Bob Harvey touched many lives at Stanley High School. After retirement he helped countless families in Cuba, bringing bicycles, clothing and food. Now his fiancé Irsa needs help. I hope we can keep Bob’s memory alive by helping Irsa.

Irsa was living with Bob in Fredericton when he suddenly passed away December 27, 2022, just prior to their marriage.  Irsa loved Canada, and embraced our winters, taking great delight in using a snowblower, shoveling, sliding and enjoying the snow.  She made many friends here and is dearly missed.

Bob spent a lot of time in Cuba over the years and became a father figure to Irsa’s two sons, Reiniel and Reicel, whose own father had passed away.  Irsa’s sons looked up to Bob and sought out his advice.  Irsa’s two small grandsons called Bob “Grampy” and adored him.  Bob’s children, Mike and Heather, are very close to Irsa and her family.   Sadly, with Bob’s passing, Irsa could no longer make Canada her home, and  had to return to Cuba.

Life in Cuba is very hard.  Food is both scarce and expensive and many Cubans go hungry.  Irsa has lined up for hours to be able to buy a loaf of bread.  Rations of beans, rice, milk for babies have been scarce or not available at all.  Canadian friends have continued to help Irsa and her family, as life is very hard in Cuba.

Irsa cannot move to her chosen country of Canada, but because her grandfather was born in Italy, she was eligible for an Italian passport.  While he was alive, Bob assisted her in getting an Italian passport.  Irsa has since been able to get Italian passports for her two sons and her two young grandsons.  Their hope is to move to Italy and start a new life there.  Although their belongings are few, they have been selling whatever they can in hopes to buy airline tickets to Italy.

If you would like to help Irsa and her family, any donation, big or small, would be greatly appreciated by the family to assist with airfare and settling in to Italy.