, 2022
Throughout his life he received multiple recognitions, distinctions and medals, among which the Distinction “For Cuban Education” stands out.
“Today’s University of Havana is also his heir, and we will have to continue contributing well to everyone’s society and for the good of all to continue with decorum, on the road, in his footsteps,” concludes the note from the University from Havana.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, who was also in charge of the Ministry of Higher Education, wrote on Twitter: “a great loss for Cuba and for Cuban Higher Education. Our condolences go out to the family, friends, co-workers and hundreds of students of dear Professor Juan Vela Valdés.
