Cuba recalls Havana historian five years after his death

HAVANA, Cuba, Aug 1 (ACN) The people of Havana recalled the beloved historian of the City of Havana, Eusebio Leal Spengler, in the Mother Teresa of Calcutta Garden of the Minor Basilica of the Convent of San Francisco de Asis, the resting place of his remains, five years after his death.

Perla Rosales Aguirreurreta, deputy director general of the Office of the Historian of the City of Havana (OHCH), told the press that Eusebio Leal has passed away physically, but his legacy is present in those who continue the work he began to safeguard culture and heritage elements.

The expert also noted that activities related to the restoration of buildings and the care of the communities that live there are planned in honor of the intellectual, which will extend until September 11, the date on which his birth is commemorated.

In an exclusive interview with the Cuban News Agency, Maidolis Iglesias Perez, Director of Science and Innovation at the OHCH, stated that those who were close to this illustrious son of the capital are privileged because they witnessed his exceptional character and his love for the city.

Iglesias Perez stated that the best tribute we can pay to this legacy is to take care of Havana, for which he dedicated himself to the end.

For his part, Sergio Gonzalez, who worked with Leal for 50 years, also described the writer as a special person, whose loss still grieves due to the relevance of his work.

Eusebio Leal Spengler (1942-2020), in addition to his career as a historian, worked as an essayist, dean of the Faculty of the San Geronimo University College in Havana, which prepares future heritage preservation professionals.

Every July 31st, tribute is paid to Leal, a man who breathed culture, tradition, and Cuban identity.