Dear comrades and friends,

With great sadness, we share the news that our beloved compañera Alicia Jrapko has passed away.  She died on January 11, just days after her 69^th birthday.

For over two years, she battled an aggressive form of brain cancer. She did everything in her power to overcome the disease – radiation, chemotherapy, and two surgeries. But even with her incredible will to live, the disease ultimately prevailed.

Very few people knew of Alicia’s medical problem. With typical courage and fortitude, she did not want that to be a distraction. She had to reduce some commitments but otherwise poured all her waning energy into continuing to publish Resumen, the campaign to award the Nobel Peace Prize to Cuba’s international medical brigades, and many other solidarity efforts.

Before she was diagnosed, Alicia was the office manager at the Task Force on the Americas.  Alicia was a joy to work with. She was efficient and creative, hardworking, and positive. She was a smiling face and upbeat presence in thick and thin.

When she stepped down from this position, we had no idea she was fighting a terrible disease. She and her life partner, Bill Hackwell, preferred to keep Alicia’s battle to live private and personal.

We encourage everyone to read the eloquent tribute to Alicia written by Cubans Gerardo Hernandez and Graciela Ramirez. Graciela is editor of Cuba En Resumen, and Gerardo was one of the Cuban Five, unjustly imprisoned in the US but finally freed with much thanks to the efforts of many international activists among which Alicia’s stood out.

The tribute to Alicia documents her early years in Argentina and her forced exile as college classmates were killed in Argentina’s dirty war. During her life and work in the US, Alicia played a vital role in many important campaigns. Cuban President Diaz-Canel tweeted “farewell sister” and other high Cuban officials have lamented her death.

As we mourn the loss of our friend and comrade Alicia, we are nourished by her memory and example. We extend our deepest condolences to her life partner Bill Hackwell, former editor of the TFA newsletter, her dear family, and many friends and admirers.

Let us carry forward the commitment to peace, justice, and dignity that Alicia worked for and represented.

And let us support and expand Resumen in her memory.

Alicia Jrapko ¡Presente!