The Cubans, Our Footprints Across America
Fernando “Fernan” Hernandez was born in Banes, Cuba, on October 23, 1952. He and his older brother Luis left the island in 1962 when they were 9 and 11 years old, respectively via Operation Pedro Pan. After staying with a cousin in Miami for about 9 months, they went to live with a maternal aunt and her family in New York City until they were reunited with their parents. The separation from their mother and father lasted nearly four years. The author is a graduate of Power Memorial Academy in Manhattan and St. Thomas University in Miami, Florida where he earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in Communication Arts and Management. He spent many years as a successful pharmaceutical salesman before he decided to pursue education. Fernando (Fernán) is Business Lead Instructor at Everest Institute, a nationally accredited career college. He has also taught at Carlos Albizu University’s Business Department in Miami. He and his wife Josie have two adult children and make their home in Miami. When not teaching or writing, Fernán and Josie can be found horseback riding, canoeing, skiing or traveling. He is the author of Spanish-language books Potaje (www.alexlib.com/potaje, Lo que aprendi de mi perro (www.alexlib.com/miperro) and The Cubans Our Legacy in the United States (www.amazon.com). His short story, Knutts’ Cases, about fictional psychiatrist Dr. R.U. Knutts, can be found in www.thewritedeal.org, His work also appears in the anthology Un Horizonte Literario: Poesias, Cuentos y Algo Mas. The author welcomes readers’ comments and opinions. He can be contacted in either English or Spanish at fernpa@hotmail.com.