¡Justo!

Earth Cries... Heaven Smiles

Justo Lopez

1939-2020

The world has lost a great human.

It is with tremendous sadness we share with you the passing of JUSTO

 

Martha Oneida Pèrez Cortès - Havana Cuba

President of  Sociedad Civil Patrimonio, Comunidad y Medio Ambiente

Triste noticia, pero lo recordaremos siempre como refleja la fotografìa, alegre, dispuesto a apoyar y amante de los animales.
(Sad news, but we will always remember him as reflected in the photograph, cheerful, supportive and a lover of animals.)

A dear friend and Team Spanky family member since 2006.

I was first introduced to Justo in 2006 by Profesora Amparo Lopez. She headed up the Dulce Maria Loynaz group. They were an animal welfare working group at the University of Havana and one of Spanky Project's first collaborations. Justo, her cousin, joined us in a deworming session at one of the university garages.

Justo tried his best to coax the dogs into eating dry kibble.

His charm, grace and passion was evident that first meeting.

Since then we were family. He would call me "Primo" in our emails.

The Spanky Project has seen many come and go. 

Justo was a constant and will forever be in our hearts.

 

He was "Our Man in Havana"

The calming presence at the registration desk for nervous caregivers.

The greeter of generous travellers donating supplies.

Translator, comedian, singer...

The biggest Doris Day fan in all of Cuba.

'I've learned that people will forget what you said, 

people will forget what you did,

 but people will never forget how you made them feel.'

- Maya Angelou

Erni Alvarez Gonzalez- Trinidad Cuba

Oficina del Conservador de Trinidad y su Valle de los Ingenios.

"Lamentable pérdida para el equipo Spanky.

 EPD amigo Justo en Trinidad siempre te recordaremos."

(Sad loss for the Spanky team.

 RIP friend Justo in Trinidad we will always remember you.)

Fiona Jane Wilson- Trinidad, Cuba

Oh, so sad. An absolute gentleman. Much loved by all of us at 

Casa Los Mangos. 

What a loss for the Spanky community.

Aytekin Yilmazer - Vienna Austria

"Oh nooo 😢

He was just a nice guy, always friendly and smiling.

He will be missed" 

Dr.Michael Belovich - Toronto Canada

Spanky Project Medical Director - Owner Yonge Street Animal Hospital
"To be so kind and so generous after having lived through

 such harsh time.
He is such an inspiration.I wish more people could learn from him."

Elena Nordby- Trinidad Cuba

Oficina del Conservador de Trinidad y su Valle de los Ingenios.

"Mi más sentido pésame a su familia,cuanto siento esa gran persona,

lo extrañaremos muchos en las campañas EPD"

(My deepest condolences to his family,

how much I feel that great person, 

we will miss him very much in the campaigns RIP)

Holding "court" in Trinidad

Maître d' at our 15th Anniversary party.

We now offer a photo montage of our dear Justo.

If the video does not appear click this link.

OH!

Did we mention singer?

Justo in fine form.

JUSTO!

We love you!

¡Adios Primo!

A Passing

It is with sadness that we learned about the passing of Alejandro Noa.

Alejandro was a Havana artist that created hand painted greeting cards.

This is the first example of his work I ever saw. It was a card that Justo, a Spanky Project supporter in Havana had given me.

Through Justo we commissioned Alejandro to create Thank You cards and other material for the Spanky Project.

 Here is one of my favourite pieces.

 Justo has sent some detail about Alejandro.

"Alejandro was divorced. He used to live with his sister divorced too, but she died suddenly too about 4 years ago.  His only relative alive, as far as we know, is his nephew, son of his sister.  Lately he had been having problem with his heart and was under treatment, trying to control the high blood pressure, the beatings and arrhythmia  of his heart, etc.  But as the seller of the cards on Neptune street told me, he died quite suddenly at night, alone."

It is wonderful that he brought joy to others with his creations.

Adios Alejandro.

 You will be missed.

Earth Cries Heaven Smiles.

In Memoriam

SPANKY

1995-2003

 

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown..

Ten years ago today we said  Adiós.

 

Oh yes, we didn't play dress up with Spanky. 

The cow sweater shots were from her knitwear modeling days!