Elisa Vilano Ojeda
Elisa's Story
Through boundless energy, passion and sheer force of personality, Elly Vilano Chovel put a face to the name “Pedro Pan.” Formed in 1991, Elly was the driving force of Operation Pedro Pan Group for 16 years and worked tirelessly to pursue it's goals of re-connecting Pedro Pans across the United States, documenting the history of this remarkable exodus of 14,000 unaccompanied minors and giving back by helping children in need.
Elly did everything she could to promote the Pedro Pan story from helping many authors and journalists with books and stories, accepting hundreds of interviews far and wide, even speaking at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC. She honored Monsignor Bryan O. Walsh with the devotion and dignity with which she dedicated her life to Operation Pedro Pan Group and accomplished many goals including the creation of a park at Camp Matecumbe and the Monsignor Walsh Children's Village.
Donations may be made to the Elly Chovel Scholarship Fund established by the Green Family Foundation in her name through Operation Pedro Pan Group. The scholarship is awarded toward collage tuition for children of Pedro Pans.
Elly's daughter Brigid Prio has registered in the Miami Herald database on her behalf. The family welcomes all your prayers and sentiments. Elly is survived by two daughters, a son, five grandchildren, her mother and two sisters. She is always on our minds, in our hearts and in our prayers.
Elisa's News Feed
Leave a public message for Elisa.
Elisa has uploaded new photos.
Status update | Oct 25th 2012
Elisa says: Dedication of "Elly Chovel Rd" will be Nov. 2nd at noon on SE 15th Road between Brickell and the Bay in Miami. Please RSVP to brigid@brigidprio.com
Status update | Oct 25th 2012
There's a street being dedicated in Elly Chovel's name on Nov 2nd, in Miami, FL. Brigid Prio will have to post all the details.
Message by Emy Botet | Oct 25th 2012
Dear Elly. Thanks for your friendship and guidance. I will always remember you for being authentic and compassionate. May God always shine on you! Jay
Message by
JESUS CASTAŃO
| Sep 6th 2012
Elly. From Washington, where you came to represent Pedro Pan at the Nat'l Archives, I will always keep you in my heart as a great person. I miss you! Jay
Message by
JESUS CASTAŃO
| Sep 6th 2012
Dear Elly, I will always remember your beautiful and welcoming smile. Although I only met you during the last year of your life, I got to share some wonderful moments with you, always talking about your children, grandchildren and your bigger family, your Pedro Pan brothers/sisters that you so much loved. After you were gone, while being a volunteer in this website, I had the priviledge to find your airport log, that had been missplaced for many years and that you have never found....it gave me much happiness and I always thought that it was your way of letting me know you were in a better place. I am sure you are organizing a big party for all of us in heaven and it is going to be great! Love, Carmencita
Message by
Carmencita Romanach
| Sep 3rd 2012
Elisa has uploaded new photos.
Status update | Sep 1st 2012
Eli, As a "Founding Member" nunca olvidare 1991, cuando nos conocimos, y todo el entusiasmo que traias a las reuniones . Gracias por tu dedicacion de 16 anios en hacer realidad la mision que Msgr. Walsh nos dio a todos los Pedro Panes. Extra~no tus llamadas para consultar mis opiniones, las que te gustaban y las que no te gustaban. Gracias por tus oraciones desde el cielo, "Operation Pedro Pan" sigue su mision y siempre te recordara. JAM
Message by
Justo Alejandro Martinez Monzon
| Sep 1st 2012
This is Elly's daughter Brigid posting on her profile. Mom sent me this e-mail after spending 3 days in Sugarloaf Key with me and the kids- swimming, shopping for Kino's, watching the Sunset at Mallory Square, enjoying grouper sandwiches and Pina Coladas. As we starred off at the beautiful water view she told me she wasn't afraid to die and to remember that she wanted to be cremated and thrown into the sea as close to Cuba as possible. We honored those wishes and I give thanks for those priceless memories. She was my best friend too! She led by example... "Let love shine in everything you do" Let' s honor her by doing the same. Please keep in touch with me and if you have photo soy her that I may not have seen please share them. Thank you to all those who loved her as I do. There are SO many of you!
Message by
Elisa Vilano Chovel
| Sep 1st 2012
Elisa says: 7/19/07 e-mail: Thank you so much for encouraging me to get away and be with you. You are more than a daughter to me. You are my best friend. love MOM
Status update | Sep 1st 2012
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