There was a legitimate reason for requesting everyone to respond to my email about my mailing list problems. Yeah, I know you think I have just come up with another way to nag ... :-) ... hey, it works! Seriously though, Jim Karna reported that he had not received the February issue of Voice of the Sixties. When we looked at the distribution list, neither one of us could see anything wrong with his email address.

Since there was the possibility that some invisible character or other garbage could have corrupted the mailing list, I was worried that others could be affected. Almost everybody responded! Thank you so much.

There are a few problems with some of our ASM email though (no, I am not talking about myself):

Jim Karna '68 doesn't always receive my emails. We tried various methods to troubleshoot the problem, but nothing was consistent. Sometimes he gets the messages and sometimes he does not. If you write to Jim and he does not respond, do not assume that he is ignoring you. Resend the message, maybe he did not receive it. He is still looking into the problem.

Alberto Darna, Jr. '68 is also having difficulties with email. I am not sure what the problem is, but Jim did contact him by phone and verified that there was an e-problem.

Carol Farron '69 works for Lodi Memorial Hospital. Her email address is tied to the hospital's web site and goes through a secretary for distribution. She usually gets the messages, but please put "Attn: Carol Farron" in the Subject area to make distribution a little easier. Snail mail is better for her. Contact me if you need her address.

In summary, if you write to somebody and you don't hear back, try again. The email may not have made it to its destination.

Another technological problem is the very annoying glitch that causes old web pages to be loaded from the hard drive instead of the updated pages from the Internet. I discovered this problem when I was trying to look at updated pages at Gus Gonzalez's ASM Alumni Home Pages (a.k.a. Unofficial Pages of the American School of Madrid). I could not get the new pages. Eventually, Gus directed me to a "Temporary Internet Files" folder in my Windows folder. If I delete the Cache folders in that "Temporary Internet Files" folder, I can load the new web pages. This is really annoying but deleting those folders solved my problem. WARNING: If you are experiencing similar difficulties, be careful what you delete! Ask an expert for help if you need it. Deleting anything that says "cache" could make you cry! ... Been there, done that!

While we are on the subject of technology and "why doesn't this work?!?" -- if you try the Chat Room at the ASM Alumni Pages, you may find that your browser is "Not Java Enabled". This has as many solutions as there are browsers, and it is a good topic for the ASM Alumni Forum at Delphi.com.

Delphi.Com and GoLancers Forum:

Gus Gonzalez '83 has set up an ASM message forum at Delphi.com. You have to register to use it, but the service is free. You can store your password so that you don't have to type it in each time (great if you tend to forget passwords). The service customizes the forum for you. It will not display messages you have already seen unless you ask to see them. You can request that it notify you by email if a message has been posted to you.

Delphi.com is not the easiest service to use. Those of us currently signed up are experimenting with it, to see what we like. PlanetAll.com and Branchout.Com are two additional services that we are experimenting with. You can find links to all three on the Topics of Interest Page at http://www.gutech.com/asm. Try them out, and let us know what you think by signing the guestbook at that URL, or posting a message at Delphi.com.

From Jennifer (Haer) Diaz-Balart '69 (Doylestown, PA):

I am alive and well in Doylestown, PA. I was married to Rafael Diaz-Balart (he was at ASM 1963-64) and we had two children. Our daughter is almost 20 and our son just turned 18. I can't believe it! I have been in Pennsylvania for thirteen years and have a small business (handmade jewelry). I have no email address so I shall have to communicate via the U.S. Mail.

I am not in touch with anyone from ASM (barring my former in-laws) but would love to be in touch with many of them. I hope your search has been successful and that someday I will get a current directory.

All the Diaz-Balarts can be contacted through their oldest brother Rafael (Rafa). Lincoln married ASMer Cristina Fernandez and is a U.S. Congressman from Dade County, Florida. Jose is an anchor on "CBS News This Morning" and Mario is a state Senator in Florida.

My mother, Joanne Haer, returned to the U.S. two years ago and now lives in Panama City, Florida. Last I heard, Michael Dunev (he was at ASM in the mid-60s) owned an art gallery in San Francisco. Dwight Miller is in the admissions department at Harvard. Larry Hawkins lives near Boston. John Sandvig works for Boeing Corp. in Seattle and the O'Callaghan family live in the Washington, D.C. area. Mrs. Curbera and Mrs. Fernandez still live in Madrid, as do a lot of our other teachers.

Please keep in touch and I promise to keep in touch.

Mary (Coke) Caram '67:

According to Ana (Ferrer) Illsen, Coke prefers to remain in Garbo-esque seclusion, and not submit a mini-bio at this time. I therefore submit this unauthorized version:

"The story of my life? We all do the same things. We go to school, we learn, we grow up--one much as another. Some are born in mansions, some in cottages. What difference does this make in the long run?..."

~ Greta Garbo ~

Ana also reports that Coke is absolutely thrilled to be hearing from everybody! So, I suppose that means that she is a Garbo of the 90s, when she "vants to be alone", she just ignores her emails! :-)

Sergio Dennis Cerda's Official Bio:

Work History

After leaving ASM I went to Egypt to visit with my father, returning to Madrid after two months, then traveling to Pasadena, California in 1966. I remained in California a couple of years and again returned to Madrid. I returned to the U.S. in the early 70’s, but stayed on the East Coast doing odd jobs and at one point lived in a "regulation" size Indian teepee in the wilds of Vermont. I eventually found my way to California where I have remained ever since. After much thought, I decided to work with developmentally disabled kids, which I did for a time. I then joined Headstart and later went to work in a nursing home as a Social Services Designee. I worked in nursing homes for 11 years with some time spent working in an Acute hospital setting as a Social Worker/Discharge Planner. Six years ago one of my healthcare contacts offered me a job as a social work assistant in the company I am presently employed with. A year later, I was offered the position of Project Coordinator for an SSI Outreach Demonstration Project contract funded by Social Security Administration. Before the "sunset" of the project I was asked to be the Director of an Adult Day Healthcare Center, which I currently head.

Alumni

After seeing Mark Johnson (’64) receive the Academy Award for "Rainman" in the 80’s, I was able through Mark to re-establish contact with David Johnson (’65) and have remained in touch with him since then. It was David who called to inform me that ASM was on the "WEB".

So far I have attended two reunions, one in Monrovia, California, where I met several alumni from different years, but not until the San Francisco reunion did I meet someone who I had actually gone to school with: David Robinson (’65). Carol Farron ('69) was also at the reunion but she apparently arrived at ASM the year after I graduated, so we knew many of the same people but we had not actually met before.

During the 35 years I have been away from ASM, I have run into two other alumni - - Johnny Coelho (’65) and his brother Mario (’64). I would be happy to relate the circumstances of that meeting if any one is interested, however, I will not bore anyone with the details at this time.

Relationships

I was married for a time in the 1980’s but now I am divorced (no children). I have a girlfriend, Christina, who is kind and caring and as enthused as I am with finding classmates on the Internet.

Word of Thanks

My thanks to Bill Caram (’63), Cocola (’65), Omer (’64), Anita Illsen (’67), and David Robinson (‘65) for taking the time to e-mail me. I have missed you folks during the past thirty-five years. You were all a part of an intense period in my life, full of learning, discovery, coping, growth etc.. I look forward to reading your mini-bios and learn what adventures befell you after leaving ASM. Till soon my friends.

Last but not least, Thank You, Michelle Fearey, for all your fine efforts at getting us all together.

Un compañero del Colegio Americano De Madrid,

Sergio (Dennis) Cerda ‘64

Sergio can be contacted at flyenhi@earthlink.net .

From Omer Pirinccioglu '64 (New Hope, PA):

I met with Jennifer Haer. She offered a great Spanish omelet. She is going to have an e-mail address soon so she can follow what's going on. I have also spoken lengthily with Mark Johnson. We reminisced the old days. I didn't get his e-mail address but next time I call him I will get it and pass it over to you.

 This just arrived in an email to all Class Agents from Jasmine Baggins:

Gus Gonzalez '83 has been very busy lately improving the ASM Alumni Home Pages (aka: The "Unofficial" Pages of the American School of Madrid). Just this weekend, he updated more than 136 ASM pages and added more than 20 photos ! If you haven't been there in awhile, please take this little tour and check it out:

http://www.gutech.com/asm/asmtour.htm

While you are there, check the e-mail directory for your class to see if Gus has any additional names. Don't forget to register if you haven't already!

Please let us know what you think of the pages and the tour. All comments and suggestions are welcome. This is an alumni driven site to serve as a "common" meeting ground in order to facilitate communication amongst all students / alumni / alumni parents / teachers that have attended the American School of Madrid in Madrid, Spain. It is a place to call Home.

Please forward this link and e-mail to all the "found" members of your respective classes.

Saludos a todos!

Jasmine Baggins

Official Tour Guide

ASM Alumni Home Pages

Mini-Reunions Bring ASMers from the 60s Together:

ASMers from the 60s Decade are beginning to get together. Omer '64 and Jenny '69 met in Pennsylvania. At this writing John Cabrera '69 was schedule to visit MJ and Jamie Kevlin '69 in Pottsville, PA. In Miami, Henry Sanz, Xamara Villar, Bill Mock, Ricardo Daugherty and Carmen Pickett have been making plans for the Class of 1969 reunion this summer. Carmen has also seen Inge Möller-Rizo recently in New York. On the West Coast, Sergio '64 and Michelle '69 met for the first time at the Monrovia, CA mini-reunion. Sergio '64, David Robinson '65, Leslie Smith Deely '68, Carol Farron '69 and Michelle '69 attended the San Francisco, CA mini reunion. In March, Michelle '69 will meet Vikki Mortensen Regier '65 and Arne Mortensen '65 in San Diego. Sergio '64 and his girlfriend Tina Marr, also hope to be there. Over in Spain, Tica Echols Rojo '70 saw Teresa Goudie '68. Sarita Gomez Mola ('67) was recently in Madrid as well.

Check the pictures page at http://www.gutech.com/asm for photos from recent reunions. Gus Gonzalez '83 was up until 3 a.m. this morning to get them all posted!

Summer Reunions:

If you are interested in attending an ASM reunion this summer in the Midwest (possibly Indianapolis), send an email to Andy Ferestad '86 at ferand@picripe.com. If he gets enough response he will organize it.

If you are interested in attending an ASM reunion this summer (probably 2^nd weekend in August) in Miami, please send an email to Henry Sanz '69 at hsanz@adelphia.net .

If you are interested in attending an ASM reunion this summer in Las Vegas, please send an email to me at MFeareyASM@aol.com.

If you want to coordinate a summer reunion, please sign the Reunion Guestbook at http://www.gutech.com/asm/asmreugb.htm   and let other ASMers know what you are thinking about.

California Meets Madrid -- The Pen Pal Connection:

Tica (Echols) Rojo '70 is a third grade teacher at the American School of Madrid. Michelle (Fearey LaGue) Mock '69 is a Pre-K through 8^th grade computer and Spanish teacher in California. The two former classmates agreed that it would be great to share our experiences with our students.

We set out to have the students exchange pen pal letters using e-mail. This was a reasonable plan, but we came across a small problem. Third and fourth grade students do not type very quickly (particularly if they are paying attention to COPS ... capitalization, organization, punctuation and spelling). It is a painful process, very slow, and agonizing when they hold down the backspace key too long and erase what they just spent 10 minutes entering. Email did not allow them to be particularly creative either. After the first email exchange (which took about 3 months to complete), we decided to try the old fashioned way: Snail Mail ... it was faster.

The students at Montessori School of Corona took the emails from their new friends and created personal, handwritten cards and letters. Photos of the individual students were affixed to their letters. We created a package with postcards, maps and books about California and sent it with our letters and a brochure of our school to Tica's Class at ASM.

About a month later, MSOC received a return packet with letters, photos, postcards, pictures and an awesome brochure from ASM. I can't tell you how excited we all were! Now that the kids have names and faces for their pen pals, they are even more interested in corresponding. The California students are replying with emails and backing it up with another package of handwritten letters and "stuff".

The ASM Alumni program extends beyond the alumni, parents, teachers and staff. After all these years, it has the effect of shrinking the world and creating bridges of friendship across the globe. What a legacy! 

Our Teachers -- Where are they now?

I followed Jenny Haer's lead and looked up Harvard on the Web. There was a directory and it was simple to find Dwight Miller, who responded to my email:

"Yes, sí, oui, buenos días, olé - I am the DDM of ASM in the years 1963-66. Also, FYI, Larry Hawkins lives in Rockport, Mass and would enjoy hearing from you. We talk about our days at ASM with nostalgic gusto. Dwight Miller."

In the ASM brochure that Tica Echol's class sent to my students, I saw pictures of Françoise Asúnsolo and Ernie Belanger. How great to see them still on the job! A little more white in the hair but other than that, they look the same! ASM must be a great place to work (of course they have had the best students in the world)! 

I have also written to Joanne Haer, Larry Hawkins and Martha de la Cal, and am working on letters to Charmian Mock, Françoise Asúnsolo and Ernie Belanger. Perhaps we will have input from them in April.

Gone but not forgotten:

Once again I have the sad task of informing you of the death of an ASMer.