Obituary for Dr. FAUSTO DUQUE

Dr. Fausto Duque passed away peacefully on July 23, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of bravery, resilience, and unwavering devotion to his family, his principles, and his country. Born in Cuba on November 19, 1931, Fausto graduated from the Universidad de la República de Cuba in 1960. He was a man of courage, who stood up against the Castro dictatorship. Fausto believed in justice risking everything to defy an oppressive regime and seek freedom of speech and human rights provided by the United State of America. His heart belonged to “la Cuba de ayer”, the Cuba of warmth, honor, and freedom that he knew and loved as a child. The incredible stories of his struggles as a young man, his enduring love for his homeland and the power of the Democracy and Freedom of the United States will be proudly passed down through his family for generations to come. On August 27, 1958, he married the love of his life, Elda Granda (daughter of District Judge Ricardo Granda and his wife, Abuela Chong- (Maria Antonia)). Seeking safety and a better future for his family, Fausto and Elda fled communism with next to nothing to build a new life in the United States. Arriving via Miami, Florida, Fausto held a deep respect and gratitude for the United States for the hope, and the opportunities America gave him and his family. Refusing to let exile diminish his purpose, he worked initial jobs in a local morgue and as a lab technician while completing his student recertification and medical board examinations in Hartford, Connecticut.

Through grit and intellect, he reclaimed his medical career in the U.S. He completed his Anesthesia residency at the University of West Virginia in Morgantown and a pediatric Anesthesia fellowship at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown, Ohio. He participated in pioneering anesthesia using ice along with conventional methods with infants. Fausto cared deeply for his patients in the rural community. In Indiana, he established his medical footprint by forming Duque, Jimenez, and Fultz, Inc. and Anesthesiology Associates Clark Co., before going on to become a licensed physician in Florida. His determination also paved the way for his family: in 1965, he arranged for his parents, Domingo Duque and Petrona Valdivia, to reach exile via boat, and helped his sister, Aida Duque, arrive via plane with a U.S. Senator’s endorsement. Fausto provided for their housing in a rented home in Little Havana down the street from the Domino Park from 1967 until he could purchase a Duplex to provide them with greater comfort later in 1975 where they lived until his parent’s passing in 1998. Throughout his life, Fausto proved that no obstacle could break his spirit. On April 3, 1974, a devastating tornado swept through Louisville, Kentucky, destroying his family home. True to his character, Fausto rebuilt his life, facing hardship with strength. Under insured and unprepared he and his family lived in an apartment for one year and moved into a home nearby for another two years until he was able to purchase his dream home where he and his family lived for 25 years.

Beyond his dedicated career in medicine, Fausto was a man of diverse interests and craftsmanship. He found genuine joy in woodworking and carving, handcrafting beautiful pieces throughout his life. He enjoyed taking memorable road trips to Alaska, Prince Edward Island and beyond in the US, Spain and France, earned his VFR student pilot certification in the 70s, and loved spending time as an active member of the Club Casadores Cubano in retirement, where he participated in skeet, trap, and sporting clay shoots. He had a vast array of friends with eclectic backgrounds, personalities and curiosities. He was proud to learn from these complex, educated and loving friends old and new genuine and caring. Fausto’s proudest legacy remains his beloved family. He is survived by his cherished wife, Elda Duque, his sister Aida Duque and his children, Francis Duque (Leigh Duque), Jeanette Duque, and Alex Duque (Winnie Duque); his beloved grandchildren, Hannah Melo-Duque (Jose Melo), John Duque, Garrett Duque (Katia Duque), Ian Duque, Camille Wilson, Gabriela Duque, Tomas Duque; and his adored great-grandchildren, Marilyn Duque (daughter of Garrett and Katia) and Francisco Melo-Duque (son of Hannah and Jose). He was preceded in death by his parents, Domingo Duque and Petrona Valdivia Duque. Fausto Duque was a titan of perseverance, an intellectual of renaissance thinking, and the embodiment of reading and learning from others. His courage, his legendary stories, and his deep love will forever guide the family he fought so hard to build and protect.