Emilio Ochoa
Encyclopedia
Emilio Ochoa was a Cuban
politician and former Senator. He was believed to be the last living signatory of Cuba's 1940 Constitution at the time of his death in 2007.
Dr. Ochoa was one of seven children in a poor family. He studied dentistry in Santiago de Cuba
and graduated in 1937. During this time he became involved in politics and was one of the delegates of the Partido Auténtico
to the constitutional convention which wrote the Cuban Constitution of 1940.
Dr. Ochoa helped found two political parties: the Partido Autentico in 1934 and the Partido Ortodoxo
in 1947. Ochoa was first elected as a Senator in 1940 and served in that office until 1948. He was opposed to Fulgencio Batista
, who suspended the Cuban Constitution of 1940 in the 1950s.
Dr. Ochoa was arrested 32 times because of his political beliefs and went into exile in 1960 following the Communist takeover of the country by Fidel Castro
. However, he returned to Cuba in 1961 hoping that Cuba's 1940 Constitution would be reinstituted following the Bay of Pigs invasion
. However, the Communist government stayed in power and Ochoa left Cuba for good in the 1960s.
He first went to Venezuela
where he practiced dentistry until 1965 when he went to the United States. He later taught at Wayne State College
in Nebraska
and then in a Catholic school in Chicago
. In 1971, he moved to Miami and lived in government-subsidized apartment.
In the 1980s, he practiced dentistry with a Miami medical team that traveled to Nicaragua
to help the contras fighting the Sandinistas.
In 1933, he married Domitila Nunez (died 1969) and they had two children, Pura America and Carlos Emilio Ochoa Nunez (died 1996). In 1986 he married Martha Herrera.
Ochoa died of cardiac arrest
at his home in Miami on June 27, 2007, according to his son-in-law, Rafael Sosa. He was 99 when he died. He is buried at Flagler Memorial Park.
Cubans
Cubans or Cuban people are the inhabitants or citizens of Cuba. Cuba is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
politician and former Senator. He was believed to be the last living signatory of Cuba's 1940 Constitution at the time of his death in 2007.
Dr. Ochoa was one of seven children in a poor family. He studied dentistry in Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city of Cuba and capital city of Santiago de Cuba Province in the south-eastern area of the island, some south-east of the Cuban capital of Havana....
and graduated in 1937. During this time he became involved in politics and was one of the delegates of the Partido Auténtico
Partido Auténtico
The Partido Auténtico was a political party in Cuba most active between 1933 to 1952...
to the constitutional convention which wrote the Cuban Constitution of 1940.
Dr. Ochoa helped found two political parties: the Partido Autentico in 1934 and the Partido Ortodoxo
Partido Ortodoxo
The ' was a Cuban political party, otherwise known as the . It was founded in 1947 by Eduardo Chibás in response to perceived government corruption and lack of reform...
in 1947. Ochoa was first elected as a Senator in 1940 and served in that office until 1948. He was opposed to Fulgencio Batista
Fulgencio Batista
Fulgencio Batista y Zaldívar was the United States-aligned Cuban President, dictator and military leader who served as the leader of Cuba from 1933 to 1944 and from 1952 to 1959, before being overthrown as a result of the Cuban Revolution....
, who suspended the Cuban Constitution of 1940 in the 1950s.
Dr. Ochoa was arrested 32 times because of his political beliefs and went into exile in 1960 following the Communist takeover of the country by Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
. However, he returned to Cuba in 1961 hoping that Cuba's 1940 Constitution would be reinstituted following the Bay of Pigs invasion
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The Bay of Pigs Invasion was an unsuccessful action by a CIA-trained force of Cuban exiles to invade southern Cuba, with support and encouragement from the US government, in an attempt to overthrow the Cuban government of Fidel Castro. The invasion was launched in April 1961, less than three months...
. However, the Communist government stayed in power and Ochoa left Cuba for good in the 1960s.
He first went to Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
where he practiced dentistry until 1965 when he went to the United States. He later taught at Wayne State College
Wayne State College
Wayne State College is a four-year public college in the Nebraska State College System in Wayne, Nebraska. The current enrollment is 3,571. The college opened as a State Normal School in 1910 after the State purchased the private Nebraska Normal College . The State Normal College became State...
in Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
and then in a Catholic school in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. In 1971, he moved to Miami and lived in government-subsidized apartment.
In the 1980s, he practiced dentistry with a Miami medical team that traveled to Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
to help the contras fighting the Sandinistas.
In 1933, he married Domitila Nunez (died 1969) and they had two children, Pura America and Carlos Emilio Ochoa Nunez (died 1996). In 1986 he married Martha Herrera.
Ochoa died of cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest, is the cessation of normal circulation of the blood due to failure of the heart to contract effectively...
at his home in Miami on June 27, 2007, according to his son-in-law, Rafael Sosa. He was 99 when he died. He is buried at Flagler Memorial Park.