Alfredo was born in Miami to Cuban parents, Aureliano Sanchez Arango and Estrella Echeverria. His father was a prominent law professor at the University of Havana and served as Minister of Education under President Carlos Prio Socarras. The family was very active in the Cuban revolution to reestablish democracy. Later, father and son fought to overthrow the Castro dictatorship. Alfredo and his life-long friend, Pedro Fuentes-Cid, were arrested after fleeing from a chasing military unit that ended in their car being riddled by over 140 machine gun rounds.
For his part in the anti-Castro movement, Alfredo was sentenced to death by firing squad, which a year later was commuted to two consecutive 30-year prison terms in the labor camps of Isla de Pinos. This forced the separation from his son, Alfredo Sanchez Cairol then a 3-year-old toddler, who was to grow up in the United States.
After serving 14 long years of hard labor and thanks to the advocacy of Venezuelan President Carlos Andres Perez, Alfredo was liberated. He and his wife, Gladys Chinea Bartlett, who herself served 10 years as a political prisoner, emigrated to Caracas, Venezuela, where they were received by longtime friends and family who had escaped the oppressive regime and restarted life successfully abroad.
While living and working in Venezuela, Alfredo and Gladys had a beautiful girl, Lela Sanchez Chinea – now Lela VanLoon. The family came to the US shortly after. Alfredo obtained an engineering degree from Florida International University, working for Miami-Dade County Public Works Department for over two decades. Gladys had a very successful career in social services at the county as well. Both worked tirelessly to help hundreds of Cuban and Latino immigrants start new lives in the US, often taking them into their home until they established themselves.
Alfredo is survived by his wife; his sister, Delia Sanchez Echeverria; his younger brother, Aureliano Sanchez Arango Jr.; son, Alfredo Sanchez and daughter-in-law, Rose; and his daughter, Lela VanLoon and son-in-law, Frank. He also leaves behind four grandchildren, Jessica, Martina, Austin and Eric, and four great grandchildren, Jackson, Mason, Kayden and Rylee. Alfredo will be missed by all his family and his many, many friends.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, December 21 at Caballero-Rivero Funeral Home at 11655 SW 117 Avenue, Miami. Services will begin with a viewing from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., a brief celebration of life service will follow with the burial service right after at 3 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the UM Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.
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