CUBA TRAVEL U.S.

Dear Betty,

My name is Tony V. I hope you remember me from the late 70's, when Dan and me opened again bass fishing to Americans, starting with Treasure Lake, and then Zaza, and La Redonda and Hanabanilla, and so many other lakes. I was very lucky, as many other Cubans, to have Dan as a friend. He was instrumental in surpassing politics and proving that Americans and Cubans of good heart can become friends and he did this through his love for fishing. He took this to the utmost level, when he was able to invite a team of Cuban fishermen to a mixed tournament of bass fishing in Lake Conroe, where every team was made of an American and a Cuban, thus welding symbolically the fusion he kept always strengthening. He was also very courageous, as was proven during the event that took place in Lake Hanabanilla, when he took the place of one of his fellow Americans; I was a direct witness to this since I was the one who was in direct communication with him by phone and gave him all the instructions until everything was solved. And then when he continue to bring American fishermen to Cuba after the ban to travel, asserting the right of Americans to travel freely.

Many things can be said of Dan. But as we Cubans say, above all, he was human and a teacher of good feelings. America has lost a good son and we have lost a special friend, in body, but not in soul, because his love for Cuba and its people will always be a special treasure that we will cherished forever.

Dear Betty, please accept, you and Dan's family my deepest, condolence on behalf of the many Cubans who would like to be at his side next Saturday.

Sincerely yours, Tony V