Silvia Morell Alderman

The Front Row Silvia Morell Alderman

Experience the drama that was twentieth century Cuba and the aftermath of the Cuban diaspora of the 1960s from the front row seat of Rosa Maria (Rosy) Teresa de la Concepción de Varona de Morell Romero (1914-2011). Rosy grew up in the Havana society of the 1920s; worked in the underground to topple Cuban dictator Gerardo Machado; married José Morell Romero, a student revolutionary, who later became cabinet minister, supreme court justice and provisional president of Cuba in exile; escaped from repression in Cuba in the 1930s; was again exiled to Florida in 1960, leaving behind a grown daughter, grandchildren and extensive real estate holdings; cooperated with her husband in efforts to liberate Cuba from Communism, including serving as the First Lady of Cuba in exile; endured her son's imprisonment after the unsuccessful Bay of Pigs invasion; raised three children and experienced the loss of two (one at birth); left her mark in Western Nebraska, where she made many friends and became president of a small town woman's club that was featured in Life Magazine; suffered the loss of her husband of 68 years; painted over 150 works in oil; charmed, loved and was loved. She inspired many with her unceasing faith in her Maker and lived by the precept that things should be done well or not at all. Come with the author on a journey through Rosy's transformation from a Havana socialite, to an impoverished exile and ultimately to a naturalized citizen living the American dream.