Dr. Virgilio I. Beato

Dr. Virgilio Beato Nunez passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, July 28, 2018, at the age of 101. He was born in Mantanzas, Cuba on December 20, 1916. He is survived by his third wife, Esther (“Mariquita”), his children: Dr. Jorge Beato, Maria Cristina Beato-Lanz, and Marianela Breslof; his grandchildren Rachel Breslof Forte, Dorian Peters, Virgilio R. Beato, Danielle Bronson, Donovan Peters, Darcy Peters, and Ayasha Peters; and his eight great grandchildren, most of whom were able to be by his side during his final days.

Brilliant physician, diagnostician and medical pioneer in the fields of cardiology and internal medicine, he received numerous awards and honors throughout his lengthy career. His career included professorships in medicine at the University of Havana Medical School, Robert B. Green Hospital and Baptist Hospital in San Antonio, the University of Texas at San Antonio, and at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. Dr. Beato worked and studied until his retirement at the age of 95. In honor of his 100th birthday, he was honored by the US Congress and the American Flag was raised on his behalf at the Capitol building in Washington DC. He was also given the key to the city of Miami and December 20th was officially named “Virgilio Beato Day” in the city of Coral Gables.

In addition to being a beloved and outstanding doctor who enriched and even saved hundreds of lives during his career, Dr. Beato was also a natural civic leader, an extraordinary teacher, a gifted writer and a charismatic orator who remained in demand as a speaker for the causes that were dear to him until his final days. A man of boundless curiosity, and commitment to lifelong learning, his knowledge and insight in the areas of history, literature, philosophy and politics were also vast and profound.

His work appeared widely in prestigious medical publications and his writing extended into other areas ranging from the life and work of José Martí, to the characteristics of successful social and political systems throughout the world, and the ethical and moral implications of each.

At home he remained a devoted husband to his late wife, the exquisite and gifted, Dr. Raquél Lanz, great niece of José Martí. Virgilio and Raquel met and married while they were both in medical school in Havana. Dr. Lanz was his professional colleague in Cuba and his soulmate until her death after 45 years of marriage in 1988.

After the family fled their beloved country in 1961, Raquel ceased to practice medicine and dedicated herself entirely to the role of wife and mother, giving her all to their children and grandchildren until the end of her life. His children, grandchildren and great grandchildren currently live in Florida, Virginia, California and Australia.

Dr. Virgilio Beato will be deeply missed by his family, his numerous friends, former patients, students, and countless persons whose lives he touched with his astute intellect, unwavering compassion and ceaseless energy. His family is comforted in the knowledge that he is now in the company of his graduating class of whom he was the last survivor, his parents, siblings, wife and first-born son.