40 years?

I can't believe 40 years have flown by since we walked out the doors of MLHS. Seeing as this reunion is a big one, here's the obligatory life-after MLHS update.

As per the professional life: After graduating with all of you in '65, I spent four years of college between Bogotá, Colombia and Philadelphia finishing my undergrad in Economics. Following, I enrolled at The Wharton School and received an MBA in '71. Subsequently, I joined Citibank N.A. and worked with them for 10 years in the International Banking Group. Throughout this time I traveled much, with assignments in Bogotá, Mexico DF, London, New York and Quito. After Citibank, my wife and I decided to look towards California, thus I joined Wells Fargo Bank; I was responsible for the Bank's activities in the Andean Countries- Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. In the process we deferred moving to San Francisco, and headed to Miami, where I have lived for the past 22 years. After planting roots in Miami, I joined the Nat West Group (British Bank) as CEO and President of the Coutts Int'l, focusing on Wealth Management and Private Banking. In 2001 because of mergers of the parent bank in England, I left the organization. Currently I am working as Director of Wealth Management for John Hancock Financial (the second largest life insurance co. in North America) in their South Florida Agency.

On the family front: In January of '75 I was fortunate enough to tie the knot with Gladys Kling. During our stay in Ecuador and Miami our family expanded significantly. Living in Quito, we were blessed with the first of out four very smart and extremely nice children, Carolina, now 28. She graduated from Amherst College and after some years working at Prudential in New York is on her way to the Kellogg School of Management to begin her MBA this fall. Luisa, the second child, 25, graduated from Brown University in Development Studies, and is currently a teacher for Kaplan in Cambridge, Mass. My third daughter Ana Maria, 24, received her B.A. in Government and her M.A. in International Education both from Harvard University. She married Russell Schelcht this past January, and also lives in Cambridge, MA, working for the World Education Foundation. The youngest, Roberto, 21, will be a senior at Harvard College; he and is majoring in English and Script Writing. After the last of the children left the nest, my wife, Gladys, decided to return to school, and as of last week, she is a graduate of Nova Southeastern University, with a M.A. in Education. She is very active with the Girls and Boys Scouting programs in South Florida.

As you all probably notice, I am an extremely proud and happy parent with a very well educated family, and a very slim checkbook.

This past January my wife and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary with my family, which included my mother, Adelaida (whom some of you may remember as Mrs. Patiño, the kind-hearted Spanish Teacher) and my seven brothers and sisters - six of which graduated form MLHS.

As for my two years at Mountain Lakes High School, I remain with some of the best memories of my life. It truly was a little hidden paradise. Many thanks to the organizing committee for putting this whole event together. I truly look forward to it. See you soon!!!