10 Questions for 1 Alumnus
(This article originally appeared in the Belen Jesuit Magazine, winter 2019 edition.)
Guillermo R. Garcia-Tuñon is the patriarch of four generations of Jesuit-educated men including Belen's own president. His wisdom and commitment are a true testament to the hardships he endured as a Cuban exile, and the sacrifices he made for his family over the years to secure
their education and religious freedom. A true survivor from a different era, gives an interesting insight as to what it truly means to be Jesuit educated.
their education and religious freedom. A true survivor from a different era, gives an interesting insight as to what it truly means to be Jesuit educated.
Q. What is your fondest memory of Belen?
"The school was such a beautiful place. The building was extraordinary. I remember going to Mass in the beautiful chapel. That is the same chapel that I got married in. It was important to go back to Belen for the important moments of my life. My children did their first communion there, we would meet there for reunions. I also remember the friendships I made. My brother was also a student at Belen, he graduated in 1946. We had very good friends there."
"The school was such a beautiful place. The building was extraordinary. I remember going to Mass in the beautiful chapel. That is the same chapel that I got married in. It was important to go back to Belen for the important moments of my life. My children did their first communion there, we would meet there for reunions. I also remember the friendships I made. My brother was also a student at Belen, he graduated in 1946. We had very good friends there."
Q. Why was a Jesuit education so important to your family?
"A Jesuit education was always a big part of my family. My father went to Belen, he graduated in 1896. He always wanted his sons to attend a Jesuit school. When I was younger, I was sent to live for several years in Spain with my aunt and uncle. I was enrolled in the Jesuit school of Valladolid (Colegio San Jose) because they wanted me to get a Jesuit education. My family understood that the Jesuits had the strongest and best schools. That they were educators of men. That they had a very strong impact on society throughout their history. They also were very fond of St. Ignatius of Loyola and his spirituality."
Q. Did you play any sports or belong to any clubs at Belen?
"I was on the soccer team and also the track team. When I graduated from Belen and enrolled at the University of Havana, I was on the track team there as well. I also belonged to the Marian Sodality and participated in many of the different events and outings."
"I was on the soccer team and also the track team. When I graduated from Belen and enrolled at the University of Havana, I was on the track team there as well. I also belonged to the Marian Sodality and participated in many of the different events and outings."
Q. What one funny moment do you still remember that makes you laugh?
"I played on the soccer team at school. To intimidate the opposing team, I use to sing when I played. I always sang, “Que lindos ojos tienes, debajo de esas dos cejas, debajo de esas dos cejas.” It would frustrate the other team. But then Jesuit Father Barbeito, who was one of our coaches, heard me and he pulled me off the field. He asked me why I would sing a love song to the other team. He was puzzled. I was embarrassed but laugh now every time I think of it."
Q. Who made a significant impact in your life at school?
"I remember most the young Jesuit seminarians who worked at the school. They would also come out and talk with us, eat with us, and especially play soccer with us. They wore these long white cassocks that they would lift and tuck under their belts so they could play soccer. They didn’t want to trip in them or get them very dirty. There were a lot of very good Jesuits who were always with us."
Q. How did it feel to pull your sons out of Belen and leave Cuba?
"It was the most difficult decision of my life. It was very difficult to think that we were leaving absolutely everything behind. We had just built a new house that we had moved into and shortly afterwards, we left. We didn’t take pictures, we didn’t take any possessions, just one suitcase. We left telling the government we were only visiting the United States for a medical appointment. My sons were very happy at Belen, the house we built was nearby. We had to pull them out and I knew we were never going back. My sons had to leave behind all their classmates and friends. It was also difficult because we didn’t know what to expect or what we were going to do. God has His plans and we have been blessed."
"It was the most difficult decision of my life. It was very difficult to think that we were leaving absolutely everything behind. We had just built a new house that we had moved into and shortly afterwards, we left. We didn’t take pictures, we didn’t take any possessions, just one suitcase. We left telling the government we were only visiting the United States for a medical appointment. My sons were very happy at Belen, the house we built was nearby. We had to pull them out and I knew we were never going back. My sons had to leave behind all their classmates and friends. It was also difficult because we didn’t know what to expect or what we were going to do. God has His plans and we have been blessed."
Q. What important lessons did you learn at school and pass onto your kids?
"Be a person of faith. Faith is very important. Our devotion to Mary, going to mass, these are important things that help us in our life. You can overcome all kinds of adversity if you have faith. Work hard. You are not entitled to anything. What you have, you have because you earned it. You have to work hard and not expect anyone to hand it to you. The Jesuits always held us accountable and we were expected to work hard."
Q. How does it feel to have so many grandchildren and great grandchildren follow in your footsteps as Belen students?
"It is a blessing. I have eight grandsons and one great-grandson who graduated from Belen and there are three great-grandchildren there now. We have five generations invested in that school. I want them to also receive a Jesuit education and to be men of faith. I am not supposed to say that Father Willie is my “favorite,” but it is a blessing for our family to have a grandson who is a priest, and it is a blessing to have a grandson who is a Jesuit. Now that he is the President of my alma mater, the blessings are even greater. He will do a great job at Belen because he understands how important Belen and Jesuit education is. He lived it. Both his grandmother and I are very proud of him."
"It is a blessing. I have eight grandsons and one great-grandson who graduated from Belen and there are three great-grandchildren there now. We have five generations invested in that school. I want them to also receive a Jesuit education and to be men of faith. I am not supposed to say that Father Willie is my “favorite,” but it is a blessing for our family to have a grandson who is a priest, and it is a blessing to have a grandson who is a Jesuit. Now that he is the President of my alma mater, the blessings are even greater. He will do a great job at Belen because he understands how important Belen and Jesuit education is. He lived it. Both his grandmother and I are very proud of him."
Q. What do you feel are the most important things in life?
"God and family. If you have those two things, you have the most important things in life. I left everything behind in Cuba. The only things I brought with me from Cuba were my faith and my family. With that I knew I could rebuild and do anything."
Q. What would you like people to remember about you?
"I would like people to remember my family. My wife and I worked very hard to make sure that we raised nine good children and they, in turn, would raise our grandchildren and then come our great grandchildren. The most important thing is my marriage. I was married for 68 years to my wife and we had a beautiful marriage. Everything we went through, we went through together."
Click here to read the PDF version of the winter edition of the magazine.
BELEN JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: webmaster@belenjesuit.org
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: webmaster@belenjesuit.org
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School was founded in 1854 in Havana, Cuba by Queen Isabel II of Spain. The task of educating students was assigned to the priests and brothers of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), whose teaching tradition is synonymous with academic excellence and spiritual discipline. In 1961, the new political regime of Cuba confiscated the School property and expelled the Jesuit faculty. The School was re-established in Miami the same year, and over the next decade, continued to grow. Today, Belen Jesuit sits on a 30-acre site in western Dade County, only minutes away from downtown Miami.