Luisa Elena Portal

Luisa Elena García Portal, 91, passed away at home with her children at her side on Friday, February 9, 2018.

Mrs. Portal was born in Havana, Cuba on August 13, 1926 to Vicente García  Flores and Luisa Mor García.  Mrs. Portal graduated magna cum laude in 1948 from the University of Havana with a degree in business.  She went on to become a Certified Public Accountant at the Banco Nacional de Cuba, where she met her husband José Manuel Portal.  During her tenure at the Banco Nacional, she worked as an administrative assistant to Felipe Pazos, and later Ernesto “Che” Guevara, who forcibly replaced him.  Mr. and Mrs. Portal had two children in Havana before a dramatic change in political affairs in Cuba forced the family to immigrate to America as political refugees after being released from prison in 1961.  Mrs. Portal restarted her career in the United States, becoming a credit union manager at the Inter-American Development Bank.  Mrs. Portal was a woman of high intellect, style, and strength.  She was steadfast in her support of family and friends; her favorite times where celebrations when her children and grandchildren would gather.  She was immensely proud of the commitment to education she passed on to her children and grandchildren and relished in their successes.

Preceding Mrs. Portal in death was her husband, José Manuel Portal with whom she spent 52 loving years.  She is survived by her daughter Luisa Portal Marsteller and her husband, Howard Blair; son José Manuel Portal and wife, Cynthia Thrush; and four grandchildren, Vincent Blair Marsteller, Christina Portal Clarke and her husband, Douglas Vinton Clarke II, Elena Durborrough Marsteller, and Andrew Joseph Portal; and great-grandchild Douglas Vinton Clarke III.

A viewing will occur on Saturday, February 17, 2018 at Bucktrout of Williamsburg at 11:00 a.m., to be followed by a funeral at 1:00 p.m. and reception.  Memorial donations may be made to Riverside Hospice.