HR511: Celebrating the life of Benito Loyola, Sr.
WHEREAS, Benito Loyola, Sr., an entrepreneur, small business owner, and a beloved husband and father, died on July 24, 2020; and
WHEREAS, a native of Cuba, Benito Loyola attended the Cuban Naval Academy and joined the Cuban Navy in the 1950s; he continued to serve after the Cuban Revolution and was deployed to Africa alongside Soviet forces; and
WHEREAS, while on his second such deployment, Benito Loyola decided to flee the Communist regime and mutinied along with three other officers; despite being captured and sentenced to death, he escaped again and made it to Europe by hiding in the cargo hold of a freighter; and
WHEREAS, Benito Loyola was granted political asylum in the United States and provided vital intelligence on Cuban and Soviet military operations; he established a small business in Hoboken, New Jersey, and secretly sent money to his family in Cuba until they were able to escape two years later; and
WHEREAS, Benito Loyola subsequently relocated to Miami, where he opened a plumbing business with his wife as secretary and his children helping out during the summers; and
WHEREAS, Benito Loyola shared his passion for lifelong learning with young people as a school administrator, serving as superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools for many years; and
WHEREAS, a man of deep and abiding faith, Benito Loyola enjoyed fellowship and worship with the congregation of St. Timothy Catholic Church, where he was ordained as a deacon in 1993; and
WHEREAS, Benito Loyola will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his loving wife of 61 years, Teresa; his children, Benito Loyola, Jr., of Virginia Beach and Lilliam Solis, and their families; and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Delegates hereby note with great sadness the loss of Benito Loyola, Sr., a patriotic American who made many contributions to his community; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Benito Loyola, Sr., as an expression of the House of Delegates’ respect for his memory.
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 511
WHEREAS, Benito Loyola, Sr., an entrepreneur, small business owner, and a beloved husband and father, died on July 24, 2020; and
WHEREAS, a native of Cuba, Benito Loyola attended the Cuban Naval Academy and joined the Cuban Navy in the 1950s; he continued to serve after the Cuban Revolution and was deployed to Africa alongside Soviet forces; and
WHEREAS, while on his second such deployment, Benito Loyola decided to flee the Communist regime and mutinied along with three other officers; despite being captured and sentenced to death, he escaped again and made it to Europe by hiding in the cargo hold of a freighter; and
WHEREAS, Benito Loyola was granted political asylum in the United States and provided vital intelligence on Cuban and Soviet military operations; he established a small business in Hoboken, New Jersey, and secretly sent money to his family in Cuba until they were able to escape two years later; and
WHEREAS, Benito Loyola subsequently relocated to Miami, where he opened a plumbing business with his wife as secretary and his children helping out during the summers; and
WHEREAS, Benito Loyola shared his passion for lifelong learning with young people as a school administrator, serving as superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools for many years; and
WHEREAS, a man of deep and abiding faith, Benito Loyola enjoyed fellowship and worship with the congregation of St. Timothy Catholic Church, where he was ordained as a deacon in 1993; and
WHEREAS, Benito Loyola will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his loving wife of 61 years, Teresa; his children, Benito Loyola, Jr., of Virginia Beach and Lilliam Solis, and their families; and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Delegates hereby note with great sadness the loss of Benito Loyola, Sr., a patriotic American who made many contributions to his community; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Benito Loyola, Sr., as an expression of the House of Delegates’ respect for his memory.