Oscar Jerome Hijuelos (August 24, 1951 – October 12, 2013) was an American novelist . Of Cuban descent, during a year-long convalescence from a childhood illness spent in a Connecticut hospital he lost his knowledge of Spanish, his parents' native language. [3] [4] He was educated in New York City, and wrote short stories and advertising copy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Hijuelos