Editing Desi Arnaz (section)

==Early life==
Arnaz was born in [[Santiago de Cuba]], Cuba,<ref name="Larkin"/> to [[Desiderio Alberto Arnaz II|Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Alberni II]] (March 8, 1894 – May 31, 1973) and Dolores "Lolita" de Acha y de Socias (April 2, 1896 – October 24, 1988). His father was Santiago's youngest mayor and also served in the [[Cuban House of Representatives]]. His maternal grandfather was Alberto de Acha, an executive at rum producer [[Bacardi|Bacardi & Co.]]<ref name="Arnaz">Arnaz, Desi. ''A Book''. New York: William Morrow, 1976. {{ISBN|0688003427}}</ref><ref name="Gjelten, Tom 2008, p. 122">Gjelten, Tom. ''Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba: The Biography of a Cause''. Viking Adult, 2008, p. 122 (footnote).<!-- ISSN/ISSN needed --></ref>

A descendant of [[Cuban nobility]], Arnaz was a great-great-great-grandson of José Joaquín, a mayor of Santiago de Cuba. The [[Cuban Revolution of 1933]] forced Arnaz and his family to lose everything and flee Cuba. A mob attacked and destroyed the family's houses, property, and livestock.<ref name="closer"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Gross |first1=Ed |title='I Love Lucy' Star Desi Arnaz Went From 'Prince of Cuba' to King of Hollywood — and Risked it All |url=https://www.closerweekly.com/posts/i-love-lucy-star-desi-arnaz-life-and-career-remembered/ |website=Closer.com |date=November 5, 2019 |access-date=July 15, 2022}}</ref> Arnaz narrowly escaped the attack because he was able to hop in a car driving away. His father, Alberto Arnaz, was jailed and all of his property was confiscated. He was released after six months when his father-in-law, Alberto de Acha, intervened on his behalf.<ref name="Gjelten, Tom 2008, p. 122"/>

The family then fled to Miami, where Desi attended high school; his classmates included Albert 'Sonny' Capone, only child of Chicago mobster [[Al Capone]].  Arnaz' family came to the U.S. with no money and he had to live with his father in a garage that was infested with rats and roaches.<ref name="closer" /> In the summer of 1934, he attended [[Saint Leo University|Saint Leo Prep]]<ref>Horgan, James J. (1990). ''Pioneer College: The Centennial History of Saint Leo College, Saint Leo Abbey, and Holy Name Priory''. Saint Leo College Press. p. 463.</ref> (near [[Tampa]]) to improve his English. His first jobs included working at [[F. W. Woolworth Company|Woolworth's]] and cleaning canary cages in Miami. He then went into the tile business with his father before turning to show business full time.<ref name="closer"/>