FELIX RAMOS – Born 1942

Felix was the youngest of three children.  His father was in the navy.  He was frequently away from home.  When Felix turned 17, he began working in a bakery to help support his family. His boss explained all that was happening with the overthrow of the military dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista and the changes to come by Fidel Castro.  Felix listened intently and did not like what he was hearing.

 

Just then, Felix paused from telling his story for a moment.  He looked closely at me and said, “You are too young to fully understand what this meant; if you owned a business, it now belonged to Fidel Castro.  If you wanted to leave Cuba, you could not take anything with you.  It all belonged to the government. They took inventory of everything; your stove, refrigerator, television; all belonged to Fidel Castro. The government sent people to watch your every move.  The government gave you a list of items you could purchase from the grocery store.  You waited in long lines to get your allotment and it was never enough.”

Just as quickly as Felix began to explain, his thoughts went back to where he was in his story.  Felix spent one year in the bakery.  He then began working for the government in a ship yard.  By this time, Felix felt like he had to escape.  Although he would be risking his life, he felt he had a plan that would be easy to execute.

 

1st attempt to escape.

The ship would be leaving for Canada.  Felix made a proposal to make all the bread fresh on the ship, so they would not have to go into town to purchase bread. And so it was.  The ship left the port headed for Canada.  The ship had to dock at another port in Cuba before continuing for Canada.  At this port, the authorities checked Felix’s credentials and noticed his father’s records came up.  They had the same name.   This made authorities very suspicious.  Felix tried to explain but they would not hear of it. His father was twice his age, and had served under Fulgencio Batista’s government, which was overthrown by Fidel Castro. Felix was asked to leave the ship immediately.

 

2nd attempt to escape.

Felix was more determined than ever to leave Cuba.  He had a friend, Antonio Ocono, who worked on another ship.  He was a telegraph operator on a ship leaving for Spain.  They lived in the same neighborhood and Felix decided to tell his friend what he wanted to do.  Antonio was not sure if he wanted to risk escaping, but agreed to help his friend. Antonio helped Felix get a fake ID.  The telegraph room would also serve as Antonio’s sleeping quarters.  Antonio built a panel in the closet that divided the closet into two sections.  If you pushed the clothes back, it would look like a wall.  Behind the wall there was a bench and a space tall enough so that Felix could stand. The only other thing in that space was a bucket for elimination.

Felix did not tell anyone else.  Not even his family knew he was leaving since he did not want to put anyone else’s life in danger.  When the night came to board the ship, Felix and Antonio arrived at the dock at 1 AM.  Security at the dock knew Felix and asked him what he was doing there.  Felix said remember I was going to school to work in the engine room and I graduated, so I will be on the ship.  Security let him through.  Felix hid in the panel.  If he was found, he would be killed.

They began the trip across the Atlantic.  As luck would have it, the ship broke down in the middle of the ocean!  For 22 days, Felix was in that closet.  His ankles were the size of his thighs.  Sometimes others bunked in the cabin, and Felix had to remain perfectly quiet.  Antonio brought him food and emptied his bucket.  When they arrived in Spain, his friend went to the local church and had a priest board the ship.  He took his cloak and covered Felix and they casually walked off the ship joking and laughing like old lost buddies.

For three weeks the ship was docked in Spain because they had to send for a telegraph operator to replace the one they had gone missing!

A week after Felix was in town, he landed a job in a local restaurant.  Men from the ship came in one night and to their surprise, Felix, who was last seen in Cuba was there working.  “What are you doing here?”  “How did you get here?” they all asked.

With his first paycheck, Felix bought his dad a pair of clippers and had a marine friend he meant in Spain take it to his father when the ship finally returned to Cuba.  Two months after Felix escaped; his parents finally knew he was safe.

Felix went on to travel the world.  In 1965 he met his wife, Magda in Puerto Rico.   Magda had also fled Cuba.  They had 3 children while residing in Puerto Rico.  There Felix owned a bakery.

In 1971, when their daughter was 5 years old, s­­­­­­he became sick.  Felix and Magda decided to come to the United States. Felix began working for Avis Rental Cars and remained with Avis for 31 years.

The couple has been married 47 years.   In addition to their 3 children, who are each married, they have 3 grandchildren.

Magda and Felix enjoy retirement traveling the world and taking tours that require a tremendous amount of walking.  They credit the fitness classes they attend at the YMCA on Waters Ave in Tampa 4-days a week for being in such great shape.  I have the honor of serving them on Tuesdays and Fridays in my Silversneakers Classes.