Manuel A. Cadenas August 14, 1921 - February 2, 2022
Gainesville, Florida Centurion, Manuel Augusto Cadenas, (August 14, 1921 – February 2, 2022), has rejoined his beloved, wife, Hilda of 67 years in peace and surrounded by family. Through his brilliance, determination, devotion and love, Manuel forged a life unlike any other. Descendent of the Spanish Visigoths, Manuel was born in Havana, Cuba and lived in Camaguey, where his family ran a successful Brahma cattle ranch. He was a life-long member of the Havana Yacht Club, an avid sailor, equestrian-hunter jumper, and fisherman. He attended Phillips Academy at Andover, prep school and then earned an mechanical engineering degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, (MIT). With a clear-eyed view of the political situation in Cuba and the world, in 1960, he booked his family on a vacation to United States, from Havana, from which they would never return. Earlier that year, he won the last Ernest Hemingway’s fishing tournament trophy for the largest white marlin caught. Manuel entrusted his talent to the Uniroyal Corporation, for which he would build factories for tire production, all over the world, taking his family with him to overseas posts including Argentina, Uruguay, Australia and Mexico and many stops in Europe along the way. After retiring from Uniroyal, he became restless and joined Dade County facilities agency, (GSA), where he proposed then built a cogeneration plant in downtown Miami, saving taxpayers millions in energy cost. Manuel, regularly brought home the Biscayne Bay Yacht Racing Association and Columbus Day trophies helming his Catalina-27 the Randy Tar. In more recent years, he wrote a compelling autobiography, Memories of a Journey Though Time, published in hardcover in 2010. Soon, thereafter his loving daughter, Hilda became his devoted caregiver. She tirelessly cared for both her father and mother, in the comfort of their home, for the last two decades were they spent their golden years, in the joyful company of family and friends.
Manuel Cadenas was predeceased by his wife, Hilda in 2016, and his brothers Alvaro and Octavio. He leaves a profound influence on the family: children Hilda, Ricardo, (Debbie), and Manuel (Michele), grandchildren Alexandra Henry (Taylor), Dr. Richard Cadenas ,(Isabelle), Tyler Cadenas, Debbie Cadenas and great grandchildren, Isabel and Samantha Henry.
Services will be at the Saint Augustine Catholic Church in Coral Gables on Monday, February 14, 2022 at 10:00am, with interment to follow at Our Lady of Mercy, Catholic Cemeteries at noon. While flowers are appreciated, donations may also be made to this country’s veterans.