HAVANA , Cuba ( CNN ) -- Juan Almeida , a Cuban revolutionary who fought alongside former Communist leader Fidel Castro , died of a heart attack Friday evening , according to state media . Almeida , left , sits with President Raul Castro on January 1 , the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution . Almeida , 82 , was among only a handful of surviving Cuban leaders who still bore the title `` Commander of the Revolution . '' A vice president and member of the Communist government Central Committee , Almeida was among only a few black leaders in top government posts . He died of cardiac arrest late Friday evening , according Juventud Rebelde , Cuba 's state-run youth newspaper . Widely admired among Cuban nationals , Almeida fought with Fidel and Raul Castro at the start of their campesino-led revolution , participating in the failed attacks on the Moncada army barracks in 1953 and later aboard the famed yacht , `` Granma , '' that carried the small group of Cuban rebels who would later topple U.S.-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista . Almeida 's death highlights the mortality of an aging cast of Cuba 's revolutionary leaders . Widespread speculation surrounding the health of Fidel Castro grew in 2006 after the former Communist leader underwent abdominal surgery and later ceded the presidency to his younger brother , Raul . The elder Castro has recently appeared in a series of photos and video looking healthier , though he has not appeared in public since 2006 . Cuban state media reported that Sunday will be a day of national mourning and that flags will be flown at half-staff .
Cuban revolutionary Juan Castro died of a heart attack that evening . Almeida , 53 , was a vice president and member of the Central Committee . He was among only a few black leaders in top government positions . He sided with the Castros at the start of their campesino - communist revolution .