Item K10
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date: November 20 - 21, 2001
Division:
District 1
Bulk Item: Yes
No
Department: Commissioner Dixie M. Spehar
AGENDA ITEM WORDING:
Approval ofa resolution honoring the memory and community service of Dr. Jose Bofin, who passed
away on October 8,2001 at the age of85.
ITEM BACKGROUND:
Dr. Jose Bofin was a professor of pulmonary diseases at the University of Havana until 1962 when he
left Cuba for the United States. He served his community as a healer of the sick and a helper to the
immigrants who came to the United States from his homeland. Dr. Jose Bofin dedicated his life to
making people well. Not only did he see private patients, but he was head of the Momoe County
Health Department for ten years. He served as the president of the Cuban Heritage Museum when
plans to restore the building were evolving and vice president until he died.
PREVIOUS REVELANT BOCC ACTION:
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
TOTAL COST:
BUDGETED: Yes
No
COST TO COUNTY:
REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes
No
AMOUNT PER MONTH
Year
APPROVED BY: County Atty ~ OMB/Purchasing _ Risk Management_
DIVISION DIRECTOR APPROVAL:
DOCUMENTATION:
Included x
To Follow
Not Required_
AGENDAITEM# /-/{/O
DISPOSITION:
Revised 2/27/01
,
Jose HoM, an 'old-fashioned doctor,' dies
BY MANOr BOLEN
CitIzen Sta,ff Writer
~JI' . '=_. -I,"
, .
,J
Dr. Jose BofUl's patients did not
always pay him in cash. The Cuban-
born cardiologist often 'accepted pay-
ment from his poor, uninsuied
patients in the form of mangoes, avo-
cados and bags of shrimp.
He was also the first physician fnKey
West to beat the hotdes of immigrants
arpving in Key West during the MarieJ
boat lift, and he headed the Monroe
County Health Depanment for 10
years.
"Dr. BofiD was the old-fashioned
doctor that when you went to see him,
there was no c1oc:k." said his foriner
patient WUhelmina ~ ,"He really
wanted to know everytbjng about you
,'1.
I
Sper:IeI ill ... Citlzln
Dr. JaM Bolli.. . "'IJ plloto: Allie
dedlClbId to ........, Ind curtnc.
- he loved me and I adored him."
Harvey was forced to speak in the
past tense about her friend and doctor
because 80fill died at his home in
Miami Monday night at age 85, losing a
long battle with prostate cancer.
.~ wonderful person left this earth,..
Harvey said, remembering his thick
Cuban accent and dedication the San
Carlos Insti~_-:--,.
The fattier ofnw was vice president
of the Cuban heritage museum until
his death this' week, and served as its
president in the late 1970s, when plans
Were evolving to restore the old build-
, ing on Duval Street.
"He really beUeved in the mission of
the San Carlos Institute," said museum
president Rafael Penalver, who regrets
his friend will not be able to 'attend the
institute's lOth anniversary of the
reopening in January.
"His one regret was that he never
had a chance to return to a free Cuba,"
, See BOFIL1, page 3A
, ,
Pe~'said. "It was tb~ one
.dieamhedidnot~;" ./.,
In 1962; BofiUl~ Cuba where
he was a professor of pUl-
monary diseases at' the
UniveJ$ity ,of. Havar.,a. , Upon
anfvill8 . fn the. Unit~ states;,
BofiU lived in Miarili, vitgiDia
and Genrgia befq~ seuun.' in
KeyWest with his wife, ~1iaida.
alJd . tWQchildren, Jo.seand
zenita; in 191:4. '
"My taih~ loved fishii\g and,
himtirig," Jose said wedneSday
~ he ~ed ',the (t()ntagious
smile on the dQctor'sface when
he CQuld spend a day fi$bing OJ}
his 30~fOOt boat, the Que Pasa II.
, The boat Was by no means
luxurious,' his son said with a
laugh. In fact, when asked to let '
people use hi$ vessel during 1:I1e
boat lift in i980, the doctor
~ftJs.ed, fearing the boat would
endanger' its passengers. But
when the irJimjgtafits arriVed; he
eagerly helped 1:i1em.
"Myfatber hated tosee peoplt;
~ring, - Jose Bofill said "You
could never get the smile off his
face, but he hated funeral$ mOre
than anything,..
lbe doctor threw himself a .
hugtJparty for his 80th b~day;
a,nd ,was seeing pAtientA'.in his
bome untQa few montbs !!gO
.nhis health preventeq it
BUt, workiP8 'Out of~, home
Wa$ nothing new: for $ofiU, wJ10
-often '.lfeIlted patimits' sm:h as
Harvey lUld Met FisMf in his,
house on, Riviera Drive. The
S8Iilt' was ttUe when ,lie IIlqVed
to'Mfa1Di last-ytat to be cli)S,et .~
his dUlc:t..e.~and grand$ons, Jake
and Jordan.
, "He deJlicat" his Ufe t9 heal.
ins an4 curing, -his SQn Said. '
"He was a:man who thorough-
ly ertioyed Cbe cqmpany Qf peo-
ple," said Penalver~ '
, mboten@bymews~..
O~T-30-0l IS,S? FROM,MONROE COUNTY ATTV OFFICE 10,3052823518
PAGE
1/2
CO:MMISSIONER DIXIE M. SPEHAR
RESOLUTION NO. .2001
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTV IN
RECOGNmON OF THE LATE DR. JOSE BOmL
WIlER.EAS~ Dr. Jose Bofill passed away at his home in Miami at the age of 85 on October 8,
2001; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Bofillleft Cuba in 1962 where he was a professor of pulmonary diseases at the
University of Havana. Upon arriving in the United States he lived in Miami, Virginia and Georgia before
settling in Key West in 1974 with his wife, Zenaida, and two children, Jose and Zenita; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Boli)) was the fIrSt physician in K.ey West to treat the hordes of immigrants
arriving in Key West during the Mariel boat lift, and headed the Monroe County Health Department for
ten years; and
WHEREAS, Dr. BofiU's patients did not always pay him in cash. He often accepted payment
from his poor, uninsured patients in the form of mangoes, avocados and baas of shrimp.
WHEREAS, Dr. BofiJl was vice president of the Cuban Heritage Museuln and served as its
president in the late 19708, when plans were evolving to restore the old building on Duval Street; and
WHEREAS, his son. Jose Bofill, noted that his father loved fishing and hunting and recalled the
contagious smile on his father's face when he could spend a day fishing on his 30.foot boat, the Que Pasa
lI;and
WHEREAS, Dr. BofiU moved to Miami last year to be closer to his children and grandchildren.
Jake and Jordan; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Bofin often treated patients out of his home in Key West, and the same was true
when he moved to Miami last year until a few months ago when his health prevented it; and
WHEREAS, his son said, "'He dedicated his life to healing and curing," and Rafael PenaJver
said, "He was a man who thoroughly enjoyed the company of people." Now, therefore
QCT-30-01 15,58 FROM,MONROE COUNTY ATTY OFFICE 10,3052823518
PAGE
2/2
BE rr RESOLVED BY THE MONROE COUNlY BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS:
Section 1:
The Board hereby adopts this Resolution as an expression to the family of their
deepest sympathy in the passing of the late Dr. Jose Bofill.
Section 2;
Commissioner Dixie M. Spehar forwards a copy of this Resolution to his beloved
family.
PASSED AND AOOPTED by the Board. of County Commissioners of Monroc: County, Florida.
at a meeting of said Board held on the
day of
. A.D., 2001.
Commissioner George Neugent
Commissioner Nora Williams
Commissioner Charles "Sonny" McCoy
Commissioner Murray Nelson
Commissioner Dixie M. Sp~har
(SEAL)
Attest: DANNY L. KOLHAGE, Clerk
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By
Deputy Clerk
By
Mayor/Chairman