OPAL
LOUISE FLOOD, Mrs. GILBERT SMITH, sister to John Flood, aunt to Rodney
Flood.
Louise was born September 18, 1906-died
l995. She married Gilbert Smith, December 15, 1934. She had no children of
her own but adopted Helen Flood, when the child's mother died.
Gilbert and Louise were living comfortably
in Cuba running a travel agency when the "Bay of Pigs," incident
arose. The time was perilous for Americans living in Cuba at the time.
One night at two o'clock a call came on the
telephone. The message was, "Get out now! Leave immediately."
They left their home with a suitcase of clothes. When they got in the car
and started to the Swiss embassy a car followed them the whole route.
Whether it was Castro's people or someone else for protection, they never
knew. The Swiss Embassy gave them sanctuary but they had left all their
possessions, everything in their home. Her jewelry, crystal, linens,
silver, furnishings and, of course, their home they had to leave.
The leader before Castro had given Louise
an award for her work with homeless children, for her efforts in finding
homes for the children.
Louise worked for the United Nations and
their work with children.
After leaving Cuba, Louise traveled the
world with her husband who was a consultant with the Port of New Orleans.
Gilbert spoke fluent Spanish and he set up trade throughout Central
America and into the East.
CUBAN
INFORMATION ARCHIVES
DOCUMENT 0216
Anglo-American
Directory of
Cuba 1960
PROVINCE OF
HAVANA
Page 112
SMITH, H.
Gilbert (Amer.); wife, Louise Flood (Amer.). Pres., W. Harry
Smith Agencies, Inc., Steamship Agents, Lonja del Comercio
213-14. Tels 5-7322. 5-4605. Apdo. 138. Res. Ave. 5-A No
4421, esq. Calle 60, Miramar, Mar. Tel. 2-5629. Clubs: Am.,
Am. Lgn., Lt. Th., Cntry.; wife: Lyceum.
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