Last Flight from Havana: A Memoir of Cuba, Family, and Faith

by Marie Quintana

Embark on a compelling odyssey alongside young Marie Quintana, whose life takes an extraordinary turn as her family escapes from their beloved homeland during the tumultuous rise of Fidel Castro's regime. Through the gripping pages of this memoir, join Marie on the last flight out of Cuba, a harrowing journey that thrusts her into an unknown and foreign land at a young age. In her quest to maintain family bonds and carve her identity as an American, she discovers her own resilience.
Set against a canvas of historic upheavals, this memoir paints a vivid picture of the Quintana family's unwavering commitment to their faith and heritage while adapting to a new life in the United States. Experience the emotional rollercoaster of leaving behind all that was familiar and embracing the uncharted path of assimilation, growth, and self-discovery through Marie's perspective. Guided by her faith and profound sense of purpose, Marie forged a remarkable career, attaining executive leadership positions in Fortune 50 and Fortune 500 corporations.
As she navigates the labyrinth of cultural adaptation, witness a poignant metamorphosis from a young girl to a woman, her narrative resonating with the universal pursuit of belonging. “Last Flight from Havana” stands as a testament to human tenacity, a tribute to diversity, and a gentle reminder that, regardless of distance, the heart unfailingly finds its true home.

129 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 22, 2023

Reviews

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Executive and now author Marie Quintana shares her personal story of escaping Cuba's communist regime on November 23, 1961 when she was just 5 years old, thanks to the courage and foresight of her parents. They traveled with Marie's younger brother on literally the last Delta flight from Havana with a group of Delta Air Lines employees to New Orleans.

Marie's book is very timely with the current immigration crisis and will help others without this poignant life experience understand how tough it is to leave what's familiar and attempt to assimilate to a completely different culture where another language is spoken. And, given the risks and hardships in Marie's life, her story will be an encouragement to others who have also endured the loss of a child, divorce, career challenges, and more. Pictures from her family's earlier life in Cuba and when she returned 50 years later with her mom were priceless.

Marie's "Life Lessons" are all so helpful:
- Trust That You Can Start Over
- Embrace Your Authentic Self
- Live Your Legacy Now (i.e., be present / connect deeply to your purpose / time is your most precious asset)

And, a personal note! I met Marie when she was with IBM on the Frito-Lay account in 1986-ish and then later when she left Perot Systems to work for PepsiCo. So great that we now have her story (also available in Spanish). I also enjoyed seeing Marie's interview at the New Orleans Book Festival from March 2025 (via YouTube). Way to go, Marie!

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

We saw Marie speak at the Tulane book festival and her story had us crying before even reading the book. As I started to read the book, I truly felt the words she wrote. Her book was inspiring to know that someone can endure so much and come through it by helping others by leaving the reader with great advice and motivation. Thank you Marie!