ALBERTO FOWLER (1929-1987)

Just as Alberto never needed an introduction, he needs no farewell. Alberto filled any room with his presence - and he filled our lives. As Alberto and my wife Avis were fond of saying "It’s been a long and dusty road." We tend to say at these ceremonies, about all kinds of people, that "they never hurt a soul." Well, Alberto, truly, never willingly hurt anyone. What he did was to help many a soul - including mine.

Within his obvious, often blatant sophistication, and his occasional devilment (like putting tiny little frogs in his mouth and letting them jump out onto the laps of horrified ladies), Alberto had a quality of innocence, a child-like wonderment that made him the mystic that he was, the artist that he was. We knew, somehow, that he had never grown old and bitter, despite ample cause, and remained a free spirit - perhaps never altogether of this world.

A few years ago, in a book I wrote, Alberto was a principal character. I quoted him at the moment in December of 1958 when it was first clear that the 26th of July movement had carried the day in Cuba. He said to Julio Batista and to me in a friendly but firm way: "Don’t worry friends, we shall be noble in victory." And he meant it. But unfortunately it was not for Alberto to decide. He was a young idealist and he had sincere hopes for the revolution. Some of us, less wise than our elders, also had hopes. We lived to regret it - and to try to do something about it.

Alberto certainly did. Some of his friends from the heroic Brigade of the Bay of Pigs, who shared with him an admirable effort, and the women who supported them, are here today to pay a last tribute to a comrade.

I remember a photograph of Albert bravely talking back to his captors, undaunted by his dangerous position. What the Communists could not accomplish a combination of illnesses has done, and Alberto decided to fight no more.

For me, we have come full circle: from New Year’s of 1959 at the Isle of Pines to New Year’s of 1988 when we say goodbye.

Alberto was a loving son, a good husband to his Paulette ( a devoted wife with a capital "D"), a good brother, father, and the best friend a man ever had - many men and women ever had. Of the emptiness he will leave, I will not talk, I cannot talk.

Alberto was not a saint - but he was close as close as we would want him. He had no divine qualities (though at times he thought he did), but his human qualities were exceptional. There was no malice in him, no bitterness, no sarcasm, no loaded comment, no envy…

Some of us here today, guided perhaps by premonition or who knows what forces, spent part of a day with Alberto last Monday, a magical day in many ways, before he left us the following dawn.

For those who may be saddened by his death at this time, let me tell you that his last words to my wife were "Avis, esto no es vida (living this way is not life)." So, let there be no sorrow, Alberto was ready to go. And he had the comfort of his family and his friends around him. Alberto did not have a peaceful life, but he had a peaceful end.

Alberto is now with his God - and Heaven will never be the same. In a way, that’s where he always belonged.

May he rest in peace.

Antonio Navarro
Palm Beach
December 31, 1987

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