Eduardo Conde entered the world Dec. 25, 1954 in Havana, Cuba, the first son of Olga Cabrerra and Camilo Conde from Galicia, Spain.
Eduardo had a love and passion for life, nature, art and animals. He had an abundance of knowledge about numerous subjects.
All who knew him knew he was a grand storyteller, as well as a dog whisperer (or dog master supreme).
In 1980 at age 26, Eduardo came to the United States on the Mariel Boatlift. Because he also spoke English, he was immediately employed by the United States government as a refugee replacement official. He worked in Fort Chaffee, Ark., translating and interviewing Cuban refugees for future resettlement.
He attended San Alejando Art School in Havana and also worked with Ocean Search and Rescue in Cuba.
He was the recipient of many prestigious art awards, including but not limited to The National Cintas Foundation Fellowship, the Arkansas Arts Council Artist Fellowship and the Mid-American/NEA Artist Fellowship.
He was briefly a professor at the University of Arkansas where he taught graphic arts, but his favorite jobs were those in which he taught art to children. A magnificent and acclaimed artist himself, Eduardo’s connection to children was a light for all to witness, as well as a treasure to him. He was a traveler, a jokester, a lover, a teacher, a diver, a cook, a master carpenter, a friend and the list goes on and on.
He had a deep love for his granddaughters by marriage here in America, Sophie Star and Phoebe Anderson; and a fervent love for his daughter, Joice Conde, grandchildren Heidy and Mario, and great-granddaughter, Valeria, all of Havana, Cuba.
At the time of his passing he left behind his beloved wife of 20 years, Jan Conde of Eureka Springs, Ark., his daughter, Joice Conde, grandchildren Heidy and Mario, and great-granddaughter Valeria, of Havana, Cuba, and his step children and grandchilden, Jesse, Sumre, Sophie and Phoebe.
He is preceded in death by his mother, Olga Cabrera, and father, Camilo Conde.
He will be missed greatly.
He will be missed in our community, the art world and the planet.
Eduardo was the friend you would want for yourself, your son or daughter or wife or husband, the kind of person you would wish into anyone’s life. He was all this to me, and the loss of him is only surpassed by the wealth of having had him.
So very, very sorry for your loss! Take care old friend!
Lovely tribute so much I didn’t know about him but feel good about getting to be in his presence at all a special person