Alberto Granado, Che Guevara’s companion in 'Motorcycle Diaries,' dies at 88

 

Alberto Granado, who accompanied Ernesto "Che" Guevara on a 1952 journey of discovery across Latin America that was immortalized in Guevara's memoir and the film "The Motorcycle Diaries," died in Cuba on Saturday. He was 88.

Granado, an Argentine who had lived in Cuba since 1961, died of natural causes Saturday morning, according to Cuban state-run television, which gave no other details.

Granado and Guevara's road trip, begun on a broken-down motorcycle they dubbed La Poderosa, or "The Powerful," awoke in Guevara a social consciousness and political convictions that would help turn him into one of the most iconic revolutionaries of the 20th century.

They both kept diaries that were used as background for the 2004 movie, produced by Robert Redford and directed by Walter Salles.

Granado was born Aug. 8, 1922, in Cordoba, Argentina, and befriended Guevara as a child.

As young medical students, the two witnessed deep poverty across the continent — principally in Chile, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela.

They parted ways in Venezuela, where Granado stayed to work at a clinic treating leprosy patients. Guevara continued to Miami, then returned to Buenos Aires to finish his studies.

Guevara would later join Fidel and Raul Castro as they sailed from exile in Mexico to Cuba in 1956. Their small band of rebels ultimately toppled dictator Fulgencio Batista on New Year's Day 1959.

Granado visited Cuba at Guevara's invitation in 1960 and moved to Havana the following year with his family, teaching biochemistry at Havana University. He had lived in Cuba ever since, maintaining a low profile.

Guevara was captured and killed by soldiers in Bolivia in 1967.

--Associated Press

Photo: Alberto Granado in 2007. Credit: Associated Press

Comments

[PankoFig]

Let's celebrate a movie about Che, who said: "In fact, if Christ himself stood in my way, I, like Nietzsche, would not hesitate to squish him like a worm."

Alberto, upon arrival to your final destination, say hi to Che, Josef, Adolf, Pol and Idi!

[rusoviet]

'Che' the johnny white bread of all lib activists thanks to Alberto Corda's famous 'strike the pose' - waiting for the film by Bobby Redford after his latest 'conspiracy' come-on about Lincoln tanks at the box office.

'Che our Che...why? ...if only.....typical guilt ridden lib like Hoffman and Hayden looking for David 'almost cut my hair' Crosby to show them the way....

[Ted]

The Chinese succeded where he failed!

[Dude1]

Shoulda stayed in Miami!

[michael g]

This is a non-story about a small, tragic little Leftist. Guevara was - like his pal Castro - a murderer and a demagogue...

[Tom Arico]

Both Che and Alberto were evil men. Che for his theft of the lives and liberty of tens of thousands of people and Alberto for accepting the stolen goods of Che's conquests.

[Rafa Chavez]

Communism became the 20th century's pill to cure the "evils of humanity" that actually was a cure worse than the sickness. And men like Che and Castro stopped at nothing to do away with those they considered enemies of the people. In spite of the fact that Che has become somewhat of a cult figure among the young and still ignorant older generations, he will forever be remembered as a murderer.

[Carrieann]

What a nice, sympathetic and romantic tale of this thug! Why don't you print the TRUTH and really tell what kind of unromantic life he lef. He and his friend Che were brutal and evil thugs and many, many lives were lost - - directly due to them! You liberal LA Times bastards! It sure would be nice to see the truth in your paper someday! You might actually gain some readers!

[Jimbowski]

Amazing how the right wing conveniently forgets the murderous, corrupt Batista and his regime, widely supported by the US and its corrupt business interests, as are/were most of the corrupt regimes now being toppled in the middle east; while attacking the revolutions which denied them a favorite vacation spot rife with their favorite sports, gambling, prostitution, and big fish killing. Things don't change much.