Pedro Victor Roig Hardouin, Esq. (July 24,1940- May 13, 2026)
The Center for a Free Cuba joins the Cuban American community to express its deepest condolences to the family of Pedro Victor Roig Hardouin, a life-long fighter for freedom and democracy in Cuba. At a young age, Roig left communist Cuba and in 1960 joined the Brigade 2506 and took part in the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion.
In addition to being a lawyer, Roig was a historian, educator, author, and a relentless champion of advancing human rights and individual liberties in Cuba. He earned an undergraduate and master’s degree from the University of Miami and his Juris Doctorate from St. Thomas University.
In 2003, Pedro Roig was appointed by President George W. Bush as Director of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (Radio and Television Marti). He authored many publications and several books including “Death of a Dream: History of Cuba Elusive Quest for Freedom,” a comprehensive history of Cuba, as well as the “Cuban War of Independence 1895—1898.”
Roig joined the Institute of Cuban and Cuban-American Studies (ICCAS) at the University of Miami, and followed ICCAS director, Dr. Jaime Suchlicki, to found the independent Institute for Cuban Studies when the University of Miami decided to change the nature and objectives of ICCAS in 2016. Said changes were unacceptable to both scholars, as they altered and betrayed the mission, goals and purpose of ICCAS.
Dr. Suchlicki and Dr. Roig worked together at the Institute for Cuban Studies for several years, publishing many special reports on Cuba. Mr. Roig left the Institute to return to law practice. Later he founded and chaired the Cuban Center for Strategic Studies, a research institution that investigates and documents political, economic and military issues, especially as related to Cuba.
One of his works is the series Pensando en Cuba: La República (1902-1958), a 10-session education series (in Spanish) on the history of Cuba during the first half of the 20th century, which Voces de Cuba produced in order to correct the widespread misinformation about the Cuban Republic (1902-1958). That Cuban Republic was dismantled by the Castro Revolution starting in 1959.
Pedro Roig will be greatly missed in the Cuban pro-democracy community. The Center for a Free Cuba will miss his sharp insights; we will miss him, too. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.
Visitation services will be held on Sunday, May 17, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Bernardo Garcia Funeral Home Kendall Chapel (12050 SW 117 Ave., Miami, FL 33186)
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, May 18, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Augustine Catholic Church (1400 Miller Rd.), followed by the graveside service at Miami Memorial Park.
Center for a Free Cuba
