OLIVERA Otto H. Olivera, born in Pedro Betancourt, Cuba, on April 20, 1919, passed away suddenly on Sunday, July 8, 2012, leaving Ruth, his beloved wife of 61 years, his daughters, Deborah Deaton of Lexington, South Carolina, Becky Olivera of Baton Rouge, and Maria Molina, of New Orleans, also his sons-in-law Doug Deaton and Carlos Molina, his grandson Mark Deaton and granddaughters Lilian and Lila Molina. Although his passing was unexpected, the family is thankful that he was spared a lengthy illness. He will be greatly missed. He came to LSU in 1946 where he lived in the stadium and "first learned to butcher the English language." With doctoral degrees from the Universities of Havana and Tulane, he was a professor at Syracuse University from 1951-1965 and at Tulane University from 1965-1988, serving as Chairman in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese from 1983-1986. He was a dedicated and inspiring teacher. Upon his retirement in 1988 he was named Professor Emeritus. He authored eight books in his field of Latin American Literature and numerous professional articles. Though he became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1957, his heart remained in Cuba throughout its turmoil with the Castro dictatorship. He was never to return to his native land after 1953, but a free Cuba was always his dream. When gathered with other Cubans he was never at a loss to tell a good joke. As a special gift to his children, he compiled a book of memories and family stories of life in Cuba. An avid reader in many fields, he had a special interest in history, natural science, the arts, and the West. Travels with his wife took him to 35 countries on three continents and around the U.S. He had a passion for the great outdoors, whether camping in the Adirondacks in his younger days or observing the antics of birds feeding on the balcony in his declining years. At that time his constant companion was his Boston terrier Pepper whom he spoiled outrageously. A Memorial Service will be held at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd, New Orleans, LA on Thursday, July 12, at 2:00 p.m. with visitation at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow in Lake Lawn Park Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to Amnesty International or a charity of your choice.

Published by The Times-Picayune from Jul. 10 to Jul. 12, 2012.