Dr. Rafael Marcos De La Cruz

Dr. Rafael Marcos De La Cruz, a healer of children and survivor of revolution and the worst natural disaster in Cuban history, passed away in his sleep early Thursday surrounded by his family. He was 90.

Dr. De La Cruz was a medical institution in the Valley who positively impacted the lives of tens if not hundreds of thousands of children in 30 years as a Brownsville pediatrician. Before that, he practiced in Austin for 20 years. It is estimated that, in a career spanning more than 60 years, Dr. De La Cruz, who was also elected by his peers to serve as past president of the Valley Pediatric Society, treated more than half a million children.

His career began in Cuba, where he was born in the town of Cabezas. He was orphaned at the age of eight when his parents and two sisters were killed in a tidal surge from a category five hurricane that leveled the town of Santa Cruz De Sur and killed twothirds of its residents. All that remained of his family of seven were a brother and sister.

Despite that, Dr. De La Cruz put himself through the University of Havana and its medical school. He was just as passionate about democracy as he was medicine. During his time at the University of Havana, Dr. De La Cruz took part in protests begun by another student, Fidel Castro, which became the infancy of the Cuban revolution that eventually toppled the dictatorial regime of Fulgencio Batista. However, after Castro reneged on his promise of democracy and became communist, Dr. De La Cruz joined the counterrevolution against Castro and was imprisoned.

After finally getting out, he committed to getting himself and his family out of Cuba and away from Fidel. He and his wife, Carmen, made the excruciatinglypainful decision to send his eight and tenyearold daughters alone on a Freedom Flight to Corpus Christi. Dr. De La Cruz, his wife and fouryearold son were not allowed to leave. But months later, they escaped the island on a 20foot fishing boat and eventually reunited the family in South Texas.

Dr. De La Cruz is survived by his inseparable wife of 63 years, Carmen. Joining her in profound grief are three adoring children, Maria De La Cruz John of Fredericksburg, Dr. Carmen Jim Goza Rocco of Brownsville and Rafael Maria De La Cruz Jr. of Dallas, seven grandchildren Laura Rocco, Marcos Garza, Andres Goza, Julian Goza, Esteban Garza, Alexander De La Cruz and Sofia De La Cruz and two greatgrandchildren, Pierce Grove and Michael Grove. He was also cherished by a large extended family that included brotherinlaw Enidio Naomi Magel, nieces and nephews Alicia Bruce Bogart, Enidio Mary Magel, Maria Wayne Clendennen, Liz Jamie Stuhrenberg, Benjamin Jennifer DeJohn, greatnephewsnieces Brian Bogart, Missy Magel, Nicolet Magel, Alexander Clendennen, Lauren Clendennen and friends and caretakers Goyo and Maria Garcia, Sagrario Garcia and Carmen Pomales.

Visitation will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 26, 2014, at St. Marys Catholic Church, 1914 Barnard Road with the recitation of the holy rosary scheduled to begin at 8:00 p.m. at St. Marys. The Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, October 27, 2014, at St. Marys. Entombment will follow in the Mausoleum at Buena Vista Burial Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to: UTB Kids Voting, One West University Blvd., Student Union 2.10, Brownsville, Texas 78520

Visitation

St. Marys Catholic Church
1914 Barnard Road
Brownsville, TX  78520
Sunday, October 26, 2014
7:00 p.m to 10:00 p.m.

Service

Rosary

St. Mary Mother of the Church
1914 Barnard Road
Brownsville, TX  78520
Sunday, October 26, 2014
8:00 p.m.

Mass

St. Mary Mother of the Church
1914 Barnard Road
Brownsville, TX  78520
Monday, October 27, 2014
10:00 a.m.

Cemetery

Buena Vista Burial Park at the Mausoleum
5 McDavitt Blvd.
Brownsville, TX  78521

Memorial Contributions

One West University Blvd.
Brownsville, TX  78520