In Memorium
“If you don’t recount your family history, it will be lost. Honor your own stories and tell them too. The tales may not seem very important, but they are what binds families and makes each of us who we are. “ -Madeleine Engle
May their memory continue to inspire us, and may their families take comfort in knowing how deeply their loved ones contributed to preserving and sharing our shared history.
Dr. Jose Ignacio Vildosola Martinez
(1951-2025)
CGC Member and Vice President
José Ignacio Vildosola was born on January 23, 1951, in Havana, Cuba, to José Ignacio Vildosola y Ponce de León and Dora Catalina Martínez Oliveras. A gifted scholar, he graduated from the University of Havana’s School of Medicine in 1976. Shortly thereafter, he was selected to pursue a PhD in Occupational Medicine in East Berlin—an extraordinary opportunity that reflected both his talent and dedication.In 1980, with only a year and a half remaining to complete his doctorate, politics abruptly altered the course of his life. José Ignacio was forced to return to Cuba, where he was imprisoned as a political prisoner. Despite these hardships, his spirit, intellect, and determination endured. He eventually left Cuba and arrived in the United States on September 11, 1989, beginning a new chapter marked by hope and renewal.
Only weeks later, in October 1989, he met the love of his life, María Mercedes De los Reyes. Their connection was immediate and enduring, and they were married on August 18, 1990, building a life grounded in love, partnership, and shared purpose. He was able to revalidate his degree in 1992 and practiced for 20 years in the United States.
José Ignacio was a devoted family historian and passionate genealogist, renowned for sharing his extensive knowledge freely and joyfully with all who sought it. A faithful and deeply respected member of the Cuban Genealogy Club of Miami, Florida, Inc., he joined the organization in 2007 and later served with distinction as a Director and Vice-President from 2012 until his passing. He was also a proud member of the Sons of the American Revolution. His commitment to preserving history extended beyond research: he also inherited the titles of Marqués de Aguas Claras and Conde de Casa Ponce de León y Maroto from his paternal uncle. With great care and perseverance, he worked tirelessly to complete the legal documentation necessary to secure these titles for his family and future generations.
José Ignacio is survived by his beloved wife, Mercy; son, Kevin Vildosola De los Reyes; son, Derek Vildosola De los Reyes and daughter-in-law, Denise Alayón; and his cherished granddaughter, Aurora Enna Vildosola Alayón. His legacy lives on in his family, his scholarship, his many friends, and the many lives he touched with generosity, wisdom, and warmth.
Julio Del Campo Rodriguez
(1936-2004)
CGC Member
Julio was born in the city of Santa Clara, Las Villas, Cuba, on November 28, 1936. He was baptized in the baptismal font of the Church of El Carmen where only the members of the 13 founding families of the town of Santa Clara were baptized.
In Las Villas, his family owned several farms producing coffee, lumber, and sugarcane, and during his father’s lifetime, they also owned a hardware store in the city of Santa Clara. He left Cuba when communisn arrived on the island.
He arrived in the United States in 1962 and on June 22, 1963 he married Elsa Hurtado Gómez. Their two daughters were born there. In 1995 his eldest daughter began encouraging him to write down his family stories so they would not be lost to future generations.
Julio passed away in Miami, Florida, on May 21, 2004.
Eugenia Garcia Guzman y Guzman
(1927-2007)
CGC Member
Eugenia was born in Havana on August 12, 1927. In 1952 she married Luis Patrón Cervera, who was born in Mérida, Yucatán. As a newlywed, she lived in Philadelphia and returned to Havana to give birth to her only son, Francisco Javier. Separated from her husband when Javier was still a child, she went into exile at the end of 1960 and lived for several years in Miami. She also lived in New Jersey and Washington State. From her son Javier she had one granddaughter. She formed a special alliance with other CGC members, Antonieta Echenique Bernardino, Dr. José Ignacio Vildósola, and Mr. Fernando González, while researching their shared Osma ancestors.
Eugenia passed away in Miami on May 23, 2007, three months before her 80th birthday.
This PDF, adapted from the inaugural issue of our journal Raíces de la Perla (Fall 2004 issue), features Julio’s biography and a listing of the surnames he was researching.
Julio de Jesús del Campo Rodríguez (Bio and Surname Research)
This PDF, adapted from our Raíces de la Perla journal (Summer/Fall 2007 issue), features Eugenia’s obituary and a summary of her ancestry.
Peter E. Carr y Luaces
(1950-2008)
Author, Genealogist, CGC Honorary Member
Peter was a noted author of several books on Cuban genealogy, such as
Guide to Cuban Genealogical Research; Censos, Padrones y Matrículas de la Población de Cuba, Siglos 16, 17 y 18; Cuban Census Records of the 16th, 17th, and 18th Centuries, Revised Edition; Genealogical Resources of Hispanic Central and South America; and San Francisco Passenger Departure Lists: Volumes I - V (Covering the dates 30 Sept 1850 to 31 December 1852.) He also authored and edited the Caribbean Historical & Genealogical Journal.
Carmen Carolyn Roque Barreiro, Esq.
(1945-2014)
Founding Member of the CGC Immigration and Naturalization Lawyer
Carmen Carolyn Roque was born on December 6, 1945, in Havana, Cuba, the daughter of Romelio Roque and Carmen Barreiro.
She arrived in the United States in February 1962 at the age of sixteen and became a naturalized U.S. citizen on August 4, 1970, in Miami, Florida.
A member of the Florida Bar Association, Carmen practiced law with dedication and professionalism.
As a founding member of the Cuban Genealogy Club of Miami (CGC), she generously contributed her legal expertise to the establishment of the club’s by-laws and non-profit status. A passionate genealogist, she was always eager to assist others in their research.
Carmen passed away on February 14, 2014, in Miami, Florida.
This PDF, adapted from our Raíces de la Perla journal (Winter/Spring 2008 issue), features Peter’s body of genealogical work and his ancestry.
The Cuban Genealogy Club of Miami is proud to present the genealogical research compiled by Carmen as one of our featured collections.
Enrique Hurtado de Mendoza
(1924-2016)
Genealogist and CGC Honorary Member
Enrique was born in Havana, Cuba on May 24, 1924. Although he graduated with a law degree from the University of Havana, genealogy was always a lifetime passion for him. He left Cuba in 1960 and for 20 years worked for the Organization of American States, serving as a liaison officer between the OAS’s Regional Office in Geneva, Switzerland, and other international organizations with headquarters located throughout Europe.
Over four decades Enrique collected thousands of books, handwritten and typed documents and photos relating to Cuba and Cuban genealogy. He passed away on 10 Feb 2016 in Miami, Florida.
His vast genealogical collection is now housed at Florida International University’s Green Library and information on accessing it can be found on our Collections Page.
George R. Ryskamp
(1950-2022)
Author, Genealogist, CGC Honorary Member
George was born on 6 May 1950 in Detroit, Michigan, to Rix and Clarice Ryskamp. He married Peggy Marie Hill on 25 June 1975 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He passed away on 1 July 2022. George is survived by his wife; four children; nineteen grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and three siblings. George was best known for being a leading genealogist for Spanish and Hispanic genealogy. In 1984, he finished and self-published his promised book, Tracing Your Hispanic Heritage, at the time the definitive tome about genealogy in Spain. Most recently he wrote Mastering Spanish Handwriting and Documents 1520–1820.
Obituary
George R. Ryskamp’s Published Works on FamilySearch
Jose Antonio Madrigal
(1945-2022)
CGC Member
Jose Antonio “Tony” Madrigal was born on July 18, 1945, in Ciego de Avila, Cuba, the son of Antonio Diego and Maria Isabel Madrigal. He passed away on December 28, 2022, in Miami Beach, Florida.
In 1968, Tony Angela Julia (1946–2021), in Howell, Michigan. Together they shared nearly six decades of companionship, laughter, and devotion.
Tony earned his undergraduate degree in Spanish from Michigan State University, where he also completed a Master’s degree in Spanish. In 1973 he received his Doctorate in Spanish from the University of Kentucky.
He is survived by his brother; his three children; seven grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.
Antolin Garcia Carbonell
(1952-2024)
CGC Member
Antolin was born on 9 Mar 1952 in Havana, Cuba to Miguel Angel and Elena Luisa Carbonell Garcia. He passed away on 10 Jul 2024 in Miami, Florida.
Obituary
Antolin generously shared his genealogical research with others. One notable example is his Census of Slave Owners (December 1857), available on our website.