Yara Montes

Birth date: Oct 10, 1929 Death date: Jul 20, 2021

The family of Yara Montes created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories. Yara Montes, 91, formerly of Havana, Cuba, passed away on July 20, 2021 in Miami, Florida. She is survived by her husband Matias Mo Read Obituary

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Kim Galante-Wong

217w ago

Mi más sentido pésame para el Profesor Matias Montes y toda la familia.
I have the fondest memories of class with Profesora Montes, but especially of "nuestras tardes Cervantinas". After a semester in Sevilla, prior to taking my Master's exam, we had only read the first book of Don Quijote. When I informed her of this, she immediately told me that we would meet every Wednesday for an hour to discuss the second book, in order to prepare for the exam. It was a very stressful semester prior to taking the exam but these afternoons were some of my very best memories. At the end of the semester she gifted me a book by Cervantes from her personal collection and I treasure it to this day. She was a wonderful profesor who left a very big impact on the Spanish department at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Much Love and Aloha to Profesor Matias and the entire family.
Con cariño,
Kim Galante-Wong

Heather N

218w ago

Mis más sinceras condolencias para toda la familia.
I have only the fondest memories of profesora Montes and adored being in several of her graduate classes, namely Siglo de Oro and Cervantes. She taught with much grace and good humor and above all kindness and humility. Profesora Montes touched and inspired the lives of so many here in Hawaii and I am so grateful to have had her as a professor.
She forever will have a space in my heart.
Con mucho mucho cariño y aloha,
A hui hou,
Heather Nylen

Guía Melo

218w ago

My deepest sympathies to Dr. Matías Montes & family. I have such fond memories of both professors, their classes and a Spanish party at their home.

Dr. Yara Montes was the first Spanish faculty member I met at the University of Hawai‘i. I was actually trying to finish up my core requirements in language with Japanese but could not get the class time slot I wanted for 3 semesters. I was frustrated and happened to glance to my right (at Klum gym). There was a lovely woman smiling at me from the Spanish section. Dr. Yara Montes was so sweet and signed me up for Spanish. Sayonara nihongo and hola español! Haven't regretted that decision.

Anastasia Fontenot

218w ago

in honor of Yara.

La Doctora Montes was an important influence in my career. When I studied for my masters degree in 1989-1991 in Spanish Language and Literature, I must admit I was intimidated by taking lit courses. My career had already started as a teacher of Spanish language at the high school level, and the masters program emphasis on literature was a bit of a reach for me. La Dra. Montes had such an approachable demeanor and made the poetry and prose come alive for me. So knowledgeable and thorough, and I learned so much more than literature. To this day I use my notes from her class when I teach García Lorca to my high school students.
Gracias, doctora. I appreciate all you taught me and as a lifelong Spanish teacher I can truly say that you made a significant impact on my life.
Mi más sentido pésame al Doctor Matías Montes, sus hijos y sus nietos. Hay toda una generación de profesores de español en Hawái que deben sus carreras a usted y su esposa.
Con cariño,
Stacy Hackett Fontenot

A large, lit white candle with a subtle wax drip on a beige background, accompanied by a white and pink paper flower on the right side.

Nydia Santiago-Cordero

218w ago

Dear Dr. Matâs Montes,

What an unforgettable, loving, amazing, woman was Dr. Yara Montes! I do remember that many of us wanted to be in her classes because we wanted to learn a little from her and at the same time her vast knowledge intimidated many as well. To only find out, when we got to know her, that she was the most amazing loving woman and she couldn't help but to teach. I LOVED the Cervantes class I was able to have with her as well as little conversation moments when you two shared about loving Cuba, and your family that you adore. I always have the two of you very close to my heart and in these moments I pray for all of you. I pray for the eternal repose of Dr. Yara, and I pray for the family to find comfort in the love she gave you. I am one of the many people that continue teaching thanks to you two. With tons of love.

Nydia Santiago-Cordero

Maria Link

218w ago

Dear Dr. Montes, I would like to express my deepest sympathy to you and your family on the recent passing of your wife, Dr. Yara Montes. My husband and I send our thoughts and prayers during this most difficult time.

The first time I met Dr. Montes was in September, 1983, when I began my Masters in European Language and Literature at the University of Hawaii, as a teaching assistant. I had just moved to Honolulu and didn’t know anyone. From the moment I stepped into Dr. Montes’s office, I was immediately enveloped by her warmth, and I knew right away that this was going to be a wonderful experience. I was not disappointed. Throughout the two years that I was under her instruction, I found Dr. Montes to be kind, compassionate, and generous in spirit – always available to all of us whenever we needed guidance, whether personal or academic.

Dr. Yara Montes was an outstanding professor. I especially remember a class that I took with Dr. Montes as an independent study student. Week after week we would meet in her office to unravel the adventures and philosophies of Don Quijote de la Mancha. I looked forward with great anticipation to each class, as Dr. Montes had a unique way of bringing this great work to life with her passion and profound insight.

Dr. Montes was a positive force in creating community. She, along with her husband, Dr. Matías Montes, treated the group of teaching assistants, of which I was a part, as family. The Montes’s were the hub of our small, yet close community. And the magic of what they created, I believe, in no small way is responsible for the fact that 35 years later, despite having taken diverse paths, we have remained close to this day.

This is the legacy of Dr. Yara Montes. It extends far beyond the classroom. It is the gift of those rare individuals, like her, who are able to transform society and remind us of our interconnectedness.

In the spirit of great literature, which encompassed so much of Dr. Montes’s life, I am reminded of the famous quote by the great poet, John Donne. His famous words, in 1624, epitomizes this interconnectedness and is a fitting tribute to Dr. Yara Montes.

"All mankind is of one author, and is one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language; and every chapter must be so translated...No man is an island, entire of itself...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind…”

Thank you, Dr. Montes, for the wonderful memories. You will certainly be missed.

Maria-Luisa Valls Link

Ariel Balske

218w ago

Ita I can’t believe that this has happened. I miss you dearly and cannot wait to speak to you again. You are deeply loved and missed. I remember fondly our trips to New York where you helped me find my own love of the theater. We saw Cats and I was hooked. You inspired me to always act on the things I loved and take every step with courage. I see that in you and in your daughter, as well. You taught my Mom the importance of a strong will and courage, and that even the smallest/hardest step forward is better than the comfort of standing still. I love and miss you dearly. Much love, your granddaughter - Ariel.

Kenya C. Dworkin

219w ago

May Yara's memory be for a blessing to you, Matías, and your son and other family.

Que la memoria de Yara sea para una bendición, Matías, para ti y tu hijo y otra familia.

Yara Montes was such a class act! Many, many years ago, when I was a student at the University of Hawaii and majoring in Spanish, I never had the honor of having her as a professor, but I interacted with her so frequently, and then saw her at subsequent Cuban Studies conferences at FIU enough times that I feel as though I got to know her some. We were Cubans, she, Matías, and I, and that brought us closer. Yara was brilliant, elegant, and above all sweet-through and through-like the sweetest café cubano with lots of sugar in it. While at UH, and had classes with Matías, and absolutely loved watching the two of them interact, she always doting over him, and he adoring her right back. I truly regret not having gotten to know her better, but do know that those who did experienced a unique human being. Like I said, she was a class act; one of a kind; a member of a generation of Cuban women scholar who were as fierce in their intellects as they were genteel and graceful in their persons, a cohort that is slipping away from us but whose impact will live on as long as we do, and beyond. Rest in peace, dear lady. Que descanses en paz.

Paul Chandler

219w ago

UHM Emeritus Professor of Spanish, Dr. Yara Gonzalez-Montes, passed away July 20, 2021 at the age of 91 in Miami, Florida. She began her career in Cuba where she earned her PhD at the University of Havana (1955). After arriving in the United States, Dr. Montes earned her second PhD at the University of Pittsburgh (1978). At UHM (1965-1997), Dr. Montes taught a wide variety of graduate and undergraduate courses at all levels. Her extensive books, articles and chapters varied from Cuban poetry and Cuban theater to Spain’s Federico García Lorca and Rafael Alberti. She served as chief editor of Caribe and co-editor of Dramaturgos y Anales Literarios. She continued conducting research and publishing during her retirement. Surviving are her husband, UHM Emeritus Professor of Spanish, Dr. Matías Montes Huidobro, their children and grandchildren. Many of her former students continue to teach in Hawaii and the mainland USA. [Message to the Department in Hawaii]

Paul Chandler

219w ago

What a nice picture of Yara. And, of course, with a book!! Sending lots of ALOHA to Matias and the entire family. Paul Chandler, University of Hawaii

Maria Link

218w ago

Thank you, Dr. Montes, for the wonderful memories. You will certainly be missed.

Maria-Luisa Valls Link

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