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Ed Guevara (Cubano67) - October 9, 1967-October 15, 2007

October 17, 2007

by Thomas Bender

October 16, 2007

Cigar Weekly forums' member, and good friend, Ed Guevara (Cubano67) died from a sudden heart attack on Monday night, October 15, 2007 at his home in St. Mary's, Georgia. The Guevaras had established residence there since leaving New Orleans, Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina in August of 2005. He is survived by his wife Carrie, a son Ian (21) and two young daughters Caitlin (9) and Sophia (6;) he is also survived by his parents and a sister.

Ed was, as a member of Cigar Weekly, one of those posters who rarely, if ever, displayed anger or rancor towards other posters. In person, he was much the same. Rarely did he ever say anything unkind about anyone, no matter how they behaved, what they said, or the attitude in which it was presented. He always sought the best in people and usually put the best of himself out for those he counted among his friends. He managed to make even the newest acquaintances feel as though they were close friends of his from the very first meeting. I saw this happen the many times he visited my home when we would have new guests or members visit for formal events or just stops in New Orleans. No matter when I called, he always sounded as if he was glad I called and that he'd been waiting to hear from me.

He and I met for the first time the day he joined Cigar Weekly, on July 30, 2004. It was my first visit to Don Juan Cigars in Metairie, Louisiana in over two years. I simply was not purchasing cigars at the time, and ventured in there to kill forty five minutes waiting for my wife to get off of work. Ed was in there smoking which he did regularly, and we spoke. He seemed to know his cigars, so we had a nice conversation. He joined the board that night, if I remember correctly, with no urging from me. I was shocked to see him post that night; I responded to his first thread, looking for herfs in the New Orleans area, with a PM with "I met you at Don Juan, today!!!!" It was such a coincidence.

Over the next year we got together somewhat regularly at my home, at The Camp, at Dos Jefes Cigar Bar and at BigO's home. Our families got together at these events as well, so that it was a difficult thing for me, when Ed relocated to St. Mary's, Georgia on a permanent basis, even though it was the right thing for himself and for his family. They have really flourished there, as Ed told it. With the backing of the business community in St. Mary's, Ed and Carrie opened Cumberland Cigar Company earlier this year. The shop has been a hit, and when I last spoke to Ed at the Retail Tobacco Dealers Association trade show in Houston, this past August, he was really enjoying himself and his shop. I was honored that he gave one of his RTDA passes to me so that I could attend the show. I went as his "evaluate and recommend" employee. He did ask my opinion on the cigars I tried during the show and assured me that he would try and order for his customers if he could. I point with pride to this, as well.

Ed also ran a business with his father here in New Orleans. Mr. Guevara owns a patent on a concrete ad-mixture and together they operated Concrete Control, Incorporated which served concrete companies in southeast Louisiana and Honduras.

In addition to the aforementioned ventures, he ran a web development company G-Media Group as well as the authoritative fan-site about New Orleans music legend Professor Longhair . "Fess" and all things related to him were a labor of love for Ed who was a true New Orleanian.

Ed and Carrie at Tipitina's in New Orleans with the bust of Professor Longhair.

He loved so much of what makes this city great; he spent more than one stint in restaurant kitchens as a professional cook. He dined at more good restaurants on a weekly basis than many other people visit in the span of a month or more. Every time we got together, my question of "where have you eaten this week?" would bring about at least a half-hour's conversation about food and eating out. This is the classic hallmark of a true New Orleanian, since people from New Orleans live to eat, and not the other way around. At lunchtime, he was always a phone call away, and would readily join if he had no prior commitments or business lunches scheduled with clients.

R. J. Hill (Anodyne) captured the feeling of many who were unable to have had the privilege of meeting Ed, in person. "Ed was the kind of guy that any time I saw his name attached to a thread, I read what he had to say. I really liked him and we had swapped PM's (private messages) several times for various reasons and I just thought the world of him. Such a generous soul. He truly embodied everything I have come to love about CW."

Richard McRae (Mealstrom) was the Cigar Weekly member who had the closest regular contact with Ed during this last year or so of his life. "The first time I ever met him he was dropping a bomb (a surprise gift of cigars from one member to another) off at my house. I didn't even know he lived near me! I was at work, but Tiara was home. She called me to tell me about it and said "I don't think you've met him - do you know anyone that is a teddy bear covered in tattoos?" It's fitting that his first encounter with me he was giving me a gift. It seems like that attitude ran through the entire time I knew him. It seemed like through a million different problems - Ed was easy to talk to. He's one of those guys that never judges, but still always tells you just how it is. He had a way of completely disagreeing with you, but in a way that made you laugh about it with him.

Finally, fitting tribute from Carrie Guevara, herself. "Ed truly had no idea how loved he really was. The whole town has come out in droves of support. Tonight I was shown a beautiful memorial that was placed on our store's sign which sits in the median at the corner of where our shop is. It was such a New Orleans style touch that I am overwhelmed with emotion right now. The kids are okay as can be expected. I do feel terrible for his son Ian whom Ed loved with all his heart and was always so very proud of. I'm keeping an eye on his mom and making sure that she gets through this. She of course is the strongest woman I know but this has to be devastating for her. I am so blessed to have her here.

I pretty much have everything I need, except of course the man that I love. The emptiness and loss that I feel for him will most likely not go away any time soon. There are very important business details for me to tend to though in the coming weeks. I will be using that as a much needed extraction from the relentless pain that seems to have no end.

My sincere thanks goes out to you all for being his friends, his family and supporting him through so much. My wish of you all is that you do not cry for him or me but instead light up a stogie and remember him well."

"Going on what I knew Ed's wishes to be - here s what I have done:
He will be cremated and placed in a cherry wood square style urn (it very much resembles a humidor) which I believe fits his love of design and simplicity. We will be holding a "Celebration Of Life" at the cigar shop this coming Sunday ( Oct.21) from 1-5 p.m. If any of you happen to be in town, it would be great to have you there. If not, I know very well that all of you are with us in spirit. Ed will be placed at the shop where I know he'd want to be."

Thomas Bender (TommyBB) is a moderator and contributing editor of Cigar Weekly. He hails from Greater New Orleans where he resides with his family and contributes his share of the air pollution of the area with cigar smoke as well as running his mouth online more than any human being should. He enjoys gathering with friends and family to partake of good cigars, good food and camaraderie when not coaching youth sports, or playing Church music. He's also been known to wear a good hat from time to time.