Clemente G. Gomez-Rodriguez
Encyclopedia
Clemente Guillermo Gomez-Rodriguez (born January 25, 1939 in Havana
, Cuba
) is a former defense lawyer forced out of a 22-year long legal criminal practice career in Cuba as punishment after his release from prison Combinado del Este for trying to leave the country. He is now a Spanish-language writer in the United States.
and sent to Prison Castillo del Principe. He finished high school and went on to study law at the Law School of the University of Havana
graduated 1967. As a defense attorney, he participated in over fifteen thousand criminal cases, including as a member of the defense team on the famous case of General and former Cuban Minister of the Interior Jose Abrantes Fernandez (Case #2-1989). Gomez also worked as Assistant Professor of Criminal Law Procedure at the Law School of the University of Havana.
Gomez speaks three languages, Spanish, English and Italian.
Gomez was arrested for trying to leave Cuba and spent two years in prison. Upon his release, he was allowed to go to the United States as a political refugee in 1994, with most of his family. He was assisted in entering the United States by his cousin's son, Alonso R. del Portillo, Assistant District Director to Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
. He was naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 2001. His last employment in U.S. was as public assistance specialist at the Department of Children and Families of the State of Florida. Due to ill health, he retired to dedicate the rest of his life to writing. His first book, Te Van A Fusilar (They Will Execute You), was published in 2007.
Gomez' sister, Isolina Elisa (1942- ), is married to Cuban diplomat Dr. Alfonso Fraga-Perez, and still lives in Havana, Cuba. His other sister, Guillermina (1940- ), is married to Jose Ribe-Lorenzo and lives in Hialeah, Florida
.
Gomez is the grandson of the Brigadier General Clemente Romualdo Gomez-Diaz, who served in the Cuban Independence War as chief of North Brigade of the Province of Matanzas. He is the nephew of Jose Gomez-Sicre
, who aside from working as a lawyer was also a noted art critic and author and Principal and founder of the Visual Arts Department at the Pan American Union in Washington, D.C. Gomez' has other close relatives that has also contributed to the arts in Cuba; his great-granduncle Antonio Rodríguez Ferrer
authored the musical introductory notes to the Cuban national anthem, while his cousin, sculptor Juan José Sicre
created the most famous sculpture of José Martí y Pérez, located at Havana's Plaza de la Revolución
.
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
) is a former defense lawyer forced out of a 22-year long legal criminal practice career in Cuba as punishment after his release from prison Combinado del Este for trying to leave the country. He is now a Spanish-language writer in the United States.
Life and career
Gomez studied in Catholic school in Cuba (La Salle) and also school La Luz). He was arrested at age 16 in 1955 for participating in a rally against the regime of Fulgencio BatistaFulgencio 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....
and sent to Prison Castillo del Principe. He finished high school and went on to study law at the Law School of the University of Havana
University of Havana
The University of Havana or UH is a university located in the Vedado district of Havana, Cuba. Founded in 1728, the University of Havana is the oldest university in Cuba, and one of the first to be founded in the Americas...
graduated 1967. As a defense attorney, he participated in over fifteen thousand criminal cases, including as a member of the defense team on the famous case of General and former Cuban Minister of the Interior Jose Abrantes Fernandez (Case #2-1989). Gomez also worked as Assistant Professor of Criminal Law Procedure at the Law School of the University of Havana.
Gomez speaks three languages, Spanish, English and Italian.
Gomez was arrested for trying to leave Cuba and spent two years in prison. Upon his release, he was allowed to go to the United States as a political refugee in 1994, with most of his family. He was assisted in entering the United States by his cousin's son, Alonso R. del Portillo, Assistant District Director to Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1989. She is a member of the Republican Party....
. He was naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 2001. His last employment in U.S. was as public assistance specialist at the Department of Children and Families of the State of Florida. Due to ill health, he retired to dedicate the rest of his life to writing. His first book, Te Van A Fusilar (They Will Execute You), was published in 2007.
Family
Gomez lives in Miami as well as three of his children. Gomez is the son of former Cuban Army Major Clemente Ricardo Gomez-Sicre (1906–1983) and Maria del Carmen Rodriguez-Fontanills (1915–1943). He and his first wife, Gladys Brito-Izquerdo (1941- ) had three children, Dr. Maria del Carmen (1962- ), Dr. Elisa Alina (1963- ) and Clemente Romualdo Gomez-Brito (1967- ). he also had one son, Clemente Segundo Gomez-Gonzalez (1982- ). Gomez divorced (2008) from second wife. He has seven grandchildren.Gomez' sister, Isolina Elisa (1942- ), is married to Cuban diplomat Dr. Alfonso Fraga-Perez, and still lives in Havana, Cuba. His other sister, Guillermina (1940- ), is married to Jose Ribe-Lorenzo and lives in Hialeah, Florida
Hialeah, Florida
Hialeah is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 226,419. As of 2009, the population estimate by the U. S...
.
Gomez is the grandson of the Brigadier General Clemente Romualdo Gomez-Diaz, who served in the Cuban Independence War as chief of North Brigade of the Province of Matanzas. He is the nephew of Jose Gomez-Sicre
Jose Gomez-Sicre
José Gómez-Sicre was a noted Cuban lawyer, art critic and author.-Education:...
, who aside from working as a lawyer was also a noted art critic and author and Principal and founder of the Visual Arts Department at the Pan American Union in Washington, D.C. Gomez' has other close relatives that has also contributed to the arts in Cuba; his great-granduncle Antonio Rodríguez Ferrer
Antonio Rodríguez Ferrer
Antonio Rodríguez Ferrer was a Cuban composer and band conductor.In 1898, he became composer of the musical introductory notes to the Cuban national anthem. He was a professor of music and conducted choirs and bands...
authored the musical introductory notes to the Cuban national anthem, while his cousin, sculptor Juan José Sicre
Juan José Sicre
Juan José Sicre was one of the greatest Cuban sculptors. His most famous sculpture is of José Martí y Pérez in the Plaza de la Revolución in Havana....
created the most famous sculpture of José Martí y Pérez, located at Havana's Plaza de la Revolución
Plaza de la Revolucion
Plaza de la Revolución is a municipality and a square in Havana, Cuba.The municipality stretches from the square down to the sea at the Malecón and includes the Vedado district.- Square :...
.
Television appearances
- Polos Opuestos, June 2007, on WSBS TV (Mega TV) - One hour interview with Maria Elvira Salazar about his book, Te Van a Fusilar.