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The University of Oriente, in Santiago de Cuba, mourned the passing of Dr. C. Pedro Antonio Rodríguez Fernández, consulting professor at the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Agronomy, whose remarkable academic and scientific career left a profound mark on higher education in Cuba.
In a note published this Friday, the institution remembered the educator as an exemplary professional, with a career dedicated to teaching, research, and training generations of agricultural engineers.
Graduated as an Agricultural Engineer in 1974 from the University of Oriente and earned a PhD in Agricultural Sciences in 1989 from the University of Plovdiv, Bulgaria, Rodríguez Fernández was a Tenured Professor in the Department of Agronomy and an active member of the scientific councils of the Faculty and the university.
He taught 43 undergraduate courses and 36 graduate courses, supervised 72 diploma projects, 17 master's theses, and three doctoral theses, in addition to leading 37 student research groups.
His work encompassed topics such as organic agriculture, saline soils, biofertilizers, and the environment, areas in which he made significant contributions.
The professor also participated in international scientific advisory projects in Colombia and Ecuador, collaborating with institutions such as the University of Cauca, the University of Los Llanos, SENA, and the Faculty of Natural Resources of ESPOCH.
"These lines are a heartfelt tribute to Dr. C. Pedro Antonio Rodríguez Fernández. Our condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, students, and loved ones," stated the university in its communiqué.
The institution also confirmed the passing of Luis Enrique Vicet Castellanos, a third-year Mechanical Engineering student in the daytime program, residing in Palma Soriano, who died from a heart attack related to underlying health issues.
“The university community deeply mourns his passing. We express our condolences to his parents, family, friends, classmates, professors, and loved ones,” stated the note published on Wednesday.
The two deaths, occurring just days apart, have caused distress among students and faculty at the University of Oriente, which mourns the loss of a beloved teacher and a young man who symbolized the institution's future.
In recent weeks, Cuba has experienced a wave of mourning that has affected both the academic and cultural spheres. In the eastern region, sorrow also reached Guantánamo, where two young teachers lost their lives unexpectedly, leaving a void in the local educational system.
The testimonies of colleagues and students reflected the human impact of these losses, which highlight the challenging conditions and the strain that teaching staff faces on the island.
A few days ago, the Cuban cultural scene also experienced the loss of filmmaker Manuel Pérez, an essential figure of the Cuban Institute of Art and Cinematographic Industry (ICAIC).
His work, characterized by a critical and humanistic approach, leaves a legacy that transcends generations and has defined a significant part of the nation's cinematic identity.
This is complemented by the news of the passing of the musician Hermes Ramírez Silva, the director of the Steel Band of El Cobre, a cultural icon who brought the rhythms of eastern Cuba to international stages.
His death was mourned by artists and neighbors who recognized his dedication to preserving popular music and nurturing new generations of performers.
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