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Professor Carlos Eire, Loyola Alumnus, Reflects on Life Under Castro

Professor Carlos Eire (Loyola University Chicago Class of 1973) and T. Lawrason Riggs Professor of History and Religious Studies at Yale University, recently published an opinion piece in the Washington Post, titled "Farewell to Cuba's brutal Big Brother." Eire argued that Castro was one of "the most brutal dictators in history," and paints Castro as a man whose "deceit was one of [his] greatest talents." Professor Eire was also recently featured in the National Catholic Register, speaking about the death of Fidel Castro and the dictator's legacy.    

Professor Eire was born in Cuba in 1950. In 1962, he was airlifted out of the country as part of Operation Pedro Pan and arrived in Miami as one of 14,000 unaccompanied minors from Cuba. He attributes his interest in history and religion to his experience living with Norma and Lewis Chait, his foster parents in Miami for nine months. The Chaits were Jewish, but they encouraged, even pushed Eire to develop and practice his own faith. 

His two most recent books are Learning to Die In Miami and A Very Brief History of Eternity. A Very Brief History of Eternity explores belief in eternity in Western culture, and the way it has changed over time. Learning to Die in Miami is a memoir exploring his experience as a refugee and exile from his homeland.