César Augusto Leonard Bellmas, born in Havana, Cuba, passed away peacefully at home at the age of 97. He leaves behind a legacy defined by warmth, humor, resilience, and unwavering devotion to his family.
1928-2025
He was born into a family deeply rooted in Cuba’s aviation history, as his uncles, the Leonard brothers, founded the first commercial aviation school in Cuba. César proudly carried on that tradition, becoming one of the youngest licensed commercial airline pilots in the country’s history, flying for Cubana de Aviación throughout his career.
Though the skies were his profession, his heart belonged to the sea. A competitive swimmer in his youth and a devoted fisherman at heart, César often said that if life had unfolded differently, he would have gladly spent his days casting lines and chasing tides.
In 1955, he courted and married María Linares Pérez, a newly graduated Registered Nurse, and together they raised three children—including César Jr., whose life with intellectual disabilities was embraced by César and María with boundless love, joy, and steadfast patience. Above all, César was a devoted father and husband. His family was his greatest pride and purpose.
In 1962, amid Cuba’s shifting political landscape, César made the difficult decision to leave his homeland. He resettled first in Hialeah and then Miami Springs, beginning anew with quiet strength, deep dignity, and his ever-present good humor. A CIA communication from that era, declassified years later, suggests his departure was quite an adventure, involving a scheduled stop, a request for political asylum, and a week-long stay at the home of the Bahamas governor.
After hanging up his pilot wings in exile, César found a second calling as a machinist at Eastern Airlines—a role that perfectly suited his lifelong affinity and skill with motors and mechanics. He was ambidextrous, an avid reader, and had a mind for math, reason why those who knew him described him fondly as “undisclosed genius.”
When his son Charlie founded the Leonard Real Estate Group he became a right-hand man, manning the office and helping out with open houses and their yearly Santa Letters drive. He was always there at the River Cities festival, the Farmer’s Market, Halloween at The Circle and many more community events.
César was a happy-go-lucky soul who met life’s challenges with unshakable optimism. He brought lightness into every room and entertained all with his trademark wit.
He is predeceased in his journey by his beloved son, César Jr., his sisters Elena and Mary, the mother of his children, María, and his cherished daughter-in-law, Sandy.
His memory and legacy live on through his surviving children, his son Charlie and his daughter Merc, and their partners, Idania and Conchita. Also, his beloved granddaughters and spouses: Samantha and Elliot, Allison and Sean, his granddaughter Kate, and his adored great-grandchildren: Maxwell, Liam, Griffin, Nathaniel, and Celine. He will also be lovingly remembered by his great grandparent counterpart Milagros, and his many cousins, nieces, and nephews who called him “Chopa” or “Chopita”, his nickname since Cuba. May his memory be a blessing.
We share our loss with all of those who knew him, especially his neighbors and friends in the Miami Springs community where he resided for over 40 years. We especially thank his devoted caregivers, Bianka, Ivogen and Mirelys, who filled his life with laughter and joy to the last.
Indeed, his was a life well lived.
César leaves us as he always did when he parted your company – with a warm smile, a mischievous twinkle in those blue eyes, and his unforgettable: “¡Champú de Cariño!”
