Francisco Gonzalez Aruca – Rest in Peace. The Latin America Working Group’s Cuba team extends sincere sympathy to family, friends, and colleagues of Francisco Aruca on his passing on March 6, 2013. Mr. Aruca died unexpectedly of a heart attack in his sleep in Denver, Colorado, where he lived. He was 72 years old. You may read the post sent out today by Progreso Weekly announcing Mr. Aruca’s passing, here...

Aruca (as his friends call him) will be remembered and cherished for his forward-looking and courageous stance on U.S. policy toward  Cuba, boldly speaking out on his Miami-based radio program, before almost anyone else from his community, about  Cuba-related issues “from a perspective that had never been heard publicly in Miami.” He was the founder of  both Marazul Charters  and Progreso Weekly. He advocated for a new policy toward Cuba that would support his Cuban-American community’s desire for freedom to travel to Cuba to reconcile and re-unite with family living on the island. He also called for reinstatement of the fundamental right to travel to Cuba for all U.S. citizens. He was a valued partner in LAWG’s Cuba policy work.

Aruca’s son Daniel reminds us of Aruca’s words: “If I die tomorrow, I know I have lived a very full life and that I lasted much longer than anyone ever expected.”  May he rest in peace. He will be missed terribly.