Gilberto López Brunet, awarded the Jesús Montané Oropesa Journalism Prize for his Lifelong Work and an emblematic voice of sports in the Isle of Youth, passed away on Saturday at the Héroes del Baire General Teaching Hospital after several days in the hospital due to a hip fracture. He was 79 years old and would have turned 80 on the upcoming August 14.
The news was confirmed by the station Radio Caribe through its social media, where their colleagues paid tribute with words of deep affection: "Rest in peace Gilberto, we will always remember you with your famous phrase 'Pacatán against the wall'."
López dedicated his entire professional career to Radio Caribe, the station from the Isle of Youth, where for decades he was the voice of baseball at the Cristóbal Labra stadium and in other sports facilities across the country. His unique style and charisma made him a beloved figure for generations of listeners from the special territory.
Beyond the baseball microphone, his career had an uncommon international dimension: he was part of the Cuban boxing delegation as a Russian translator and developed a personal friendship with Teófilo Stevenson, the three-time Olympic champion in the heavyweight category in Munich 1972, Montreal 1976, and Moscow 1980, considered one of the greatest amateur boxers in history. On several occasions, he was at La Finca, the training center for Cuban fighters, as reported by Radio Caribe.
His projection also reached the studios of Radio Rebelde, where he shared stages with well-known sports commentators from Cuban radio and television, establishing a name that transcended the boundaries of the Isle of Youth, the source indicated.
One of the station's posts in tribute to the veteran journalist summed up the collective sentiment: "He departs, but leaves a mark. This is not a night when the stars shine, because the light chose to concentrate on one soul, that of Gilberto López, who always loved his profession. A good husband, father, and work colleague, he has ventured into eternity. [...] The people of Radio Caribe always respected you for your unconditional love of the homeland, for your mastery of so many topics, because you were not just a sports commentator; you were a truly good Cuban."
The reaction on social media was immediate and overwhelming. Dozens of people expressed their condolences on Radio Caribe's posts. One user remembered him as "the voice of baseball on the Island" and mentioned having spoken with him days before his death, when he was in the observation room, unaware of the seriousness of his condition: "PACATAN against the WALL, it will be heard for years." Another user referred to him as "the father of sports commentary on the Island."
López leaves behind his wife Iris, a son, and his stepson Juan, according to reports from the media.
His passing adds to a painful chain of losses in Cuban sports journalism. In recent years, figures such as Abelardo Oviedo Duquesne (El Brother), who passed away last May; Iván López, National Sports Journalism Award for Lifetime Achievement, in December 2025; Omar Muñoz Álvarez, in May 2024; and Roberto Pacheco Martínez, from Radio Rebelde, who passed away in May 2023 at the age of 82, among others.
Gilberto López's funeral is scheduled for this Sunday at 10:30 AM. His colleagues at Radio Caribe concluded their tribute with a phrase that captures the stature of the man: "Gil flies high and without fear; we will be praying that God welcomes you with the respect due to a great one, because that’s what you were, friend and brother."
Please extend heartfelt condolences to their family members, colleagues, and friends.
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