Victor Lorenzo Chibas

Victor Lorenzo Chibas was born in Guantanamo, Cuba on March 6, 1917. The oldest of five children, he learned the meaning of hard work as he was the provider for the family at a very young age. As the oldest sibling whose mother, Luisa Chibas Monier, was separated from his father, Lorenzo Chibas, he left school after the eighth grade to work. As a young adult, he had four children with Esperanza Castaneda: Oneida Chibas, Roy Chibas, Omara Chibas, and Omaida Chibas. He later moved to Havana where he worked for several years. In 1956, Victor decided to head to the United States. He first came to Tampa, where he lived for about one year until he took a bus to New York City. There, without knowing English he memorized the map of Manhattan and was able to obtain work as a Taxi Driver. A few years later, he sent for his then wife from Havana, Barbara Angelica Kilkenny Chibas, with whom he had three more children, Marisel Chibas Hidalgo, Victor Chibas, and Onil Chibas. Victor was a hard worker, and nowhere did it show that when he later began working as a Longshoreman. It was a very hard manual work, but it gave him satisfaction to work hard to provide for his families. One of the fruits of his hard work allowed him to bring his mother, Luisa Chibas Monier, his sister Emma Chibas Chibas, and niece, Maritza Samuel Chibas to the USA from Guantanamo, Cuba. It was as a longshoreman that he met his best friend Florentino Corporan, Isabel, his wife, and their family. He was the godfather at the wedding of Ramona, their daughter, to Julio Pazos in 1963 and again 50 years later when they renewed their vows in 2013. Their families would have many gatherings through the years, and it was during one of these gatherings (after his marriage to Barbara had become troubled and they had divorced), that he met Estela Paulino, the niece of Florentino and Isabel. She had recently herself arrived from the Dominican Republic with her only child, Frank Paulino. They fell in love and married. Their marriage lasted for 46 years. Victor died after having a wonderful long life to the ripe old age of 102 years. His love of life made him to be very loved by his family and friends. He was an honest and disciplined man. Although he suffered the loss of his brothers, Ramon, Abelardo, and Alcide in Cuba, his mother, Luisa, in 1983, his sister, Emma, in 2010 in the United States and in 2016 his daughter, Omaida who had never had the opportunity to come to the United States, his optimism and positive spirit had brought joy and gladness to many. His long life is celebrated today because he lived it well! He will be truly missed, especially by his family. He leaves behind his loving and caring wife,Estela Paulino Chibas, along with her son Frank Paulino, his brother-in-law, Lidio Paulino, his nephew, Miguel Paulino, his sons Roy Chibas, Victor Chibas, Onil Chibas, his daughters Oneida Chibas, Omara Chibas, Marisel Chibas Hidalgo, his niece, Maritza Samuel-Philogene and her children, Melissa, Kristopher, Meikhel, Maraisha, Kassandra, and baby Emma, his sons-in law, Lemuel Hidalgo, Allaix Philogene, his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Julio and Ramona Pazos, nieces and nephews Isabel Summe, Julio Pazos, Manuel Pazos, Melvin Pazos, and their children, Tony. Gabby, Anthony, Andy, Julianna, Marisabel, Irene, Adriana, Daniel,Thomas,Anabel, Manuel miguel and Luis, his grandchildren, Cesar, Dagmara, Richard, Olin, Roy, Regla, Yaima, Nelly, Jonathan Hidalgo, Alana Chibas, and Dasia Paulino, and great-grandchildren, Julio, Kailyn, Lazaro, Miriam, Omara, Fernando, Roy, and Lala, and great-great-grandchild, Angel Fernando, and the nieces in Cuba, Higdalia, Luisa, and Barbara. We are very honored to have known and to have loved Victor. He will be sorely missed.