Pablo P. Bravo

March 22, 1927 - December 24, 2020

Coral Gables, Florida - The youngest of four children born to Edmundo Bravo Puig and Elena Consuegra Bravo, he was born in the Central Cuba Province of Sancti Spiritus. He was nicknamed “el dije” because he was known as mama’s precious gem. As a teen, the family relocated to La Habana where he was raised and fell in love with the beat of the big city and pretty girls. He attended Havana Colegio de la Salle. He met the love of his life Hubertina Cueto, “la princesa,” an only child with a keen mind and powerful personality, who made career a focus of the young couple’s future. Following in his father Edmundo’s footsteps-- the Exec VP of Cuba’s Royal Bank of Canada, the 20-something Pablito became Human Resources Manager at la Habana Trust Company of Cuba, while his young bride landed a job at El Banco Nacional de Cuba. Life was “un carnaval” for the young parents who worked hard raising three babies in 1950s Havana. But a bearded rebel who rolled into the city on New Year’s Eve 1959 destroyed their dreams and forced them to flee “La Patria.” Like the story of so many Cuban exiles who arrived in Miami in the early 1960s, the struggle was real. From dishwasher to taxi driver early on, he rapidly made his way back to his banking roots and worked for Florida National Bank for 30-years where he retired as a Vice President and Operations Manager. He tapped into his human resource talents to hire hundreds of other exiles who still tell stories of the revered “Jefe” who took a chance on them when no one else would. His legacy was just beginning. At 62, the entrepreneur at heart launched South Florida Express Bankserv in 1988, a comprehensive transportation solutions company that handled financial documents for the banking community. He and his wife would often make deliveries themselves and brought son Paul into the business, which he now helms, and which has grown to a multistate industry leader in the Southeastern U-S. It was his proudest achievement, as is his legacy of co-founding the Cuban American Bankers Association in 2000, a non-profit advocacy group for community banks, which today thrives with a younger generation of Hispanics. His achievements, his selfless mentoring of thousands, his deep friendships forged in the banking community, are only rivaled by his devotion to family. From his beloved wife of 68-years, his children and grandchildren, he has helped innumerable members of his extended family humbly and privately, never seeking attention for his generosity. He could often be seen with his wife dining at Riviera Country Club, where they have been members for the last 20-years, as well as at “Casa Juancho,” his favorite Spanish restaurant. A 93 year life well-lived, he died peacefully at home surrounded by his three children, holding his wife’s hand one last time. He is survived by his wife Hubertina, children Alina Plasencia (Ernesto) and their two daughters Arianne and Amanda; Ileana Bravo (Eugene Gordon); and Paul (Ivette), their three children, Jason, Paul, and Brian, and three grandchildren. Private graveside services were held at Woodlawn Park North Cemetery and Mausoleum.