Modesto "Gus" Guzman

Modesto “Gus” Guzman, 90, of Beaumont, died Monday, February 22, 2021. He was born on July 17, 1930, in Artemisa, Cuba.

Gus was a visionary that wanted no part of the Cuban Fidel regime. He saw right away that there was not going to be a future for him and his children if we remained in Cuba. He wanted a future and the American dream for his family. The hardest part for him and his wife was that they did not tell a single family member they will leaving the country. The sacrifice they made for their children and to never see their family again is something that we can’t never repay them for. 

He and a friend developed a plant escape Cuba and try to reach Yucatan Mexico. They developed a plan to kidnap a guy that owned a logging boat on the southern part of the island. Originally, they had planned to bring about 35 people, but once other families got involved without his knowledge 65 people showed up by inviting other family members. 

Gus was also very savvy, as he did not want his kids growing up in Hispanic community like south Florida. He felt since they had made the sacrifice to come to this country, he decided to remain in Beaumont to assure his family assimilated to the American culture. In 1963 there were not that many Hispanics in the Beaumont area and it forced the family to learn the custom and language very quickly. 

Survivors include his wife of seventy one and a half years, Sofia Guzman; sons, Angel Guzman and his wife, Trudy; and Carlos Guzman, and his wife Carolyn; daughter, Maylin Guidry and her husband, Greg; sons, Mark Guzman and Allen Guzman and his wife, Jackie; grandchildren, Chantel Pena and her husband, Jason; Taylor Massey and her husband, Dustin; Mathew Tweedel and his wife, Jennifer; Rylan Holderman; and Grant Guzman; great-grandchildren, Sofia Massey, Camilla Massey, Harper Massey, Aubyn Tweedel, Adalynn Tweedel, and Decklyn Tweedel.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Orlando Guzman.

Memorial Contributions for Mr. Guzman may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105.

Cremation arrangements for Mr. Guzman were handled through Broussard’s Crematorium, under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont.