Jorge Menocal

1931 - 2025

Polo died recently. In Miami, at Baptist main Hospital after a stroke. He was surrounded by his daughter Maria Matilde Shivers , his granddaughter Natalia Menocal and myself.

Born to a family of lawyers and politicians in Havana, Cuba. His early life was flooded with the excitement and adventure of our beautiful island, which he explored assiduously in the company of his cousin and best friend Kiko Villalon and of course Jose Ramon Hernandez.

Rebelling against the family tradition of Law , he became an Agronomics Engineer at Universidad de La Habana. He later became a full time rice farmer in a little town called El Jibaro close by Sancti Espiritus.

He then married our mother , Piki ( Maria Matilde Sorzano y Sanchez) and started the family in the farm ,with frequent stays in Havana at my grandparent's home.

Then the disaster of the Marxist Revolution developed. Hand in hand with the betrayal of Fidel Castro to those who initially supported him , came our forced Exodus from our Country and the 60 plus years we have spent in Exile in the United States, with multi year stays in Colombia and Mexico.

Polo was a saint and a class act.

He was also the main reason our Mom and our family remained for so long.

I could ramble on about his many accomplishments in the civilian and intelligence world , yet I want to leave the readers with the image of how loving and embracing he was.

The last 18 months of his life , after our mom's passing, he was left to live in that big house he built for Piki. Even though we had caretakers looking after him 24/7 , it was my daughter Natalia's devotion and dedication to his care who kept him out of his most dreaded location ... the cold and dark halls of yet another anonymous Florida Nursing Home.

Natalia ministered to his needs and made sure he was adequately and responsibly taken care of. A fierce advocate for his well being , he was never in need of any material items . Let alone the loving, teasing and affection they both had for each other. They shared many meals and listened to many hours of Cuban Music. Natalia learned about Beny More and Polo learned about Bad Bunny's latest album , DTMF.

In closing , do not send donations or flowers , etc. Instead perform an act yourselves that he would be proud of himself: Forgive a loved family member their transgressions without asking anything in return. That is what made him so special and enduring.

He will be buried on Saturday November 15th at 10 am at Caballero Woodlawn Cemetery on 117th street SW in Miami. We are planning a musical interlude for the reception to honor his deep love for Mariachi Ranchera Music. Please plan to attend if you are in the area.

Before I sing off , a brief Genealogy of this gentle and magnificent human being:

Wife : Our mother , Maria Matilde ( Piki) Sorzano de Menocal

Parents : Juan Manuel ( Pimpo) Menocal y Barreras, Feliciana ( Chana) Villalon .

Siblings : Juan Manuel , Enrique, Fifa ( Josefina) , Fichu ( Feliciana), Alberto

Children : Jorge ( m. Ani Sanchez) , Julio ( m. Michelle Restani), Maria Matilde

Grandchildren: Natalia , Andres, Alexandra , Anna Christina, Jorge Fernando.

Great Grandchildren: Sofia , Lucia , Hugo and Ola.

In- Laws : Jose Sorzano ( m Shannon ), Gloria Monge ( m Washington) , Georgina (m. Marty Pitkin)

PS . I did not use AI to write this Obituary , true emotions need not be dampened.

Julio J Menocal MD

Jorge ( Polo) Menocal