Las Vegas attorney, Bay of Pigs veteran made family proud
Waldo De Castroverde was a fighter.
He did what many would not even dare.
De Castroverde debated with Cuba’s former leader Fidel Castro about freedom, democracy and communism when he was 19 and in prison. He was facing a 30-year sentence for his involvement in the U.S.-supported Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961.
De Castroverde, 73, who died on Saturday, was a paratrooper and one of 1,400 Cuban exiles who took part in the invasion, which was unsuccessful in its mission to overthrow Castro and his communist government.
After being captured and imprisoned, he was selected by his fellow captives to be one of 10 prisoners on a commission that came to the United States to negotiate their release with President John F. Kennedy’s administration.
The debate with Castro “kind of elevated his status,” his 48-year-old son Waldo De Castroverde said Thursday, adding that it had a role in his fellow captives having faith in him to be on the negotiating team despite his age. “He stood up. He stood up to his principles.”
After two unsuccessful negotiating trips to America, De Castroverde returned to Cuba to serve time in prison. After the first trip, only eight of the 10 prisoners returned. During the second trip, all eight prisoners returned, his family said.
De Castroverde was eventually released from prison after two years when a negotiation was reached and came to the U.S, where he married his wife, Vivian Sanchez, obtained a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and political science, graduated from law school and had four children.
De Castroverde for several years also was involved with anti-Castro groups in the U.S. to continue his fight for a free Cuba before leaving his activist role behind to focus on his family.
“As devoted as he was for fighting for a free Cuba, he was always grateful for this country,” son Waldo said.
He made the entire family proud, daughter Ana Puccio said.
Only De Castroverde’s oldest son, Waldo, has visited Cuba.
“I won’t go until it’s a free Cuba,” his 42-year-old son Alex said. “We’ve been waiting. We always dreamed that our dad could see a free Cuba, and it’s sad that he won’t have that chance.”
In 1978, he and his family moved to Reno, where he was working during the day as a blackjack dealer and attending law school at night.
In 1993, he moved to Las Vegas, where he started a law firm to help the Hispanic community. In 2005, two of his sons, also lawyers, Alex and 39-year-old Orlando joined his father and opened the De Castroverde Law Firm.
“His whole motive was truly being able to help the Hispanic community,” said Ana, a first-grade teacher. “He really had a big heart.”
De Castroverde, who had heart problems, was hospitalized with a wound infection on his 49th wedding anniversary. His wife came to the U.S. under Operation Peter Pan, which relocated more than 14,000 Cuban children to America.
“We were trying to motivate him to make it to his 50th anniversary,” Alex said.
He spent 10 weeks in the hospital before he died, but he was never alone, his family said.
“He fought until the end,” Orlando said.
Visitation for De Castroverde will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. tonight at Palm Mortuary, 6701 N. Jones Blvd. The funeral will take place 11 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Las Vegas Catholic Church, 3050 Alta Drive.
Contact Yesenia Amaro at yamaro@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0440. Find her on Twitter: @YeseniaAmaro.
