José Antonio Martínez Querol, fondly known as "José Chivita," passed away in recent days, and his death moved the community of Mayarí in the province of Holguín, where he left an indelible mark on generations of students.
The news was announced this Friday by Emilio Rodríguez Pupo in a that sparked a wave of condolences and memories from former students and neighbors.
Rodríguez Pupo described the teacher as someone who "insisted on teaching and educating with grace and enthusiasm" and who "always seemed to carry a blackboard in their hands and bear all the spirit of the classroom."
Martínez Querol graduated as a primary school teacher in 1967 and, upon discovering that his calling was deeply connected to numbers and letters, continued his education until obtaining the title of secondary school teacher in 1969, the publication noted.
For decades, his figure was inseparable from the daily landscape of Mayarí. As Rodríguez Pupo recalled, "every day José Antonio Martínez walked from Loma Rebelde, formerly known as Loma de Viviana, to the neighborhoods of the plains in the very heart of the valley."
Although in his later years he lived under care in the nursing home of Cueto, a municipality near Mayarí, his dedication to teaching did not wane. "It is true that he hadn't been in the classrooms for a long time, but in several homes in Mayarí he had the perfect space to share his knowledge [...] particularly in mathematical exercises, which some say, no one explained like he did," wrote Rodríguez Pupo.
The comments from former students in the post painted a picture of an exceptional and versatile educator. One alumna emphasized that he was an "excellent teacher, not just of mathematics; also of Spanish and history; he was knowledgeable about everything; many generations benefited from his teachings." Another recalled that he was also a "good referee," suggesting that his presence in the community went beyond the classroom.
A former student recalled with special emotion her role in the entrance exams for the pre-university vocational school for exact sciences (IPVCE): "In the IPVCE exams, he was the mathematician present, [...] concerned about his results; he is my example of a teacher [...] a man comes to Earth to serve, and you demonstrated that." Another comment described him simply as "a remarkable personality."
Several neighbors agreed that the nickname "José Chivita" was the way the entire community fondly identified him. A former student recalled, "He was my teacher when I was a child; may God grant peace and comfort to his family and friends, and eternal light for him."
The departure of this teacher occurs at a particularly painful moment for education in Cuba. The province of Holguín began the 2026-2027 school year with a shortage of over 2,000 teachers, while in Camagüey, the number reached almost 3,000, according to official sources.
Nationally, the deficit amounts to over 20,000 teachers. To fill the gaps, the Ministry of Education has turned to reemployed retirees, university students, and hourly contracts.
In that context of educational collapse, the journey of José Antonio Martínez Querol —who trained with genuine dedication, walked kilometers each day to reach his students, and continued teaching informally until the end of his life— represents exactly what Cuban education is losing.
The announcement of the distinguished educator's passing did not specify the exact date it occurred or details about the funeral services. My deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, and generations of students.
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