Juan Nuiry Sánchez

Distinguished university professor, researcher, politician and Cuban revolutionary. During his revolutionary stage, he became linked to the Federation of University Students under the direction of José Antonio Echeverría, with whom he participated in actions against the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista, serving as a member of the Rebel Army in the final stage of the revolutionary struggle. After the revolutionary triumph of 1959, he held political positions within and outside the country. He was also Professor Emeritus of the University of La Habana, Full Professor of General Theory of the State and Deputy Director of the House of Higher Studies Don Fernando Ortiz.

He was born in Santiago de Cuba.

At the Alma Máter he met José Antonio Echeverría and began his involvement in student activism. He held various responsibilities in the FEU, including those of secretary general, vice president, and president.

He accompanied José Antonio Echeverría to the second meeting of the Charter of Mexico in 1956, and upon his return to Cuba, he was forced to go underground. Together with José Antonio, he participated in the takeover of Radio Reloj station on March 13, 1957, and subsequently went into exile.

He returned to Cuba in an air expedition that arrived at the Sierra Maestra in October 1958. He joined as president of the FEU to Column No. 1, commanded by Fidel Castro, where he achieved the rank of captain.

Upon the triumph of the Revolution, he participated in the Caravan of Freedom and was the first speaker at the event held at the Columbia Military Camp, and Fidel Castro appointed him Auditor General of the Rebel Army.

He graduated from the Faculty of Social Sciences and Public Law at the University of La Habana. Radio broadcaster at the National School of the PCC Ñico López and the National School of Economic Planning, in addition to postgraduate studies at the University of Rostock, GDR.

Since 1960, he worked as a professor at the University of La Habana, where he also held teaching leadership responsibilities as Director of the Teaching Council of University Scholars and Deputy Vice Rector for Teaching, President of the "José Antonio Echeverría" Chair.

He was ambassador to the United Nations System, based in Rome, as permanent representative of Cuba to the FAO. In 2007, he was awarded the title of Professor Emeritus of the University of La Habana. He was Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and President of the Group of 77, Rome Chapter.

He was Director of the Escalinata magazine, the publication of the José Antonio Echeverría Chair at the University of La Habana. He also worked as Vice President of the "Máximo Gómez Chair" of the Association of Combatants of the Cuban Revolution.

Nuiry Sánchez, a member of UPEC and UNEAC, at the time of his death, was president of the José Antonio Echeverría Chair and vice president of the House of Higher Studies Don Fernando Ortiz.

Publications
He was the author of four textbooks, two pamphlets, and numerous articles published in specialized journals. The topics addressed in these writings are historical in nature, for example: José Antonio Through His Political Testament; Luís de la Puente Uceda, Present (which has had three editions), A Historical Journey with Che, Thus, of Hidden Value, Memories of the Revolution, Tradition and Combat: A Decade in Memory.

Decorations
He received twenty-two national decorations and three foreign ones, but reference will be made only to those directly related to his activity as an educator:

"José Antonio Echeverría" Medal
"280th Anniversary of the University of La Habana" Medal
"Félix Elmuza" Distinction
Honorary Member of the FEU of the Superior Pedagogical Institute "Enrique José Varona"
Commemorative Plaque for the 35th Anniversary of the Pedagogical Institute "Enrique José Varona"
50th Anniversary of the Assault on the Presidential Palace and the Takeover of Radio Reloj 2007 and 85 Years of the FEU
Honor Delegate to the Seventh Congress of the FEU

Niury passed away at the age of 81 in La Habana on October 19, 2013.