MIAMI, FL — Juanita Castro, a controversial figure in Cuban history and the sister of Fidel and Raúl Castro, has passed away in Miami at the age of 90.
Her death marks the end of a complex chapter in the story of the Castro family, one that intertwined deeply with the Cold War and the Cuban Revolution.
Juanita, who had made Florida her home for nearly six decades following her escape from Cuba, was a known anti-communist and collaborated with the CIA against her brothers’ government. Her demise was announced by journalist María Antonieta Collins, co-author of Juanita’s book “Fidel and Raúl, My Brothers. The Secret History.” Collins remembered her as an “exceptional woman, tireless fighter for the cause of her Cuba.”
The Cuban government and media, as of Wednesday, had yet to acknowledge her passing in the official communist party newspaper , Granma.
Juanita’s story is one of dramatic shifts and hidden alliances. Initially, she supported her brothers’ efforts to topple dictator Fulgencio Batista, even raising funds and procuring weapons for the cause. However, her support wavered and turned into disillusionment as Fidel Castro embraced hard-line communism after seizing power in 1959.
The turning point for Juanita came after the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961. Disenchanted by her brothers’ authoritarian turn, she began covertly working with the CIA. Her role was significant yet understated, involving the smuggling of messages, documents, and funds into Cuba, often hidden in canned goods. She also used shortwave radio for communication, relying on specific musical signals for messages.
Her loyalty to her family and Cuba was complex and fraught with danger. She stayed in Cuba as long as their mother was alive, partially to protect herself from Fidel’s wrath. Her eventual escape from Cuba in 1964 came with assistance from Raúl, marking the last time she would see her brothers.
In Miami, Juanita faced initial skepticism from the Cuban exile community, many of whom suspected her of being a communist spy. However, she gradually became a respected member of this community, establishing a quiet life while running a pharmacy in Little Havana and becoming a U.S. citizen in 1984.
Luis Zúñiga Rey, a former political prisoner in Cuba, remembered Juanita as serious but kind, always careful to keep her family background from overshadowing her interactions with fellow Cubans in Miami.
Her opposition to Fidel Castro’s regime was seen as a symbol of bravery. She balanced personal familial ties with a strong commitment to her political beliefs, a stance that resonated with many who opposed the communist regime in Cuba.
Juanita’s life story, including her role as a CIA informant (codenamed Donna), was finally revealed in her 2009 memoir. Her contributions as an informant involved unique methods, such as using canned goods to conceal documents and utilizing music from a clandestine radio to signal messages.
Juanita’s defection and subsequent actions had significant implications, both personal and political. Her early support for the revolution, followed by a stark transformation into an anti-communist figure, reflected the complex dynamics of the Castro family and the broader political landscape of the time.
Juanita Castro’s life, marked by rebellion, secrecy, and a quest for freedom, ended quietly in Miami, far from the revolutionary fervor and political intrigue that had once defined her existence. Her story remains a poignant reminder of the intricate and often painful ties between personal convictions and political realities.
Juanita Castro, born May 6, 1933, died December 4, 2023.
