The Passing of Cubaencuentro Editor Alejandro Armengol
The news of Alejandro Armengol’s death has been a very painful blow to Cubaencuentro, compounded by the fact that it was unexpected. The illness that ended his life was diagnosed just ten days ago, so no one could imagine it would act so swiftly.
HAVANA TIMES – Armengol was deeply connected to CUBAENCUENTRO, serving as our editorial director from 2010 until his passing. Over those thirteen years, he conducted significant work, expanding the daily publication’s list of contributors. He contributed for over ten years without receiving any form of financial compensation. In addition to his editorial duties, he frequently published his own articles, mostly addressing aspects related to the social and political reality of Cuba. It was a subject he knew well, and if a collection of his texts were ever compiled, the sharpness of his analysis would be highlighted.
He held his own opinions, which often did not align with those dominant in the Cuban exile community. This bothered some, who made him the target of their attacks. Although he never stopped being critical of the Cuban regime, he believed there should be no restrictions when it comes to discussing both the good and the bad, whether in Cuba or Miami. He was convinced that “many times, we are more accurate when we rid ourselves of those limitations and advocate for justice”.
Alejandro did not hesitate to write what he thought. Thus, in one piece, he expressed that “not all journalism aimed at showing the abuses caused by the Cuban government meets the minimum quality requirements. Some of what is written and said in this city (Miami) against Fidel Castro is repetitive, tiresome, and boring when analyzed in terms of the amount of new information it provides. This does not prevent these materials from captivating an eager audience, people who want to be told the same thing every day”.
Born in 1949, Armengol had studied electrical engineering and nuclear physics at the University of Havana, ultimately earning two degrees—psychologist and sociologist—that linked him to two professions he never practiced. Journalism was his calling, and he pursued it when he left the island and settled in the United States. Starting in 1993, he became a columnist for El Nuevo Herald, and for over fifteen years, he was also an editor for that newspaper. His articles were published in magazines and newspapers in the United States and Europe, and his work was recognized by the National Association of Hispanic Publications. He also taught and served as an adjunct professor at the University of Miami. As a writer, he edited a couple of books: the short story collection “La galería invisible” and the poetry book “Cuaderno interrumpido”.