I am the grandaughter of Jose Owen Alvarez, who came to eastern Cuba from Ponce, Puerto Rico early in the twentieth century when he was nine years old. Some family traits include: tall with elegant gait (he used to walk with a cane adding to the effect), smiling blue eyes, prominent nose, large ears (he would joke about his ears), thinning hair, very congenial personality, love of family, love of politics. He was patriotic, passionate about civil rights and possessed integrity beyond reproach. The Owen family motto is: "Honesty is the best policy" and Robert Owen was a British, world renown reformer of workplace conditions. An Owen promoted child reform labor law in the United States early in the twentieth century.

Other peculiarities of my grandfather were: a preference for natural cures, study of nature especially flora and fauna, knowledge of astronomy. I believe his father was a seafaring man who possibly died of a disease related to sea travel. My grandfather would tell, with great interest, of travelling in the Caribbean islands and of learning about different cultures and customs, even prior to arriving in Cuba at nine years of age. He also told of the land owned by his father in Ponce or on its outskirts, which bordered on a river. I think I recall a mention of Martinique.

My grandfather was an amateur poet and his poetry is kept a Hudson County public library collection, and his upon his death a community newspaper article praised his personal qualities. His most memorable idiosincracies, however, were his sense of humor (a new joke, found or written, every single day) and his gentlemanly manner. His formality seemed casual but was neverfailing.

There are members of the Owen family in Ponce today. Please contact me at inesdiazowen@hotmail.com for further information.