# Dies in Havana Diana Lío Busquet the director of Editorial Abril

**Date:** 12/11/2020

Very sad about Diana's death are her colleagues. And the sadness they feel is not only for her youth, which would already cause grief. Also for that beautiful, exquisite humanity that was so admired in her, and for her ability to attract others to the most honorable and gratifying endeavors.

In the midst of tremendous difficulties, Diana turned shortcomings into opportunities, inspired so that this natural multimedia entity that is the Editorial and its diversity of publications would initiate an accelerated process of modernization of its languages, aesthetics, and editorial design.

It is no coincidence that the Juventud Técnica collective deserved the Innovation Prize at the National Press Festival. Diana also made it possible.

Several of her journalist colleagues have expressed themselves in the following way on Social Networks:

This calamitous year has dealt us a blow: it has taken from us your smile, Diana. In our memory remain the professional complicity, the stories of coverage, and the shoulders we put together to move forward this #journalistic endeavor that is our great house: Editora Abril.

Ricardo Ronquillo:
Very sad about Diana's death. And the sadness we feel is not only for her youth, which would already cause grief. Also for that beautiful, exquisite humanity that so many of us admired, and for her ability to attract others to the most honorable and gratifying endeavors. We spoke with her by telephone just a few days ago to thank her for her dedication of so many years to Editora Abril, her leadership—that word we need to exalt more in Cuba—the affection and respect that her colleagues and workers felt for her. In the midst of tremendous difficulties, she turned shortcomings into opportunities, inspired so that this natural multimedia entity that is the Editorial and its diversity of publications would initiate an accelerated process of modernization of its languages, aesthetics, and editorial design. It is no coincidence that the Juventud Técnica collective deserved the Prize for innovation at the National Press Festival. Diana also made it possible. Our spiritual support to the family, particularly to her daughter who is a Journalism student, and to all her colleagues and workers.

Jorge Legañoa:
The smile of one who did good does not fade… The life of one who devoted herself to the word with devotion is not erased….
The love of one who loved is not forgotten.
Thank you for everything Diana Lio Busquet.

Rafael Grillo:
Sometimes one thinks that it is already enough, or too much. But it's not. And that news arrives that shows us that things can still get worse.
There are deaths that are distant, and yet they die within us. And there are deaths that are close, those that hurt us throughout our body, in our legs, in our heart, and even outside, in the landscape that our eyes see and that those dear eyes also saw.
Today one has died for me, one has died for us, for my El Caimán Barbudo tribe, for all the colleagues at Editora Abril, a special being, very intimate, friend, boss, companion to all, someone who hurts today and will still hurt tomorrow.
With infinite gratitude for the life you gave, dear Diana. My condolences to family and friends. 2020 had already taken much from us. And now it takes away the best…

Joaquín Borges Triana:
This Wednesday, December 9th, I lost a friend. That is how I describe Diana Lío, because although when she passed away she was serving as Director of Casa Editora Abril and was therefore my main boss, I confess that I never associated her with her position and the conventional, schematic role that officials have.
It seems to me that it was only yesterday when back in the second half of the nineties of the previous century, Diana arrived at the Editorial to take over the direction of the magazine Pionero. At that time, she came from the Ministry of Education and knew nothing about journalism, but she joined our center with great eagerness to learn and fortunately, she had Paquita Armas at her side as a teacher.
Since at that time I chaired the UPEC of Editora Abril and had to participate in the center's board meetings, I had to participate in the evaluations of the work of the magazines. It was thus that I had my first conversations with Diana, in order to give her my considerations about the issues that were coming out of Pionero. Since I have always liked to speak clearly, on more than one occasion I pointed out problems in the publication to her, opinions that she listened to with total receptiveness and that she solved in the next edition of the magazine. By this path we forged a relationship that went from being the one established between work colleagues to that of a pair of friends between whom there is total communication and who with the greatest possible frankness dialogue about the human and the divine.
After more than 20 years of systematic exchange, if someone were to ask me what I admired most about her, I would have to list at least two things. First, her sense of professional improvement and that transformed her from a good Literature and Spanish teacher into a solid editor of books and publications. The second thing, and I could even say that of greater importance, at least for me, her sense of authenticity in living that allowed her to be happy, something that not everyone achieves.
For the El Caimán Barbudo team, another caimanera has left us, a member of our family in good times and bad times, and who therefore attended both the work meetings of the magazine and the parties that we frequently throw. I will not say may she rest in peace, because I do not believe in such affirmations and I can only add that personally I feel fully proud to be able to say that Diana Lío was my friend and that is how I will remember her until it is my turn to go.

Dailene Dovale:
She was always there, to help and teach with her sweet face. She was the one who helped me move things from my thesis from Venezuela to Havana. The first message after any good news was hers, because she was attentive to everyone, she was kind and inspired creativity. Once, just once, I confessed to her that you learn a lot from intelligent and empowered women like her. I should have said it many times over: the pride of knowing her and knowing her as a Teacher. Today I feel a little helpless and I think of all her family and friends who are now more alone.

Rodolfo Romero:
She left, the friend, the director of that Pionero magazine I read when I was a kid, the woman who gave herself body and soul to Editora Abril, a place that grew under her drive and direction, the rigorous editor, the kind journalist, the defender of just causes, the mother of Laura and so many others who grew up with her, she left and she didn't leave, because she stayed with us forever. A big hug, like always.

Yoerky Sánchez:
You called me "my sun" back in those days at Alma Mater, without realizing that the one who illuminated me was you. Now you depart, but your light remains. Until always, friend Diana.