by Michelle (Fearey LaGue) Mock - ASM '69

After the screams of recognition and hugs, people settled into a very comfortable state, as if they had always been together and were picking up a conversation that was still in progress. Thirty or more years had passed, yet it seemed like not a moment had been lost.

The majority of us got together, the night before the big reunion, at Casa Juancho, a terrific Spanish restaurant in Miami. I coordinated the dinner from California with Maitre d' Manuel Vila who, with his staff, attended to our every wish. The service was incredible, and the spilled tapas provided a bit of unexpected entertainment. We talked and talked through the enormous grins! The food was excellent, yet most complained that they were too busy enjoying each other's company to really savor the meal. Some of us returned to Casa Juancho at least once that weekend, so we could really taste the food. It was definitely excellent!

By Saturday, the vast majority of alumni were very comfortable with each other. Dressing for the occasion (the "very, very casual" event at Ricardo's) was less of a hassle, because we had already all made our "first impressions" and there was nothing left to worry about! Those who did not attend on Friday evening, were immediately spotted and greeted by the rest. The conversation was non-stop …. getting people to sit down to eat was a major effort!

Ricardo and Celina are the most awesome hosts! Everything was perfect! The Argentinean barbecue was wonderful! The covered patio, tented eating area, beautiful lake, bartender and waiters tending to our every desire …. geez! it was great!!! Our DJs were the best too (even though it must have pained them to listen to that 60s music) !!!

And all the children … you guys were the greatest … model behavior from the little ones to the teenagers … I hope you had fun. Sorry about the music … next time we'll have some more groups like Smashmouth, N'Sync, 98 Degrees, Backstreet Boys, TLC, Britney Spears, Bewitched, …. I suppose if our parents had to listen to Beatles and Rolling Stones …

My ASM Alumni flag has been going to reunions since last October. I have collected nearly 70 alumni signatures to date. For those of you who haven't seen it, it is made from Spanish Flag material and I embroider over the written signatures. I only have 24 or so left to embroider!

My Alumni Journal also goes to every reunion. At the December 1998 mini-reunion in Burbank, I brought a journal for the alumni to write in. Mark Vasconcellos '81 was the first entry: "Wherever it may be when ASMers get together, it feels like Spain. The same hang outs, the same teachers and a lot of similar stories to be shared and told. … Another successful ASM reunion! Ten of us from all different walks of life, but all of us united by the ASM experience!"

This journal has traveled to many Southern California reunions and has been to San Francisco, Miami and is now headed to Las Vegas. There are a total of four journals circulating now. Mine (Southwest Corner) is Volume I. Gus Gonzalez (Southeast Corner) has Volume II in Miami. Steve Shepard '72 (Northeast Corner) has Volume III in Vermont. Jim Vasconcellos '79 is the current guardian of Volume IV (Northwest Corner) in San Francisco. Every once in a while, these journals cross paths as Volume I and II did in Miami. Volume II also traveled back to California with me and will be heading back home to Miami after the Las Vegas reunion this Labor Day weekend. When you see these journals at future reunions, please stop and share your thoughts.

From Michelle Mock '69 (enroute to Miami):

As the plane came into Atlanta for a landing, I thought I had calmed down, I wasn't feeling out of control and crazy anymore! But, when the plane landed and I stepped off, I realized the plane was on the ground but I was still soaring!

Gus Gonzalez '83 (after pre-reunion get-together at Casa Juancho):

It was an "awesome" feeling when I entered the room where the Class of 1969 and member alumni from the other decades (60s-90s) were to meet. I recognized Michelle at once, it had been a year since Michelle and I had exchanged e-mails. To think that from that "exchange" all the folks to meet this evening and on Saturday at Ricardo's home. As folks walked in, they looked at each other trying to recognize each other. Some were quick - others it took some time. I enjoyed myself as I looked around the dinner table. Groups got together - I was transported to my days in Madrid remembering when my fellow alumni and I spoke over tapas, cañas, etc…. The dinner was very good - from an assortment of tapas, salad, paella valenciana, postre (crema catalana), café, y mucha, mucha sangría - reminded me of my days a Plaza Mayor.

From Lincoln Diaz-Balart '72:

This was a great idea and I'm glad to be here. Hope to see everyone in Madrid in 2001.

From Jim Karna '68:

Carol, Johnny and I loved every minute of this reunion. It was like a star studded trip back in time - all the wonderful memories. I really honor and respect the spirit that brought us together. I hope we will all meet again in 2001.

From Carmen Marín '67:

This is so amazing!! I'm so happy to be here and enjoy the old friendships and the new ones … Looking forward to 2001 in Madrid! Thank you to all the ones that put so much work and effort into putting this fabulous event together. You're awesome!!

From Lida Hooghuis Reicher '69:

There are no words in the English language to describe what took place this week-end … the impossible occurred … a trip into the "Twilight Zone"!!!! How marvelous, how awesome, how amazing, SUCH FUN!!!

From Gus Gonzalez '83:

Congratulations to the Class of 1969! You are celebrating your 30^th year since graduation from our very own American School of Madrid. Thanks for inviting participants from the decades of the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s to share in your jubilation, excitement, happiness, etc. … we are ALL thankful and happy to share with the Class of 1969. Even though I was only 4 years of age when you all were receiving your diplomas, I have had the pleasure to follow in your foot steps … the same traditions. I am grateful to have made special friendships with ALL. May our friendships last a life time, may all decade alumni look at the Class of 1969 with admiration and pride … let's continue our traditions. Saludos, paz, bendición a todos!

From Bill Mock '69:

This is like signing the yearbook all over again - a chance to address all of my own good friends in retrospect, after the fact. The fact is that we need to do this more often. It gives us perspectiva: y creo que muchos de nosotros lo necesitamos de vez en cuando. Bueno, hasta por ahora, viva el email!

From Conchita González '67:

May the "Force" be with all of the wonderful ASMers.

From Amy Smith-Langdon '71:

What a wonderful reunion - can't wait till 2001! Hasta pronto.

From Aurelio Cancio '63:

In spite of being the only member of the '63 class, I felt I belong to this group. Was a memorable occasion and I can't wait until the 2001 reunion.

From Phil Zimmerman '68:

Thanks to all for putting this event together. Well worth the trip seeing all the old faces. Hope to see all in Madrid in two years. The food was great, and the weather cooperated! P.S. Great swim here too!!!

From Nancy Stanick Gilligan '69:

What a wonderful dream-come-true to revisit with old (young at heart) friends from 30 years ago.

From Xamara Villar '69:

Time flies. We have gone back to our "good old times in ASM". What an experience. It's been great to see all those faces again.

From Debbie Jeanes Finkel '69:

I am speechless. I am very moved in a positive way. Thank you ! Wow!

From Ingeborg Möller-Rizo '69:

¿Qué puedo decir? Ha sido un encuentro muy bello y ojalá no haya que esperar 30 años más para volver a reunirnos. ¡Veámonos en Madrid en el 2001! Gracias Michelle, Gracias Agustín, Gracias Ricardo y Celina!

From Larry Hawkins:

Hola Compañeros de mi vida - What a pleasure is this short chance meeting in Miami, Summer of 1999. It was September 1963 that I flew into Madrid to work at ASM. It changed my life forever from a small New England perspective to that of Europe, of the Mediterranean, of Spain, with a sweep of history of 3?, 5?, 7? thousand years. All brand new for me. But it was the "kids", the students and our interactions learning and joy that brings me back here now. Thanks to all of you. Love and un abrazo.

From Ken Smith '70:

¡Hola todos! Thanks for organizing this reunion and for coming to it. It's wonderful to share memories and rediscover friends who actually understand what the ASM experience was. Thanks to everybody, let's stay in touch. We have so much in common, even those of us who never met.

From Sheila Donovan '69:

What an experience of remembrance of things past this has been - and more than I ever expected or imagined. A splendid reunion of friends, intimates and pals in a beautiful ambiente de amor y amistad. Spain is my home in heart and soul and all of you had much to do with this. Keep in touch!

From Lida Hooghuis Reicher '69:

Hi Gus! Thank you ever so much for your incredible drive and dedication to making this project so amazingly successful despite the fact that these were not your own classmates. It was more than awesome, no words could describe the "enormity" of it all!

From Millie LaGue (a.k.a. Jasmine Baggins):

Michelle is home - I would love to have been a fly on the wall - What a great experience for all of you! That gal Michelle - ok - she's first my granddaughter !! How about that?? Yes, it has been quite an experience for all of us. So happy that it was a grand success for all involved.

From Monika Schlick Clibourn ('70):

A week has passed since my supposed departure for Miami. I am so heartbroken that I missed the event. I have heard through the grapevine that it was nothing less than fabulous!!! My husband and I had intended to go to Miami on Thursday of last week and spend Friday chilling out on the beach, and them participating in all the gala events you had so graciously planned. Thursday my husband, Doug, had a major set back in his work, and a week before our planned departure my 90 year old father had a bad fall and underwent surgery. My father never recovered from the anesthesia (he is still in a unconscious state and slowly dying) and between the situation with my father and my husband's professional need to stay close to the office, it was not the right choice for me to go to Miami. I was thrown into a turmoil of desire and confusion and ultimately did not make my decision until I was at the airport, suitcase in hand, tears rolling down my face, checked in to the flight and ten minutes before departure it hit me like a ton of bricks that I too had to stay home. In retrospect, it was the right decision. I spent Friday night and the bulk of the weekend on the phone with the hospital and the doctors and family members. Had I gone to Miami I would have missed all those calls, and I would have been painfully distracted. I ended up being so very sad, but at the same time, relieved that I was here at home to support my husband and deal with the complications of a dying parent. I hated to make the choice. I called Jose from the gate at the airport and tearfully explained to him why I would not be in Miami. It was ironic that he was going after I had applied intense pressure and mild threats.... As I told Jose, this is the difference in the Monika of '69, who would have just left in the middle of chaos and said to hell with it all and the Monika of '99..... Hawkins has called and told me how wonderful it was to see everyone. I am devastated, for a number of reasons, and it is a regret that I will always have that I was not with you for the 30th reunion of the class of '69. So many of the members of that graduating class were so very dear to me then and I would have loved the opportunity to reunite and hopefully, rejuvenate some relationships that had been precious.

So, kudos to you for organizing it all! I intend to go to Madrid in 2001, or is it earlier for the 30th reunion of the class of '70 or is it both? At the moment I don't know. I am sure that you understand my decision but I doubt that you will ever know how deeply heartbroken I was and continue to be that I was not a participant. I trust you will continue to send email this way and ignore my absence as I was there with you in spirit and thought about all of you all weekend long. Please stay in touch.

Monika can be reached at: quantics@shore.net

From Jim Karna '68:

When I was at ASM, the school was still in that funky looking apartment building on Calle Doctor Fleming. I think it proved to all of us that a school is not just a facility. (We had some desks and blackboards back then, but I don't remember any expensive equipment.) Rather, a school is a gathering of people who want to learn and explore and change. It is the spirit of the people who attend the school that make it great, not the facility.

During the years I was there, ASM didn't have a spiffy chemistry lab, a huge library, a football stadium or any fancy equipment. What it did have, however, was a faculty that was interested in teaching and students who were eager to explore and learn. That was quite enough, and it affected my life in a positive way.

I was amazed at how much spirit and energy former ASM'ers still demonstrate, even after more than Thirty years! The Miami reunion brought many of my favorite people together again. My former English teacher, Larry Hawkins, was there. He hasn't aged at all and has the same energy and spirit he brought to his classes at ASM. Former Assistant Principal, Marta de la Cal was also there. This lovely lady told us that she remembers the time she spent at ASM in the Sixties as one of the best times of her life, even though she has since worked as a journalist for Time magazine and flown around with Presidents! [?] My first friend at ASM, Phil Zimmermann was there. I hadn't seen him in Thirty years! He has spent his life quietly exercising his creativity by teaching and creating graphics design and print art at SUNY. My good friends Jaime and Janet Kevlin were there, just as sociable and full of good cheer as I remember them at ASM. Rafael Diaz-Balart and his brother Lincoln were there, looking as prosperous, successful and cheerful as ever. Joe Sueiro was there, showing us all that the passage of time is no reason to lose a zany zest for life. Bill Mock was there, demonstrating again that he hasn't lost any of his singing ability and thespian skills. And Ritchie Daugherty and Pepe Presley, together again, singing "G-L-O-R-I-A." What a gas they were! I was ROTFLMAO*! And all the lovely ladies that were there! Ahh! What a treat it was to see you all again after all these years: Michelle Mock, Debbie Jeanes Finkel, Coke Caram, Becky Philbrook, Sheila Donovan, Lida Hooghuis, Madeline Goudie, Xamara Villar, Ana Ferrer, Conchita Gonzalez, Peg Danos Castelli, and Leslie Smith Deely to name just a few. My hat's off to you ladies. You all looked super! And it was so nice to meet the father of our website, Gus Gonzalez and his lovely wife. Thanks again for all the hard work. This reunion wouldn't have been the same without it. And many others were there also, too numerous to mention in this short e-mail.

The night after the reunion, I went for a walk on the beach near the hotel I was staying at. The sea was calm, but a storm was brewing on the horizon, and lightning over the sea would occasionally illuminate the beach.

As I walked, I reflected on all the people I had just met again. I thought about how each one had affected my life in some way and contributed to my experience. I thought about the force that brought us together in the first place, and that seems to have drawn us together again. I also thought about all the good people who were not at the reunion, some of whom we have located, and some of whom we are still looking for. May the next reunion bring together an even larger group!

* For you non-geeks, ROTFLMAO means "Rolling on the Floor Laughing My Ass Off."

Jim can be reached at: Jkarna@aramco.com or owlntex@aol.com

From Debbie Jeanes Finkel '69:

What can I say? I'm overwhelmed. I just got back to work today [Tuesday, August 17^th]. I left Sunday night but needed Monday to regroup - I can't tell you how emotional it was for me. Was it for you? At times I felt I was having an out of body experience as I looked at people's faces, hearing different voices coming out of their mouths, remembering us/them then and seeing/hearing us/them now. I felt a bit removed because I wanted to hear and observe. What I did Monday at home, alone, was thought about what I should have done. I should have moved around more, talked to more people but often times I felt frozen in place observing, absorbing, filing memories away feeling all kinds of emotions. It was wonderful. Thought and heart provoking! I didn't want it to end because I didn't know when we would be able to do it again since one never knows what happens in life--life is fleeting.

I wanted to break into small groups and then play like musical chairs and move to another small group. I don't know...it was great...it was weird...it woke things up in me I had hidden deep in my soul because it was so painful to leave ASM when I did. Now on to the future, with new/old friends.

Debbie can be reached at: DFinkel@nsba.org

From Jamie Kevlin '69:

Fantastic weekend. Memorable. Wonderful to see you and the rest of the gang again after all these years. Heartfelt thanks for taking on the effort.

Jamie can be contacted at: kevlin@pottsville.infi.net

From Pepe Presley '69:

What an incredible experience! It was great to see everybody. Everyone looked fantastic y tan felíz! Hope to see you all at the next reunion.

Pepe can be contacted at: PepeASM@aol.com

From Paula Voytko '69:

I'm back in the office today and this is my first opportunity to communicate my regrets for having missed you all last weekend. As you know, I was traveling with my 9 year old niece, and she wasn't feeling that great on Friday so we made the decision not to try and drive down from Orlando which turned out to be good since she really had a bad stiff neck until Sunday afternoon.

I missed seeing all of you, but I'm sure you had a great time! Maybe we'll find another opportunity to get together. Please send my regards to all.

Paula can be reached at: pvoytko@mail.wt.net

From Rafa Diaz-Balart '68:

I congratulate you for all your efforts and diligent work in making the 1999-60's reunion a reality. It was excellent, and all who attended had a great time.

Rafa can be contacted at: rdb@vestecgroup.net

From John Berard '66:

This was an "Absolutely Fabulous" reunion. It was exciting seeing my old school mates, teachers, and meeting those who attended ASM in the later years.

John can be reached at: mdiab@Bellatlantic.net

From Sergio Cerda '64:

I was writing to John, when your email came in, in re: slide show. I am impressed. I look at the pictures and see exactly what the experience of the Miami reunion meant/means to me. Ana [Ferrer Illsen] also is ecstatic. She emailed me right after the reunion and said she still hadn't come down off the "high". Me neither.

I see by the AIM that everyday you are burning the midday or midnight oil. I am starting to believe that you weren't being dramatic when you said that you don't sleep.

Sergio can be contacted at: flyenhi@earthlink.net

From Xamara Villar '69:

It was great seeing you all in Miami. As you said it was the right time. I think we will all cherish this always.

Xamara can be contacted at: XamaraV@aol.com

From Jim Presley '71:

That was a great picture of the Miami reunion. I am was glad to see that Larry Hawkins looks exactly like he did in Madrid. Any news from anyone is greatly appreciated. I look forward to the nearing reunions, and I am planning to attend. I am really happy that Talena and Pepe attended this latest one, I was with Tina celebrating her birthday [and the 20^th anniversary of her law firm] in Santa Monica, Ca. and therefore could not be there. Pepe did mention that he and Talena had a BLAST. Take care and thanks for co-ordinating all of the activities for the 60's.

Jim can be reached at: jim.presley@vit.com

Plaque Presentation to Agustín (Gus) González:

Because of the enormous amount of work that Gus González '83 puts into the GoLancers.COM web site, Steve Shepard '72 (Decade Liaison Seventies) and Michelle Mock '69 (Decade Liaison Sixties) had a plaque made up to show a little of the appreciation and admiration we have for his dedication and drive. The plaque has the GoLancers.COM logo and says: "In recognition of all you do to bring ASMers around the world back to a place we can call "home". With love and affection, we present this token of our appreciation to Agustín González '83. If you build it, they will come." He was presented with the plaque at the Miami Reunion on August 14, 1999.

Special Thank You:

On behalf of everyone who attended the Miami reunion, I want to express our deepest appreciation and thanks to Henry Sanz and Ricardo and Celina Daugherty for all the effort and work they put into coordinating this fantastic reunion. In addition to getting all the details worked out, they had to put up with me "metiendo la naríz en todo"! You know they must have great patience and wonderful sense of humor to put up with the Nag!

Words can not express or even come close to conveying the enormous gratitude, love, and affection we all feel towards Ricardo and Celina. We know that the $25 we paid was only a small portion of the actual costs for this fabulous event. Even if we had paid much, much more, we could never have matched what we received in return. This was just so perfect. I can not find the words to thank you enough.

Did any one get any pictures of this event?

The answer to that is: YES! John Berard '66 took approximately 200 + photos. Clay Coleman (Connie's husband) captured many great stills with his video camera. Sergio Cerda has scanned several great shots that he took and some photos from Xamara have been scanned and emailed to me. More people, including myself, still have photos to process and most have promised to send me copies. I am busy scanning and organizing photos and someday will have a reunion photo album to add to my collection of alumni memorabilia! Any photos you want to send my way will be gratefully accepted! J Just send them to me at MFeareyASM@aol.com or contact me for my snail mail address. If you don't have a scanner, you can take your prints to Kinko's or similar places and have them scan the photos and put them on disk for you. Typically it works best if you do one picture per file in JPEG format.

Do any of you have photos of the children from the reunion? I am hoping that we have some, but so far I have only caught a glimpse of one or two in the background. I am also looking for group photos, particularly if members of a specific class had their photo taken together. If any of you have expertise working with digitized photos, let me know! I am looking for people to teach me!!! I am thinking of creating collages etc.

Gus will be posting many photos on-line, including some awesome slide shows created by John Berard. I am looking into creating a commemorative video and a reunion "year book" with the many photos that were taken.

I will let you know as soon as the photos get posted. In the meantime, check out the website http://www.GoLancers.COM. The Topics of Interest Page will lead you to pages that have been recently updated. Look for some major changes to the site. Gus came away from the reunion with renewed enthusiasm and a desire to cause more work for himself. He plans to make some major improvements to the site (as if it could get any better). Additionally, he will be creating special pages for graduation pix from all years. See the Pictures page for graduation pictures from 1969 and 1983. Photos from 1967 have been scanned and will soon appear. Do you have any graduation or prom photos? Let me know!

GoLancers.COM Registration:

If you haven't registered (or re-registered) at GoLancers.COM, please do so as soon as possible. Go to http://www.gomiami.com/members/asm/register.asp . The new email directory will allow you to update your own information, but best of all, it will allow you to search for others based on name, graduation year, or location. When everyone has registered, we will have a very powerful search capability. If you don't remember if you have registered, please do a search on your name or graduation year and double check. The system currently allows you to duplicate your information, which is not what we want. We are looking into fixing this problem, but may have to live with it. So, please check first. If you have any difficulties registering, please let me know. I would be happy to help you through it.

Gone But Not Forgotten:

I returned to California with many new leads, courtesy of Peg Danos Castelli's collection of old Alumni Bulletins. I have started contacting university alumni associations who are forwarding information to possible ASM alumni. I am sad to report that I received the following news from Dr. Tara Singer of the University of Louisville Alumni Association: "I am sorry to inform you that Mr. [Barry] Boucher passed away in 1989. He received a degree from U of L in 1974. I am very saddened to inform you of his passing. His wife still has an address here in Louisville if you would like to correspond with her." On behalf of all ASM alumni, I extend our deepest sympathy to Barry's family and friends.

This is a copyrighted document. It is not to be duplicated without the express written consent of the authors. Express written consent must be obtained from each individual contributor.