My great-uncle, Tio Fermin Cuza Batista, has gone on to the next world.

My great-uncle, "Tio" (uncle) Fermin Cuza Batista, passed on to his reward yesterday, Monday, March 24, 2008. He lived a most wonderful life.

Born in Oriente province, Cuba, 93 years ago, he grew up poor but surrounded by the love and antics of 7 siblings, including his eldest sister, my grandmother, o.b.m, Julia Victorina Cuza Batista de Fuentes.

His father, my great-grandfather, Julio Cuza Mestres, fought in the Cuban War of Independence (the "Spanish-American War") and his mother, my great-grandmother, Juana Maria Batista Paneque, who lived to almost 106, told me stories of how sad it was to see the 14- and 15-year-old boy-soldiers sent from Spain by the end of the war in 1898, struggling through the jungles and mountains of Cuba in their bright red formal uniforms. She said she would never forget that sorry sight.

Tio Fermin's grandfather, after whom he was named, Juan Fermin Cuza Marques, was a highly decorated Cuban war hero who was buried with full military honors. My great-aunt, Aniselia Cuza, has a photograph of great-great-grandfather's funeral caisson in one of her many family albums.

Tio Fermin was married to his dear and loving wife, Palma Lorenzo Zamora de Cuza, for 63 years. They were still in love, still holding hands, watching T.V. together like teenagers into the night. My entire 60 years of life, I never heard them raise their voices, even when they strongly disagreed.

Going to Tio Fermin and "Tia" (aunt) Palmas's house was like stepping into a sanctuary of liquid love, warmth and welcome. I would feel good for days after visiting them.

Tio Fermin will always be the quintessential example of what a husband and father should be. He has come to be my ideal man. All the men in my life will inevitably be measured against his beautiful, wholesome, and exalted pattern of manhood.

I have been supremely blessed to be his great-niece and to have had him in my life all these years.

He will forever be alive in the memories of our family which loves and adores him.

He is survived by his wife, Palma, son, Fermin, daughter Rosa Maria, four granchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, his 102-year-old sister, Aniselia Cuza of Los Angeles, California and 99-year-old brother Fidencio of Guantanamo, Oriente, Cuba and countless cousins, nieces and nephews.

May he rest in peace, rejoicing in his reunion with his dear departed parents, grandparents, sisters and brothers in the true world of the spirit.