Yolanda Cardenas Diaz
General Information
Current Name
Yolanda Cardenas Ganong
Current Location
United States of America
Name on Arrival
Yolanda Cardenas Diaz
Age on Arrival
17
Date of Arrival
Saturday, August 4, 1962
Relocated To
CWB Florida City
Stayed With
Espinosa-RdgzHaded-Quesada
Groups
Haiti Pedro Pan
Yolanda has volunteered to help the children of Haiti. Find out how you can help, too.
Yolanda's Story
A story teller once told me that all stories begin in the middle. As I write this, the middle of my story has 17 years on one side and 47 on the other. For thousands of us Pedro Pan children, the midd...
Yolanda's News Feed
Leave a public message for Yolanda.
Yolanda, thank you for your kind words - and a pleasure to meet you, hermana Pedro Pan. Indeed, Nilo (Nilito, as he was known to the family) and Pepe Couret are my first cousins. After leaving Cuba, they settled in Gainsville; the oldest, Rafael (named after my father,) had been a student at the University there before Castro took over. I have not seen them in ages ... life makes different paths for us all, as we know so well. I was happily surprised when I found your message; I had just finished reading your story and thought it beautifully written. I wholeheartedly identify with your perception about memories being locked up in a warehouse; mine too seem to have been stashed away in some dark yet gentle place within the soul, waiting ... Take good care, friend, and keep in touch. Un abrazo. Lourdes
Message by lourdes antonieta | Jul 21st 2009
Hi Yolanda, Good to hear from you. I am impressed with your daughter's work. That is far from home. I just wanted to share with you that once this website went into effect, I emailed Pedro Pan asking for help finding my good friend from Fla. City, and thanks to this website and two sisters Pedro Panes, I found her and I spoke with her on Sunday. In addition, the two sisters who grew up with her and lost track, were able to reunite, plus their mothers were best friends in Cuba and now are 90 years old, and they got to speak to each other. Isn't it wonderful? This is a great way to share our experiences, learn from each other and in addition make new friends, like you :-)))) Love, Niurka
Message by
Niurka A Strong
| Jul 21st 2009
Hola Yolanda, Gracias por contestar tan pronto. Mi abuelo Cardenas vino de las Canarias. Se que eran varios hermanos. La visabuela les pidio a los hijos que uno de ellos tenia que ser cura...mi abuelo acepto. EL paso un ano de fiesta y viajes, entro despues en el monasterio y dias antes de tomar sus votos de sacerdote lo dejo. Mas tarde conocio y se caso con la abuela Juana. Tuvieron dos hijos, Hilda e Ibrahim. Como solo tenia yo 2 1/2anos cuando mi padre murio yo no se mucho de esa parte de la familia. Si te enteras de casualidad por favor dejamelo saber. Un saludo de tu parienta, Lidia
Message by
Lidia Gamble
| Jul 21st 2009
Yolanda,me acuerdo bien de ti.Cuando vi tu photo quise contactarte pero se me paso. No solo por mis tios Los Cesari, tambien yo visitaba a Los quesada y al igual que mis padres y hermano Pepe trabajabamos en el campamento. Que alegria me dio saber de ti de nuevo. Afectos MELVIN
Message by
Melvin F Noriega Plasencia
| Jul 21st 2009
Hola Yolanda, Me gustaria saber si conoces o eres familia de Juan y Juana de Cardenas, y Hilda de Cardenas. Los Juanes ya fallecieron no se de Hilda? Si tienes alguna informacion te lo agradeceria. Muchos saludos, Lidia de Cardenas Gamble
Message by
Lidia Gamble
| Jul 20th 2009
07/19/09 Me retrataste Yoly!!! Siempre estoy dispuesta para una buena conversación (de lo que sea).....Bueno, POR FAVOR, si vienes por Miami....avísame enseguida....que aunque no haya desayuno siempre serà un placer darte un buen abrazo. Cariños, Otmara
Message by Otmara Capote | Jul 19th 2009
Dear Yolanda many thanks for your kind reference to me as philosopher. At least, I do hope I've been learning something worthwhile through life's journey. As for the Potter series, your analysis is excellent, specially the parallels to our own Peter Pan challenges. In addition, to the intrinsic magic in her work, J.K. Rowling is one of those rare (gifted) people who can write well and most difficult of all: write simply. Her success is well deserved, in this world otherwise dominated by self-help books, bodice rippers and graphic novels. I'm looking forward to the movie as well. Saludos. Tony G.
Message by
Antonio Gonzalez Perez
| Jul 12th 2009
Yolanda: Thank you so much for your words...we are still in shock..it was only 2 weeks yesterday that the family found out that he was terminally ill...he bravely kept it to himself as to not anguish us. BTW, in the opening of the San Fermines, the Spaniard TV announcer mentioned him and that he would be missed this year. We repeated it to him and he got agitated...I wonder if in his head he thought he was running!!! He loved getting attention and with Pamplona and this website, he is surely getting it!!!! :)
Message by
Susy Rodriguez
| Jul 12th 2009
07/12/09 Querida Yolanda: Gracias por contactar...yo nunca fui a la Inmaculada, por la edad que tenía no me mandaron......Now, I wonder why?, Bueno no sé si lo sabes pero los Quesada estàn vivos.....Mike Quesada (el hijo de ellos) estuvo casado con Maria Elena Villardefrancos (una muchacha de Sta. Clara) y que la quise como una hermana.....Maria Elena falleció el año pasado por càncer de pàncreas y allí ví a los viejos. El sàbado que viene es la reunión de Peter Pan en la Casona en Sunset...(lo que no sé es si vives en el àrea).... Mi teléfono en casa es (305)551-2269..puedes mandarme el tuyo y te llamo.....hay tantos nombres "que me suenan" pero han pasado muchos años y me alegro de esta gran obra que se està haciendo...no lo sabíamos pero somos una parte de la historia de Cuba.... Un beso, Otmara
Message by
Otmara Capote Gonzalez
| Jul 12th 2009
Gracias por tu Sunday morning comments. Este debe de ser el mes de los Lucistas. Felo(Rafael Calleja)vino a verme en Sarasota y le mande tu articulo. Cuando escribiste tu bella historia, note la nota de Ivonne, a la cual le escribi preguntando por ti. Ayer me escribio y me hizo recordar que habiamos nacido el mismo dia (7/9/46) Primero no me acordaba de la connection con Mary Sorondo, pero de pronto he tenido un "flash back" de ese momento. Estoy en Cocoa Beach, y regresamos manana para Orlando, la llamare para que se registre y contarle de ti. Ojala que pronto nos veamos, pero por favor sigue informandome. Cuidate JAM
Message by JUSTO | Jul 12th 2009
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