Jose "Johnny" Sarduy

1936 - 2021

Jose "Johnny" Sarduy
May 1, 1936 - November 17, 2021
Miami, Florida - On Wednesday November 17, 2021, Jose "Johnny" Sarduy Andrade, loving husband and father of four, passed away at the age of 85. Johnny was born on May 1, 1936 in Santa Clara, Cuba. He lived his childhood and adolescent as a country boy in the province of Las Villas and in the town of Ranchuelo.
From an early age, he worked hard to support his family. Then, to obtain additional earnings, he started a career in boxing. After winning the Cuban National Championship for his division in 1955, he went to Havana to establish himself as a professional boxer under the guidance of his trainer Johnny Cruz and manager Benito Fernandez. He was the Cuban Rookie of the Year in 1956 and named the prospect of the month by The Ring magazine for November 1957.
A boxing career that showed a promising future was cut short by Fidel Castro's seizure of power in 1959. Afterward fighting his last two professional fights in Miami, Johnny showed his patriotism for his homeland and joined the 2506 Brigade with the hopes of liberating Cuba from the tyrannical communist regime and restoring democracy. Later escaping the defeat of the Bay of Pigs, Johnny moved to New Jersey and went back to working to support his family.
Subsequently getting a call from his father to move back to Miami, Johnny started a career in the drywall business, eventually becoming the owner of one of the biggest firms in Miami from the mid-1980's to the early-2000's.
Throughout his life whether in the ring of boxing or business, he used the resources from his endeavors to support his passions of his family, fellow boxers and Cuba. He provided for the private education of his four children as well as paid for their college education. He was active in supporting fellow Cuban boxers in the Exile. He was the supporter of several groups seeking liberation of Cuba and attended many demonstrations seeking the restoration of liberty and democracy in Cuba. Lastly, he dedicated his life to his beloved wife Elcira who he met in New Jersey and fell in love at first sight.
Johnny was preceded in death by his father, Serafin, his mother, Anna Maria, and daughter, Zenaida. He is survived by his wife Elcira, his three children Jose, John and Richard, his sister Solveida, and several grandchildren, great grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews. He will be missed by his family and friends. A funeral with Catholic burial has been held.