Jose I. Guerra

JOSE I GUERRA NOVEMBER 16, 1949-October 26, 2024
Jose was born in Havana, Cuba to Graciela Guerra Sobrino and Jose Guerra. Jose and his younger sister, Grace Guerra Dickler (Phillip), lived a happy, comfortable life with their loving parents and large extended family in Cuba until fate intervened. At age 11, with only his then 7-year-old sister, Jose arrived in the United States as part of a program called Operation Peter Pan, leaving his parents and family behind in Cuba. Jose was one of the fourteen thousand Cuban children who fled Cuba after rumors circulated that the Cuban government was planning to forcibly relocate Cuban children to Russia for communist indoctrination and reeducation. Jose and Grace moved into orphanages not knowing when, or if, they would be reunited with their parents. Ultimately, about 18 months later, their parents were able to escape Cuba and come to the United States and together they settled in Chicago.
Although Jose and the entire family had dealt with this extremely difficult situation, and had left Cuba without a penny, Jose had the good fortune of having been born to extremely industrious, intelligent parents who valued education above all else. Jose's parents worked tirelessly to ensure that their children benefited from the best education available. Jose attended St. Ignatius High School in Chicago and then traveled abroad to the picturesque American College of Switzerland in Leysin, where he obtained a degree in Business Administration and met classmates from all over the world. No doubt his time there had much to do both with his life-long flair in wardrobe choices and his insatiable desire for travel and learning about and experiencing other cultures. He knew more about art, music (from classical to Hootie and the Blowfish), designers, and architecture than most anyone else. He loved collecting and enjoying art.
Jose also loved hosting dinner parties where frequently dinner did not commence until after 10 p.m. No small part of that timing was due to his love of presenting photo worthy masterpiece dishes that required hours of preparation, including his well-loved Paella, as well as dishes inspired by Julia Child. Jose also loved reading, learning, and the opera, he was truly a Renaissance man.
Jose lived and worked for many years in London, including working as a consultant for several major London based banks. Upon returning to the States, he changed professions, serving as an interpreter for the Circuit Court of Cook County, ultimately retiring as a Supervisor in December 2022. When he found that retirement did not offer sufficient stimulation, Jose took a position interpreting remotely for the Minnesota court system.
Although he interpreted Spanish cases only, he was also fluent in French and Italian and had a working knowledge of German.
Jose deeply loved his nephew Michael (Mindy) and his niece Jamie (Matt). He thought of them as his own.
His passing was sudden and shocking to those who loved him. He leaves behind a heartbroken family. May his memory be a blessing.
In view of Jose's affinity for the arts, if you wish to make a donation in his memory, we suggest the Lyric Opera of Chicago, which he loved.
Funeral service will be held Friday, November 1, 2024 at 11 am at All Saints Cemetery Mausoleum (East Chapel), 700 N. River Road, Des Plaines, IL.