Aleida March

Aleida March. A Cuban revolutionary and author, she is best known as the second wife of Ernesto "Che" Guevara. March was an active participant in the 26th of July Movement and fought in the Battle of Santa Clara. Following Guevara's death, she has dedicated her life to preserving his legacy, serving as the director of the Che Guevara Studies Center in Havana and authoring the memoir Evocación: Mi vida al lado del Che.

Early life and education

Born in Santa Clara, Cuba, on October 19, 1936, Aleida March grew up in a politically conscious family during the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista. She pursued studies in pedagogy and became a teacher, a profession that initially defined her early adulthood. Her political awakening intensified during the 1950s, leading her to join the underground resistance against the Batista regime. This path ultimately connected her with the revolutionary forces operating in the Escambray Mountains and the central provinces of Cuba.

Relationship with Che Guevara

March first met Che Guevara in late 1958, as a combatant in the Battle of Santa Clara, a decisive victory for the 26th of July Movement. Following the triumph of the Cuban Revolution in 1959, she worked as a secretary in the National Institute of Agrarian Reform, where her collaboration with Guevara deepened. They married in a quiet ceremony on June 2, 1959, after Guevara's divorce from his first wife, Hilda Gadea. During their marriage, March accompanied Guevara on several international trips, including a pivotal state visit to the Soviet Union and numerous tours across the Non-Aligned Movement bloc. She provided steadfast support during his tenure as President of the National Bank of Cuba and later as Minister of Industries.

Life after Che's death

After Che Guevara's execution in Bolivia in 1967, Aleida March was instrumental in the complex, clandestine efforts to recover and repatriate his remains, a mission finally accomplished in 1997. She became the chief custodian of his personal archive, letters, and photographic legacy. In this role, she collaborated closely with the Cuban government and institutions like the University of Havana to authenticate and publish his works. She authored the intimate biographical memoir Evocación: Mi vida al lado del Che, published in 2007, which provides a personal account of their life together and his political convictions.

Political activities and legacy

March has maintained a lifelong commitment to the principles of the Cuban Revolution. She served as a deputy in the National Assembly of People's Power and has been the director of the Che Guevara Studies Center in Havana for decades. In this capacity, she oversees scholarly research, global publications, and the preservation of Guevara's ideological works. She frequently represents Cuba at international socialist forums and events commemorating revolutionary history, from Latin America to Vietnam. Her efforts ensure Guevara's writings on guerrilla warfare, political economy, and anti-imperialism remain central to socialist discourse worldwide.

Personal life and family

With Che Guevara, Aleida March had four children: Aleida Guevara, Camilo Guevara, Celia Guevara, and Ernesto Guevara. All have been involved in Cuban public life, with Aleida becoming a prominent pediatrician and international activist. March has largely guarded her family's privacy while living in Havana. She remains a respected, though private, figure within the Communist Party of Cuba, often participating in official ceremonies at monuments like the Che Guevara Mausoleum in Santa Clara. Her life continues to be defined by her dual role as a family matriarch and an unwavering guardian of a seminal chapter in 20th-century revolutionary history.

Category:Cuban revolutionaries Category:1936 births Category:People from Santa Clara, Cuba