Jose Manuel Ferrer

Jose Manuel Ferrer

Born 01-09-1903

Jose Manuel's grandfather immigrated to Cuba in the early 1800's from Spain.



Jose married Celia Gonzalez in 1932 and had three children, Haydee, Asnaldo and Adalberto.



Jose was a coffee farmer, inheriting his father's small coffee plantation. Jose and his children worked the plantation until Castro confiscated it in 1968.



Jose's passion was planting and harvesting his crops.



His peaceful living came to an abrupt end when the revolution started. The coffee plantation was nestled in the hills of Las Villa, the same location where Castro's army pursued the rebels fighting to stop Castro from gaining power for many years. Because of the plantations proximity to the fighting, Jose's house was searched daily. Not only was the house searched but everyone in it the house was harassed. For six months a small group of Castro's army stayed on the property to make sure Jose and the other farmers were not helping the rebels.



In 1965 Castro made the announcement that anyone who wanted to leave the country could do it. Jose felt that he needed to get his family out of the now communist Cuba and come to the United States. Once Jose and his children, now adults, put in their request to leave, the government came in and confiscated all of their possessions. This included all of their farm animals, crops and any equipment. The only animal left was a cow which was used for milk for my brothers, which required that Jose paid the government $7 a month to use the milk of the cow that was theirs to begin with.



Jose took another hit when his two sons were put into concentration camps until their time came to leave the country. That was not till 1969.



Jose and Celia had to leave first and travel to Mexico and then to Los Angeles where they had relatives.



Jose was reunited with his sons and grand children a few months later.



Jose and Celia lived in Los Angeles until 1984 when they moved to Orlando Florida with their grandson Jose A Ferrer.



Jose told his son that he would not move from Los Angeles unless he could have a farm again. Adalberto, his youngest son and my father fulfilled this wish and brought him to Orlando to a small farm in East Orange County where he could do what he loved the most which was to plant, cultivate and harvest.



Jose lost his wife Celia of more than 60 years in 1996



Jose worked on his vegetable garden till the age of 102 when his legs began to get weak.



Jose would still sit outside and admire the crops that his son Adalberto would continue to harvest.



Jose only got a second grade education in Cuba but that never stopped him from reading and learning as much as he could. He would always ask everyone to pronounce certain words in English or ask about certain words or phrases and meaning of said words/phrases. He indeed had an inquiring mind. He loved to watch the news and political shows. He was always in tune with what was going on around the world.



Jose and Celia lived with their youngest son in Cuba and here in the United States.



One of the most amazing things about Jose was that even up until his last days his mind was sharp and knew what was going on.



I have lost an incredible friend and teacher but most of all my abuelo.



Jose is survived by his children

Haydee, Asnaldo and Adalberto



In-laws

Jorge, Catalina and Argelia



Grandkids

Jose, Jorge D, Arnaldo, Jorge R, Alex and Cathy

Spouses of Grandkids

Gina, Diana, Sharon and Scott



Great grandkids

Emaly, Nicholas, Jennifer, Elizabeth, Stephen and Cristina



Jose passed away on October 17th 2009 at 2:45 pm at home with his family. Jose was 106 years old.



Papa we will miss your smiles, your lectures, your teachings, your history, your mind and your genuine way of being. We know you and mama will be watching over us. We love you