Prominent Santiago Scholar of José Martí's Work Passes Away

José Luis de la Tejera Galí, a prominent professor at the University of Oriente and Honorary President of the José Martí Cultural Society in Santiago de Cuba, has passed away recently, as announced on CMKW Radio Mambí's Facebook page this past Sunday.

The announcement of his passing was signed by Lioannis Meriño Manual, the Provincial President of the Martiano Youth Movement in Santiago de Cuba, representing both the organization and the José Martí Cultural Society. "With deep sorrow, the presidency of the Martiano Youth Movement in Santiago de Cuba and the José Martí Cultural Society announce the passing of José Luis de la Tejera, a distinguished scholar of José Martí's works and Honorary President of the José Martí Cultural Society in Santiago de Cuba," the statement read.

Dedication to Martí's Legacy

De la Tejera devoted many years to researching and promoting Martí's philosophy. According to the statement, "from his childhood and adolescence, he admired the Apostle in history classes, but it was during his university years studying Literature that he truly immersed himself in Martí's vast literary works."

As an educator, he was actively involved in the Martiano Youth Seminar in Havana and played a key role in the Martiano Youth Movement in the eastern province. In 1997, when Armando Hart Dávalos initiated the creation of the Santiago branch of the José Martí Cultural Society, "everyone saw José Luis as the right person to lead it."

Academic Contributions and Community Impact

Over 15 years, he became "the most enthusiastic member, bringing many together, organizing events, and promoting Martí's work in the press," leading the branch to national prominence, according to the statement.

His academic contributions include the book "José Martí y los retos contemporáneos," co-authored with Hart Dávalos and philosopher Miguel Limia David, and published by Ediciones Santiago in 2007. He also published articles in journals like Honda, Casa de las Américas, Santiago—published by the University of Oriente—and the Revista Ciencia y Sociedad from the Dominican Republic.

For De la Tejera, the note expands, Martí was "above all, an exceptional communicator, capable of reaching everyone with a purpose: freedom, humanity, and Latin American peace." He believed that "Martí's thoughts become more relevant every day, especially in times demanding the unity of Latin American peoples."

Legacy and Mourning

The news of his death sparked a wave of condolences from former students, colleagues, and cultural figures in Santiago. Many took to social media to remember him as a "charismatic and excellent professor" who taught at the Frank País García Higher Pedagogical Institute and the University of Oriente. One former student expressed having "the privilege of having him as a professor" and described him as "an excellence." Another individual who knew him at the ISP Frank País García noted that "many teachers owe him their unconditional help, not just in studying the Apostle's works." A university companion remembered him as "a good man, a true Santiago native, and a Martí scholar."

Condolences were extended to his widow, fellow professor Martha Veneranda Fuentes Lavaut, as well as family, friends, and colleagues. His passing leaves a void in Martí studies in Cuba and the cultural life of Santiago de Cuba, the country's second-largest city and historical seat of institutions tied to Cuba's patriotic legacy.

His death also occurs amid a profound crisis in Cuba's educational system, with a shortfall of thousands of teachers and significant challenges in delivering education, due to the general deterioration of living conditions in the country.