A L U M N I JUBILEE GOLDEN
celebrating 50 years in miami
SUMMER 2011 • YEAR XLVII • No. 1
Message froM the aluMni President
It is often said that the character or quality of a person or population is measured by how that person or population responds to adversity and tragedy. Indeed, the circumstances that brought Belen to Miami 50 years ago are in many ways, sad, tragic and regrettable. While those circumstances cannot and should never be forgotten, it is what Belen has accomplished since then, that the entire Belen Community will be remembering and celebrating during this upcoming Jubilee Year.
Since first opening its doors on the fourth floor at Gesu Catholic School in Downtown Miami, Belen has gone from a negligible student population to 1,500 full time students. From a handful of classrooms “borrowed” from the Archdiocese of Miami, to a 30 acre campus that resembles a college much more than it does a middle and high school. Its seven principal buildings include, among other facilities, a chapel, a library, an observatory, over 50 classrooms, a technology center, a media center, a theater, an art gallery and a gymnasium. The school’s athletic facilities include a stadium, a swimming pool, tennis courts, baseball fields and a cross country vita course for its thirteen different sports teams and clubs. The academic environment sponsors six honor societies and twentyfour clubs and student organizations. Spiritually, the school is rich in the traditions of St. Ignatius of Loyola, his teachings of “men for others” and that all who learn and labor at Belen do so for the Greater Glory of God.
50 years in Miami ….
social endeavors and would historically rank, year after year, among the top 50 Catholic High Schools in all of the United States of America. With the leadership of the Jesuits and the support of the Archdiocese, the alumni and their friends and families, during the past 50 years Belen and its community have enjoyed unprecedented and almost miraculous success.
That says so much about the spirit, human quality and tenacity of Belen, the Jesuits, its students, the alumni community and their families. Since re-establishing itself in what was then a new land and community in 1961, Belen transformed itself from the relatively small, obscure, academic outpost of the renown “Palace of Education” by which Belen was known in Cuba frankly, little known outside of the Cuban community to an influential academic, spiritual and social incubator from which would come leaders in all facets of business, religious, political, science and
During this Jubilee Year, I want to extend a personal invitation to all Alumni to make some time and visit Belen. Many do so on a regular basis, but many have no idea of the great campus we enjoy today and the state of the art spiritual, academic, artistic, scientific and athletic facilities Belen offers to its students, alumni, families and community. As President of the Alumni Association, I have the privilege of welcoming into the Alumni Association the graduation classes during their last mass as Seniors of Belen. In welcoming them I always tell them that Belen and everything that is Belen - its people, its lessons, its experiences, its highs and lows, its spirit, and even its scent - are, indeed, unique and special. I also remind them that Belen does not represent the same thing to all of us, but it does represent something very special to each of us. Please make it a point to come home and visit. Come to re-live, re-kindle, re-connect with friends, reminisce and see for yourself how far we and you have come. Visit with classmates, with family or even alone come visit the faculty or one or more of the coaches, come visit the Jesuits, come for whatever reason or excuse you would like but come and visit. In addition to the many activities that take place during a typical academic year there will be Jubilee events in which you can participate. And if you want to make your own special visit, that will be fine too.I am confident you will be welcomed and you will be happy and proud that you did.
We look forward to seeing you.
Jorge Hernandez-Torano
‘75
Mariano Loret de Mola, Class of 1958, founding member of the Belen Alumni Association Sports Hall of Fame Committee and Assistant Principal of Discipline and Athletic Director at Belen from 1968 to 1973, has joined the Alumni Association Office as Interim Executive Director. Mariano succeeds and joins Rick Raimundez '90 in the Alumni office. Rick, whose knowledge of the Alumni is almost “encyclopedic”, will continue to serve the Alumni Association as Director of Alumni Services. As Interim Executive Director, Mariano will, in addition to the general administration of the Alumni
Office, also coordinate Alumni involvement in numerous activities and development events that have been planned for the upcoming Jubilee Celebration, all of which will count on Alumni support. With more than 40 years experience in the academic, private and public sectors, Mariano brings extensive administration and leadership experiences to the Alumni Office. Welcome home Mariano. Mariano may be reached at (786) 621-4674 or mdemola@belenjesuit.org. Rick will continue to be available at (786) 621-4667 or rraimundez@ belenjesuit.org.
EDITORS
Pablo Carreño '42
Roberto Borbolla '56
DESIGNERS
Yvonne von der Osten
Francisco Malvar III '10
Augusto Venegas '10
CONTRIBUTORS
Victor Arrieta '95
German Delgado '90
Bryan Lorenzo '03
Augusto Venegas '85
Carol Vila
Elizabeth Vila
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jorge Hernandez-Toraño '75 - President
Carlos Batlle '80 - Vice President
L.J. Rodriguez '93 - Treasurer
Julio C. Bertemati '99 - Secretary
Antonio Abella '59
Raul Cardona '85
Antonio Castro '86
Alvaro Cosculluela ‘61
Jordi Guso '83
Hector Formoso-Murias '82
Jose A. Garrido '46
Jose A. Garrido, Jr. '72
Jose A. Garrido, III '99
Crescencio Ruiz '76
Francisco “Paco” Ruiz '73
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS
Fr. Pedro A. Suarez, S.J. '58 - President, Belen Jesuit
Fr. Juan M. Dorta-Duque, S.J. '40 - Spiritual Director
Fr. Ernesto Fernandez-Travieso, S.J.Vice President of Development and Alumni Affairs
Nestor Rodriguez - Director of Development
Carola Calderin - Administrator
Fernando Aran '75 - Immediate Past President
Mariano Loret de Mola '58 - Executive Director
ALUMNI
Belen Jesuit - Celebrating 50 Years in Miami
Introduction
By Fr. Juan Manuel Dorta-Duque, S.J. '40
This year we are celebrating 50 years of the presence of Belen Jesuit School in Miami, thus the design of the cover comprises the different phases of the development of the facilities from a very modest beginning, followed by an intermediate “better” one, if we can call it that way, and ending with a state of the art facility that throughout the years has become an outstanding educational institution, first among many, with a high standard in overall education. The common names of these phases are “Gesu”, “8th Street” and “127th Avenue”. These individual phases are being addressed in subsequent articles by Fr. Francisco PerezLerena, S.J. '44, Fr. Pedro Cartaya, S.J.'54 and Fr. Marcelino Garcia, S.J. Sagua, and depicted in the cover design created by Adrian von der Osten, '03.
It was not an easy task. After the confiscation of Belen in Cuba by the communist regime and our expulsion from the island in 1961, we developed a plan to move our educational facilities to Miami, but to accomplish this task we had to have the approval of the Jesuit General. It was granted. Then came the most arduous part of it: the location of the facility, the teachers and the funding to operate it.
In a letter that the Jesuit General wrote to the entire Society of Jesus, he asked them to help us monetarily and with personnel. The response was great, and the “Men for Others” logo showed its presence. Grants from alumni, the Jesuit Provinces and other sources, were also received in rising increments. Faculty and staff also came from the Jesuit Provinces and from our own staff from Cuba.
We will be celebrating our “Golden Jubilee” this academic year and to assure its success, we need the cooperation of all involved: organizers, students, parents, teachers, alumni, sponsors and others that want to help.
God Bless you all
Note from the editors:
Father Dorta-Duque, S.J., was born in Havana, Cuba on September 23, 1922, and received his high school diploma from Colegio de Belen in Havana in 1940.
He entered the “Noviciado de Jesuitas de Montserrat” in Cienfuegos, (and later went to El Calvario in Havana, both in Cuba), in December 24, 1941 and was ordained as a priest in September 8, 1955.
After teaching at the Catholic University of Quito in Ecuador, he was assigned, in 1968, to serve as assistant to Fr. Francisco Barbeito, S.J. and one year later became the Director of the Alumni Association of Jesuit Schools from Cuba and Miami, a position that he held until 2005, when he partially retired to become an advisor and Spiritual Director of the Association.
He has developed a very successful operation, among the first in all Jesuit Schools.
Belen Jesuit - Celebrating 50 Years in Miami
Gesu Phase
By Fr. Francisco Pérez-Lerena, S.J. '44
On the first of May, 1961, Fidel Castro issued a decree nationalizing all private schools in Cuba. On May the 3rd, Fr. Francisco Tadeo, S.J., (representing Fr. Ramón Calvo, S.J., the Rector of the School) was forced to transfer all the facilities of the Colegio de Belen to the communist government.
“The discipline was outstanding and everybody behaved like a family.”
Fr. Ramón Calvo, S.J., arrived in Miami on the 27th of June of the same year on his way to Rome, where he stayed until the 5th of July, to seek the approval of the Jesuits’ Superior General, Fr. Jean B. Janssens, of the plan to establish a Belen School facility in Miami. Fr. Janssens gave the authorization to proceed accordingly and wrote to the whole Society of Jesus asking for help: monetary and in personnel. For this purpose, Fr. Richard Chisholm, S.J. was named the intermediary between the Archbishop of Miami, the New Orleans Province and the Antilles Province. The response was outstanding.
On his way to Rome, Fr. Calvo visited with Mr. and Mrs. Guillermo Kohly in New Jersey, looking for financial help. Mr Kohly, an Alumnus, left a grant in his testament for a future help on this matter. Later on, as a recognition gesture, Belen dedicated the Kohly Auditorium to his name.
On August 1961, Fr. Andrew Smith, S.J., Vice-Provincial of the Province of New Orleans (the Provincial was Fr. Andrew O’Neal, S.J.) paid a visit to Monsignor Coleman Carroll in Miami. The result of these conversations was that the Diocese gave to Belen the 4th floor of a four-story building adjacent to the Gesu church in downtown Miami, leaving the other three floors to the Gesu elementary school that was run by the Jesuits of the New Orleans Province. The first school office was opened in the rectory of the church, thanks to a friendly gesture of the Pastor, Fr. P. Sweeney, S.J.
On August 7, 1961, Fr. Calvo, S.J. announced the opening of the school for the 108th scholastic year of Belen. Classes started on September 18, 1961 (1961-62), with 21 Jesuits (15 Priests, 5 Brothers, one Scholar) and 167 students, under the directions of Fr. Luis Ripoll, S.J. (Rector), Jesús M. Nuevo (Principal), Brother José Feliz, S.J., (Secretary), Fr. Felipe Arroyo, S.J. (Disciplinarian) and the first two priests from the Province of New Orleans: Fr. Austin N. Park, S.J., and Fr. Oren W. Key, S.J. Many others like Fr. Tom Robinson, S.J., Fr. Kane, S.J., Fr. Thomas Ambrogi, S.J. and Fr. Fitzgerald, S.J. came in the following years to help Belen. The tuition was $ 5.00 a month.
Classrooms were small, without air conditioning or elevator to the 4th floor The food was good but there weren’t many choices. The discipline was outstanding and everybody behaved like a family. The first graduation (27 students), was held in June, 1962 at the Gesu church, presiding Bishop Coleman Carroll and Fr. Enrique Osle, S.J. as the Master of Ceremonies.
The difficulties of sharing it with the elementary children and to take care of the growth of new students, mostly coming from Monsignor Brian Walsh’s, “Pedro Pan” program, made it necessary to search for a more spacious place.
The generosity of the Jesuit Provinces of the U.S.A. made it possible to buy, in 1962, a new building located at the corner of SW 8th street and 7th avenue in Miami that was previously a warehouse for alcoholic beverages (in the Al Capone Era), and later on, a dancing academy. The school moved to this location on October 23rd, 1962.
Belen Jesuit - Celebrating 50 Years in Miami
8th Street Phase
By Fr. Pedro Cartaya, S.J. '54
It was in October of 1962, when Belen Jesuit, with almost 300 students, moved from Downtown Miami to its new location at SW 8th Street and 7th Avenue. It was a former dancing hall and warehouse several years earlier, and the story goes that Al Capone kept his liquors stored where the student rest rooms were located in the new school.
Though the whole building was refurnished and adapted as much as possible to receive around 300 students, still many inconvenient facilities remained. There were no windows, so when the power failed classes had to be cancelled because there was no air conditioning.
Space was limited; some classes were held in the hallways and there wasn’t space for recreation, except a small patio used to play volleyball. The cafeteria was limited to a much reduced space where food was served in a real inconvenient condition.
The chapel, though, was sufficiently big to celebrate daily masses to a group of students. It was for me a personal relic which brings me good memories of my first Mass with many members of my family and students.
“Belen Jesuit Prep at Calle 8 was indeed, the bridge which connected the opulent Belen of Havana yesterday with the advanced technological Belen of today.”
No doubt, Belen Jesuit Prep was at that time a mega minuscule version of the gigantic Belen of Havana, but the family spirit of union and fraternity generated from the narrow space and limited area for expansion is something that we cannot forget.
A time of crisis came up almost on the same day of our move from Downtown. The existence of missiles discovered by the U2’s in Cuba put Miami and the world on the verge of an atomic confrontation and Belen was witness to this situation. We could feel the tension in our classes while the glass of our doors shook when military planes flew over Miami on their way to Key West.
It was around 2 o’clock in the afternoon the next day when it was announced on the news that the Russian vessels transporting missiles to Cuba had stopped and minutes later turned around to their original port. Belen Jesuit Prep at Calle 8 was indeed, the bridge which connected the opulent Belen of Havana yesterday with the advanced technological Belen of today. Many alumni of Belen Calle 8 still remember with nostalgia when every student was known by their name and even the less comfortable life then and the lack of so much technology of today made them more dedicated and committed to their duties.
This is the story of the second step in our continuing pilgrimage of education which has never been interrupted. Thanks to God and the protection of Our Lady of Belen we are today in Miami an emblem of the genuine teaching mission of the Society of Jesus.
Belen Jesuit at the 8th Street Location
Belen Jesuit 8th Street Basketball Courts
Belen Jesuit - Celebrating 50 Years in Miami
127th Avenue Phase
By Fr. Marcelino Garcia, S.J. Sagua
Continuing the Jesuit tradition of education and on a quest to find a suitable location for the growing school Fr, Daniel Baldor, S.J. , Rector began the efforts to acquire land in West Miami to build an adequate school. Fr. Baldor succeeded Richard Chisholm, S.J.
With generosity from certain benefactors, including Pepin Bosch, who at the time headed Bacardi Imports, a 30- acre portion of land on S.W. 127th Avenue was purchased.
After the land was acquired the shift focused to construction of the new school building. The ground breaking for the new building took place in 1980 and opened the following year; enrollment was 598 students.
“The school looks like a ‘Palace of Education’ similar to ‘El Palacio de Educacion’ in Havana, Cuba.”
In 1981, when the school opened in its new location, Fr. Felipe Arroyo S.J. was succeeded by Fr. Francisco Perez-Lerena, S.J. as President with Fr. Sergio Figueredo, S.J. as Principal. Fr. Perez-Lerena S.J. set out to organize the fundraising and pay down the debt incurred with the construction of the new school.
The school grew over the next three decades in leaps and bounds. Currently the enrollment is 1,500 students in grades 6 to 12 and over five thousand active alumni.
From what once was to what is now the school has incorporated: a swimming pool, gymnasium, the Jesuit Residence, the Science Pavilion, sports facilities, the Laboratory Film Center, the Ignatian Center for the Arts and lastly the new administration building.
The school looks like a 'Palace of Education' similar to 'El Palacio de Educacion' in Havana, Cuba. During this period of expansion, perhaps the most important thing accomplished was the school accreditation process (done for the first time) and the creation of the Our Lady of Belen Jesuit Foundation, which was established in order to support the scholarship program and the needs of the school.
We also saw the beginning of different programs: Magis (founded by Michael Fernandez) which helps students with academic difficulties; Agape, a project for Afro-American students supported by Ocean Bank and created by Tony Cabrera, a great supporter of this idea; the Justice and Leadership Office; the Christian Life Communities (200 students and 20 teachers and Jesuits) and the acquisition of two properties: one for the Alumni and Development house at 128th avenue and 6th street and another 3.6 acres in that same avenue for future development.
In 2004, on the 150th anniversary of the foundation of Belen in Cuba, a congress of alumni was held and we started to reorganize the Alumni Association. After much dedication, meetings and discussions, we agreed to publish the bylaws, based on the great work of Fr. Juan Manuel Dorta-Duque, S.J. ’40 who continues advising the Association, which is becoming one of the best associations of Jesuit alumni in the world.
Three different Alumni presidents have been elected; each having served for a period of two years. Currently, the Association is organizing the Alumni in professional sections, Lawyers (BALS), Architecture/ Construction/Engineering (ACES), Accounting/Finance/Enterprise (SAFE), and Information Technology (BITS), with Medicine, Entertaining, etc. in the works.
I became school President in 1983 until 1992 when I became President/Principal until January 2009. After 25 years it was time to move on and Fr. Pedro Suarez, S.J. ’58 was appointed President and Fr. Willie Garcia-Tuñón, S.J ’87 was appointed Principal.
Together they have continued the good work and are now working diligently preparing the 50th anniversary celebration of Belen Jesuit in Miami and looking towards the future.
Golden Jubilee Celebration
By Nestor Rodriguez, Director of Development
The Jesuits founded El Colegio de Belen in Cuba in 1854. Following the confiscation of all private schools by the Communist government in 1961, Belen Jesuit Preparatory School continued in Miami the legacy of the old Colegio in Cuba.
Belen alumni have gone to become civic and professional leaders in their fields. The fraternity and brotherhood that brings together Belen alumni and their families only parallel the academic excellence that forms Men for Others. Back in 1961 in the early days of the Cuban exile, few would have anticipated the growth and development Belen would experience from its modest headquarters in “calle 8” to the 30-plus acres and modern facilities on Southwest 127th Avenue.
“To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Belen Jesuit in Miami, the School will launch a yearlong celebration in the fall 2011.”
To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Belen Jesuit in Miami, the School will launch a yearlong celebration in the fall 2011. The Golden Jubilee will give birth to a comprehensive multi-million dollar Capital Campaign, the Ignatian Society of Giving Donor Wall; several capital projects including a brand new Dining Hall and Olympic Pool, as well as a series of initiatives and programs to enhance academic and athletic achievements while better positioning Belen as a resource to our community. The Capital Campaign aims to raise $25M toward, endowment, technology, capital and athletic improvements, as well as infrastructure, to name a few. The Campaign will serve as a catalyst to engage the Belen family and will go public in the fall of 2011.
Of special significance will be the launch of a new cultural series at the Ignatian Center of the Arts, including performances at the Roca Theater and art exhibits at the Saladrigas Gallery. In addition, the Golden Jubilee will serve as a platform to strengthen the Scholarship, Annual, and Planned Giving programs. The success story and history of Belen will be chronicled in a book by Zeida Sardinas to coincide with the Golden Jubilee and the launch of the Capital Campaign. A special painting by famed Cuban artist Humberto Calzada has been commissioned to celebrate the Golden Jubilee. The painting will hang in the lobby of the School’s Administrative Building.
Golden Jubilee Calendar of Events
Saturday, October 8, 2011 – Belen Jesuit Cultural Series Inaugural Season Launch
Raul Esparza in Concert with Special Guest Lucrecia, Roca Theater – 8 PM
Belen Jesuit Jazz Band – Marlene Urbay, Conductor
VIP Artists’ Reception, Saladrigas Gallery – Following the Performance
Saturday, November 5, 2011 – Annual Belen Gala Featuring Willy Chirino – Doral Resort and Spa – 7 PM
February 24-26, 2012 – Belen Annual Tombola
Friday, Saturday and Sunday, February 24-26 – Annual Tombola Festival
Belen Jesuit Grounds, 12 Noon – 12 Midnight
Friday, February 24 – Kick Off Dinner – Belen Culinary Extravaganza Gymnasium – 7:30 PM
Saturday, February 25 – Wine Tasting, Cosculluela Hall – 6 PM
Thursday, March 1, 2012 – Belen Jesuit Cultural Series Inaugural Season
Benjamin Grosvenor, pianist – Miami Debut Roca Theater – 8 PM - In partnership with the Friends of Chamber Music Performing works by Chopin, Liszt and Rachmaninoff
Saturday, March 3, 2012 – Belen Jesuit Cultural Series Inaugural Season
Flamenco Puro directly from Seville, Spain – Roca Theater – 8 PM
In partnership with La Fundacion de Arte Flamenco Cristina Heeren
VIP Artists’ Reception, Saladrigas Gallery – Following the Performance
March 21-24 and March 29-31, 2012 – Belen Jesuit Cultural Series Inaugural Season
Annual Belen Jesuit Musical – Roca Theater – 8 PM
In partnership with the Ignatian Center of the Arts
Saturday, April 28, 2012 – Belen Jesuit Cultural Series Inaugural Season
Celia the Queen: Documentary and Concert
Featuring Lucrecia and the Celia Cruz All-Star Band - Roca Theater – 7 PM
VIP Artists’ Reception, Saladrigas Gallery – Following the Performance
Wednesday, May 2, 2012 – Belen Library 40th Anniversary Celebration
Zeida Sardinas Belen Book Launch and Signing
The Ramon Guiteras Memorial Library – 6 PM
Cocktail Reception, Garrido Family Plaza, following the Book Launch and Signing
Alumni Profile
Gustavo de los Reyes Delgado '31
By Pablo A. Carreno '42
As one of the eldest members of our Belen Alumni Association, Gustavo de los Reyes- Delgado has a rich history of triumph over adversity.
Born on November 29, 1913 in Havana, Cuba Gustavo was raised there and studied at the Colegio de la Salle and received his secondary education (High School) at Belen where he graduated in 1931.
After graduating he left Cuba and went to study at Culver Military Academy located in Culver, Indiana followed by three years of pre-med study at Georgetown University in Washington D.C and then three years at the School of Medicine at the University of Havana, Cuba.
Ultimately, his desire was to be a cattleman. Therefore, he took several courses of Animal Husbandry (beef cattle) from the University of Florida in Gainesville and then studied Sugar Manufacturing at the University of Havana.
On April 4, 1941 he married Mimi Sanchez y Sanchez; they have three children, six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. He speaks three languages: Spanish, English, and French and is currently learning Italian.
Gustavo has led a varied, colorful and accomplished life. The Scion of a wealthy Cuban ranching family, one of the oldest in his native land. In Cuba he held many professional positions including: president and manager of a cattle ranch; treasurer of a cattle-breeding ranch; manager of three large cane sugar plantations; director and treasurer of a sugar manufacturing plant. Other associations: president of a cattleman’s association; director of a premium beef producer and exporter.
When the Castro regime took over Cuba in 1959, Gustavo was appointed as a senior government agricultural advisor to help restore the future of the Island to a true democracy free of corruptions, as apparently was the intention of the revolution, backed up by the greatest majority of the population, including myself. But we were fooled. The following is an excerpt from Gustavo’s memoirs:
“Secretly, Castro, from the beginning of his mismanagement, was in communication with the Russians in order to establish an atomic missile base in Cuba capable of destroying the United States. Commandant Morgan, learning what was planned, began to conspire against Castro with a group of rebels, anticommunist officers, and personnel assimilated from the old army that acted as technicians and instructors. Morgan was an ex-sergeant of the U.S marines who joined Castro in the mountains in order to help him organize that armed horde. He was an adventurer, but he was no traitor to his country of birth for him the abominable project was high treason.”
The national cattleman’s association received inside information from William Morgan’s adjutant Captain Blanco of the dictator’s long-term intentions. The association, of which Gustavo was a director, joined Morgan’s conspiracy to overthrow Castro. Gustavo, with Jack Malone of the King Ranch, and George Braga from Czarnikowrionda, a Wall Street sugar brokerage house, went to Washington to alert the CIA about this mater and asked them to act accordingly, but the plan was rejected. Upon his return to Cuba from Washington he was exposed. Morgan and Carreras were shot, and Gustavo and others were jailed. He lost everything!
While imprisoned at the Isle of Pines, Gustavo and Major Medel organized an underground “university” for teaching prisoners. Per Gustavo’s instructions it is important to note the work that Father Jose Luis Rojo, (spiritual director of Juventud Catolica), also an inmate, contributed. Father Rojo lectured in scholastic philosophy (St. Thomas Aquinas), and other inmates taught economics. The books were smuggled into the prison by their heroic wives: the City of God by Saint Augustine bishop of Hippo, and Economics by Samuelson.
It was a great lesson of real courage to witness Father ’s dignity when the prisoners were taken out on cold nights at bayonet point completely naked and barefoot to be mocked and insulted by the cowards that were their guards. Gustavo asked Father Rojo once, why he gave separate lectures to the younger and older prisoners,
Mr. de los Reyes circa 1983
to which Father Rojo replied that he was unable to talk to children and men at the same time
Father Rojo was not in agreement with Descartes’ cogito ergo sum ( I think therefore I exist). We know that we exist because we fear not existing. Gustavo explained that they no longer felt the physical death from explosives under the prison walls. But when the prisoners no longer feared the loss of their lives, they felt the fear of losing their souls i.e., the metaphysical concept which differentiates a human being from a beast.
After four years in jail, aided by Ambassador Anton Stadlehofer of Switzerland, Gustavo was released to carry out a message from Castro to Washington and offer the Americans a deal. If they restored the sugar quota to Cuba, Castro would make reparations to American owners whose properties had been expropriated. Once a free man in the U.S. and in a meeting with the U.S. State Department agents, he refused to carry out his mission. At that moment Gustavo was no longer on parole but a runaway criminal according to the communists. Due to this situation the Russians took advantage and started to buy all the Cuban production to help the communist regime.
With his health broken and only with his clothes on his back, his family dispersed, he started working in 1966 as manager of the “Mary A Ranch”, a cattle operation in Fellsmere, Fl., that was owned by a Gulf and Western Food Products group, where I was working in a management position. So our lives crisscrossed again. Our acquaintance goes back to when his father, a medical doctor, was our family physician.
Soon after his stint in Florida, Gustavo set out with the support of a friend, Bob Kleberg, then President of the King Ranch, to create a ranching operation in Venezuela. He selected, cleared and improved land in a dense rain forest, then, set about creating a cattle operation. John Cypher, author of a biography on Bob Kleberg, considers it the most productive beef factory in the world based on improved grasses. In the process, Gustavo brought his family back together and became a Venezuelan citizen. Gustavo is revered as a world authority on ranching in the wet tropic.
Among other positions held in Venezuela: president and manager of the King Ranch cattle operation; manager of other farming and cattle operations; member of the Venezuelan Beef Council. Other: director of several agriculture missions around the world representing the Agri-Energy Roundtable (United Nations) including China, Hungary and Poland.
Gustavo retired in 1986 remaining in Venezuela managing his properties until the King Ranch closed down worldwide operations. He moved to the U.S. and lives in Miami, FL, taking care, among other interests, of a sugar cane plantation in Belle Glade, FL.
He has written articles for the Readers Digest, and The Cattleman in the U.S. and in the Venezuela Bovina. Newspapers: La Verdad, El Universal, El National in Venezuela; The Tribune de Geneve, Switzerland and the Corpus Christie Caller, Texas. Also in the Cattleman’s Association of Cuba in Exile. He has been mentioned in many books and given talks in professional and civic associations around the world. Gustavo was born to freedom, lost it, and everything, but being such a strong person he struggled back to recovery on a grand and satisfying scale, including enjoying his family members.
Gustavo and Benjamin Tyler '10 at one of the Monthly Alumni Luncheons
Alumni Luncheons
By Mario A. Martinez-Malo '55
In 2004, after the conclusion of Belen’s 150 year anniversary, a group of participants (including Emilio Martinez '54) approached me and asked, “Why don’t we keep the celebration going?”
At the time I spoke with then school President Father Marcelino Garcia, S.J. and together we came up with the Alumni Association luncheon. In May of 2004 we held our first luncheon. When we first started the luncheon it was held in various locations around the school, in fact sometimes people got disoriented but nonetheless it was lots of fun. Finally, we developed a system and since 2009 we meet the last Friday of every month in the Consculluela Hall located in the new Administration Building.
The luncheon is one of the events that bring about the greatest rapport amongst alumni. For the last seven years we have fostered relationships and an atmosphere of friendship that is seldom seen in other associations. People often bring members of their family to the luncheon so that they too can experience the camaraderie. I encourage you to attend a luncheon so that you can see for yourself the benefits of participation not only to the association but to the school as well.
As for those who can or have attended you can’t beat the deal; I doubt any restaurant in town will offer you what Chef Richard Moncada and his staff has in store. For $20 a person you are given an assortment of dishes, which include a variety of hors d’oeuvres, saladitos, gourmet entrée and dessert etc.
Each month we come together and socialize with people that truly enrich our lives. It is also an opportunity to network amongst professionals and meet with members of the school administration. Not to mention the possibility of running into your son or grandchild and having the opportunity to say, “hola”. We want everyone to experience an alumni luncheon! If you are going through financial struggles just talk to me and we will make arrangements for you to attend.
The Alumni Association and the school benefit from the dissemination of information that is provided at these monthly luncheons; we extend an invitation to all class delegates to join us and become active members! We encourage you to spread the word and invite your classmates… we need your participation and support! During Christmas we have the traditional annual toy drive. This event grows every year; imagine what we can do for the needy of our community if we all come together!
Wall Of Martyrs
By Jorge A. Fernandez Ceballos '61 - Chairman, Wall of Martyrs Committee
We believe that we are one of the few educational institutions in the USA, who have formally recognized their respective Martyrs. Our Martyrs consist of people that were raised in the Christian faith and pursued democratic values. The Martyrs that have been honored at Belen’s Wall Of Martyrs (WOM), thus far, gave their lives for Noble Causes in their Pursuit of Freedom & Liberty for all or they have been honored for Humanitarian reasons. All Martyrs attended any of the four Jesuit Schools in Cuba: (Colegio de Belen; Dolores; Sagrado Corazon; or Monserrat) or Belen Prep in Miami.
The Wall of Martyrs was unveiled May 20th, 2009. Father Pedro Suarez, Belen’s Prep President, indicated that it was a work in progress effort. During the second half of 2009, we recognized that additional efforts were required to disseminate the information via the Internet. Father Suarez created the WOM Steering Committee in January, 2010. The Committee is represented by several alumni classes ranging from 1942 thru 1992 and members of our Faculty & Administration.
Since the 1854 founding of Colegio de Belen in Havana, Jesuit educated martyrs have represented several generations.
•Martyrs recognized for humanitarian reasons include: 42 Priests; 11 Brothers; and 2 Employees of the Society of Jesus, who died between 1861 and 1896, after being inoculated by the mosquito that transmitted the Yellow Fever Virus. They contributed to Dr. Carlos J. Finlay’s discovery of the Yellow Fever.
•Two of eight students of medicine who died by the Spaniards firing squad in November 27, 1871.
•Two Cuban Patriots (Mambises) who died in the Cuban War of Independence in 1897.
•Six martyrs died during the Fulgencio Batista Dictatorship and 10 died during Fidel Castro Dictatorship. In the last category, several died by Castro’s firing squad and screaming “Viva Cristo Rey”.
•Belen Prep martyr who died bravely in Vietnam in 1967 and awarded the Silver Star Medal posthumously.
Several objectives were identified in the Organization Meeting of January, 2010:
1. Planning and execution of Annual Ceremonies.
2. Identification of additional martyrs to be recognized.
3. Mrs. Carol Vila, Belen’s Director of Technology, accepted the responsibility of creating The Wall Of Martyrs Web Page. It was unveiled in the last Ceremony of May 20th, 2011. It is accessible in the Internet at: www.belenjesuit.org/wallofmartyrs
4. Compilation of historical information for each Martyr, which is included in their individual Web-Page. Biographies; Documents; Photos; Or Videos of individual martyrs, whether written in English or Spanish, maybe submitted via e-mail at: wallofmartyrs@belenjesuit.org
The Wall of Martyrs is located inside Belen’s Administration Building and may be visited during School Hours. Three Ceremonies have taken place on May 20th in remembrance of the Cuban Independence Day. Next annual Ceremony will take place on Monday, May 21, 2012. Belen Faculty will be involved in arranging for current Belen students to visit the Wall Of Martyrs. Thanks are extended to all WOM Committee Members. Our Martyrs’ ultimate sacrifice exemplify what “Men For Others” means.
Class of 1961 - 50 Year Reunion
Friday June 3, 2011 - Casa
Roberto Álvarez, Juan Pérez, Norberto and Rosalie Martínez Padilla, Luis and Nenita Navarro
Dinner at Casa Paco
Roberto Álvarez, Martin Rodríguez, Siro del Castillo, Tony Moreno de Ayala, Xavier Sainz, Luis Navarro
Fernando Álvarez, Martin Rodríguez, Mauricio Astorga, Eddie Pérez, Álvaro Cosculluela, Xavier Sainz.
Dinner at Casa Paco
Dinner at Casa Paco
Saturday, June 4, 2011 - Hotel
Roberto Álvarez, Juan A. Ortiz, Raúl Olazabal, Pablo Masvidal, Francisco H. Recio, Martin Rodríguez, Jorge Fernández Ceballos
Jorge Fernández Ceballos, Álvaro Cosculluela, Tony Moreno de Ayala
José Gutiérrez Otero, Marcia López de Mendoza, Tony and Celia Moreno de Ayala
Cocktail in the Sofitel Hotel Terrace
Ignacio Gallarreta and Lilly, Guillermo Pino and Lourdes, Sonia Pérez. Mauricio and Alicia Astorga, Eddie Pérez
Marta Cosculluela, Fr. Juan M. Dorta-Duque S.J.,’46 Elena Fernández Ceballos. Jorge Fernández Ceballos, Fr. Pedro Suarez S.J.’58, Álvaro Cosculluela, Gladys and Juan Pérez, Fernando and Marta Álvarez.
Carmen and Juan Vara, Siro del Castillo, Nancy and Carlos Sánchez, Juan Luis Rodrguez-Kohly Standing: Nenita and Luis Navarro, José Antonio Rodríguez
Wives of the Class of 1961
Carlos Toraño, Fr. Ernesto Fernández-Travieso S.J., Manolo and Olguita Huerta, Teresita Toraño, Fr. Pedro Suarez S.J. ‘58
Marta and Eduardo Soto, Manolo and Frances Bascuas, Ricardo Casares Standing: Alina and Raimundo Menocal, Ana and Freddie Goudie, Silvia Casares
Roberto and Olga Incera, Olguita and Ignacio González del Valle Standing: Irene and Francisco H. Recio, Noelia and Hary Puente-Duany
Dancing in the Sofitel
Sunday, June 5, 2011 -
Alumni and their families at Mass
Juan Luis Rodriguez-Kohly, Lilly and Ignacio Gallarreta, Eddie and Sonia Pérez
Jorge Fernández Ceballos
Nenita and Luis Navarro, Thais Sainz, Rosalie Martínez Padilla, Martin and Adys Rodríguez, Roberto Álvarez, Guillermo Asper, Josephine Calvo
Receiving Holy Communion
Álvaro Cosculluela
Fr. Ernesto Fernández-Travieso S.J.
Marcia López de Mendoza, Fr. Juan M. Dorta-Duque S.J. ’40, Jorge Fernández Pujol ’93, Ricardo Raimundez ‘90
In the Guiteras Library
A visit to the Wall of Martyrs
Mauricio and Alicia Astorga, Roberto Incera, Fernando and Marietta De Armendi, Manuel Bascuas and Siro Del Castillo.
A visit to the Observatory
Class Banner designed by Tony Moreno de Ayala
Thais and Xavier Sainz, Elena Fernández Ceballos, Adys and Martin Rodríguez, Rosalie and Norberto Martínez Padilla
Ricardo Calvo, Adys and Martin Rodríguez, Rosalie and Norberto Martínez Padilla, Thais and Xavier Sainz, Josephine Calvo
Sunday’s lunch group
Grace & Henry López Aguiar, Guillermo and Daisy Asper, Elena and Jorge Fernández Ceballos
Participants of the Cruise enjoying the lounge
Class of 1986 - 25 Year Reunion
Eddie Munoz, Jose Plasencia, Kevin Deeb, Jorge Vasseur, George Santamarina, Eddie Palacio,Tony Castro
Juan Barinaga, Pablo Hernandez-Villalon, George Santamarina, Eddie and Susie Palacio, Javier Mariscal, Oscar Bustillo, Jose Lopez, Augusto Lopez
Carlos Bravo, Jose Valladares, Eddie Munoz
Javier Marisca, Juan Barinaga, Jose Plasencia, Eddie Munoz, Jorge Vasseur, Tony Castro
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Jose and Melissa Sanchez, Kevin and Michelle Deeb, Pablo and Ana Urirasterra, Ralph and Claudia Espinosa, Greg and Luz Viejo
Eddie and Susan Palacio, George and Christine Santamarina, Jorge and Ana Vasseur
Eddie and Cristina Munoz, Jose and Ana Plasencia, Albert Gross, Jose and Marlene Lopez, Javier and Carmen Mariscal, Tony and Mary Castro
Tinerfe and Maria Tejera, Pablo Hernandez-Villalon, Tony and Patricia Franyie, Alberto and Carmen De Cardenas
Albert and Milene Del Rio, Hernando Navas, Luis and Nydia Bordon, Robert and Gaby Pozo
Oscar Bustillo, Jose and Jose Lopez-Jenkins, Ed and Denise Gonzalez delValle, Juan and Jorge Barinaga '60
Saturday, June 25, 2011 - Hotel
Hernando Navas, Juan Barinaga, Ed Gonzalez del Valle, Javier Mariscal
Ed and Denise Gonzalez del Valle, Tony and Mary Castro, Javier and Carmen Mariscal
Juan Barinaga, Ed and Denise Gonzalez del Valle, Hernando Navas
Jose Plasencia, Carlos Bravo, Pablo Hernandez-Villalon, Tinerfe Tejera
Robert Pozo, Kevin Deeb, Albert del Rio, Jose Lopez-Jenkins, Luis and Nydia Bordon, Oscar Bustillo, Tony Castro
At the Hotel Sofitel Miami
Sunday, June 26, 2011 -
Carlos Bravo and Jose Alvarez with the Plasencia Family
Javier Mariscal, Albert Gross, Tony, Mary, Robert, and Anthony Castro
The Palacio and Santamarina Families
The Class of 1986 with their families
The Class of 1986, 25 years later
Jose Jr. and Jose Sr. Lopez-Jenkins, Albert and Milene Del Rio, Oscar Bustillo
Class of 1956 - 55 Year Reunion
Invocation by Father Ignacio “Chuco” Villar S.J.
Vicente & Emilia Estrada, Enrique Casuso, Ignacio & Paloma Blanco, Irma & Vicente Blanco, Edith & Manuel Comella
Carlos & Esperanza Busot, Carlos & Carola Pérez, Millie, Pepín and Patricia Medina, Eduardo & María Elena Sowers
Roberto & Carmen Rosa Borbolla, Fr. Villar S.J., César Incera, Maricruz & Francisco González Learra, Olimpia & Nicolás Aneiros, Tony & Teresita Martin
Raúl & Tessie Villaverde, Jorge & Georgina Suárez, Josefina & Mauro Hernández, Nina & Jorge Méndez, Jose Manuel & Magaly García Lavaniegos
Diana & Ricardo Coronado, Alberto Villamil, Félix Quintana, Jose Luis & Otilita González Hermilla, Manuel & Marta Sánchez Couto
Tony & Lourdes Loza, Fefita & Juan Falcón, Fr. Ernesto Fernández-Travieso S.J., Salomé & Raimundo Torres, J.J. & Kathy Arriandiaga
Maricruz & Panchito González Learra
Belen Class of 1956 happy to be together again in 2011
Luis & Elena Maderal, María Cristina & Luis Diehl, Sylvia & Pepe Balbona, Luis & Alicia Fernández Rocha, Jorge & Carmenchú Dominicis
Almost everybody danced
Photographer Ted Todoroff ‘04
Sunday, June 11, 2011
Cristian, Diana and Reinaldo Lopez-Lima
After the Mass in the Central Patio
Cosme Benítez
Carson and Cosme Benitez
Nina Méndez
Vicente Estrada
Marta & Manolo Sánchez Couto, Lourdes & Tony Loza
María Cristina & Luis Diehl, Tessy & Raúl Villaverde, Carmenchú & Jorge Dominicis
Manolo & Marta Sánchez Couto, Angel & Hilda González Pérez, Nina & Jorge Méndez
Emilia Estrada, Ignacio Blanco, Olimpia Aneiros, Roberto Borbolla, Irma & Vicente Blanco,Vicente Estrada, Fr. Chuco Villar S.J., Guillermo Fernández, Carmen Rosa Borbolla, Edith Comella
Carola & Carlos Valentín Pérez, Fefita & Juan Falcón, Raimundo Torres
Josefina & Mauro Hernández, Carlos Suárez, Magaly & Manolo García Lavaniegos, Alicia & Luis Fernández Rocha, Georgina & Jorge Suárez
Colegio de Sagua Reunion
December 14, 2010 - Belen Jesuit
Miguel and Julita Gutierrez, Alberto and Margarita Beguiristain
Jose and Rosa Amezaga, Clemente Amezaga and wife, Henry and Aida Pujol
Eduardo and Oria Gomez, Manolito Hernandez
Alfredo Ramos, Daniel Fernandez, Alex Bienes, Enrique Canut Benny Rodriguez-Maine, Fr. Marcelino Garcia S.J., Celestino Castellon
Jose and Clarita Arenas, Clara, Carlos and Florangel Gonzalez, Roberto Gesmer
Manuel and Ana del Rio, Felix and Luz Mon
Cesar and Vilma Menendez,Manuel and Martica Salvat, Fr. Juan M. Dorta Duque S.J “40
First “Saguero” Reunion
By Fr. Marcelino Garcia S.J.
In the Belen Alumni Association we have always been trying to organize a meeting with the alumni living in Miami from the Colegio del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus, de Sagua la Grande. This school was a wonderful school facility built in Sagua, donation of the famous filantropist Carmen Sozala.
Legions of sagueros attended the classrooms there and many good things were created by the Jesuits running the school and the parish. In total we had like 8 or 10 Jesuits in different moments of the history of the school. Finally we were able to organize this meeting held on the 14th of December, 2010. Around 25 alumni attended with their spouses. That night was extremely cold. And some of the alumni could not attend because of the weather. Others were contacted but because of the time of the reunion could not attend; among those were ex-Senator Mel Martinez, and his brother Rafael, they were excused.
The great things about the celebration were the greetings, conversations, stories about the school and their teachers. We laughed a lot having a wonderful time. But the best part of the celebrations was the presence of Captain Orquestra. He plays all the instruments. And he makes all the attendees dance, sing and make noise. We enjoyed a very happy night remembering all the great things about Sagua and our school.
Henry Pujol
Clemente Arnegaga and his wife, Jose and Rosa Arnegaga
Fr. Marcelino Garcia S.J.
Fr. Pedro Suarez S.J.'58
Cesar Menendez
School NEWS
Under the auspices of the Ignatian Center for the Arts (ICA) Belen Jesuit Band was hailed as the best school music band and received the top prize at the 2011 Band Competition at the Disney World Resort in Orlando last April. The golden statue of Mickey Mouse was accepted by the band conductor Ms. Marlene Urbay.
The difficult musical play “Into the Woods” by Steven Sondheim was performed by Belen students at the Roca Theater under Professor Francisco Padura during the month of March. Next year Prof. Leo Williams will direct the dramatic play “Lord of the Flies.”
WBLN News broadcasts everyday from Belen’s new Communication and Multimedia Studio. As part of their coursework, students under the direction of Ms. Suhayla Collins, Communication Department Chair, become anchormen, weather forecasters, newsmen and sports reporters. Future Walter Cronkites, Chet Huntleys and David Brinkleys are being trained at Belen today, thanks to Belen’s new emphasis on modern day communications.
Mr. Juan Vazquez ‘92, Belen Modern Languages teacher, was the recipient of Univision’s 2010-2011 Un Maestro Especial Award. Juan was recognized for his hard work and dedication as an excellent teacher in Dade and Broward Counties. This year for the first time Juan successfully taught a course in Latin American History to seniors entirely in Spanish. Last year’s award winner was Mr. Eugene Zoller, a revered veteran Social Science teacher at Belen.
Belen Jesuit captured First Place in the Spanish Middle School Invitational on April 16. Congratulations to all the student participants, to the Modern Languages teachers and to Ms. Dora Haibi for coordinating such a successful event.
Under the guidance of Belen teacher Mr. Luis Dulzaides, the Belen Jesuit Forensics Team continues the old Belen tradition of Academia Literaria Avellaneda in training great public speakers. On the weekend of March 5, the team participated in a very tough competition held
at the Florida Forensics League State Tournament and ranked among the top twelve high school teams in each of five events that took place at Wellington High School, Palm Beach County.
The team continued its tradition of excellence at the State Tournament and was the only one to have at least one of its students in the entire tournament to make the elimination rounds in each category. It was also the first time that Belen placed two students among the top six in Congressional Debate. The Forensics team was led by Senior Captain Eric Moussa, who placed 4th in Congressional Debate, Senior Benjamin Sardinas who placed 5th in Congressional Debate and Senior Paul Martin, who placed 9th in International Extemporaneous Speaking. The novice competitors showed that the future of the team is in good hands. The Duo Interpretation team of Sophomore Franky Gonzalez and Freshman Danny Ramirez placed 9th. Sophomore Steven Tyler placed 11th in Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking. Finally, the Group Interpretation team composed of Sophomores Stephen Busse, Anton Martinez-Cid, Bernie Manrique, Kiko Lopez-Ibanez, Nicholas Torralba and Junior Ruben Perez-Sanchez placed sixth.
Belen Youth Mission: A group of 96 people, including students, doctors, and engineers, guided by Principal Fr. Willie Garcia-Tunon, S.J. ’87, travelled in June 2011 to Pescado Bobo, a small village in the Dominican Republic, to build a bridge and provide health services to local villagers.
The mission is part of an annual effort to help the poor and bring to a group of Belen students an awareness of Third World needs. In collaboration with the Jesuit organization ILAC (Institute for Latin American Concern) located in Santiago, Dominican Republic, the service program offers Belen students the opportunity to grow in their faith, to become men of virtue, men for and with others, knowing that “volunteer work with and for the poor helps young people live in solidarity with others and find meaning in and direction for their lives (Jesuit Congregation 35, decree III, number 23). Service to others should become the habit of a graduate of a Jesuit school.
On November 6, 2010, eighth-grade fathers enjoyed a wonderful day with their sons while playing a variety of sports, including base ball, basketball and even domino! Also, grandparents of the class of 2016 enjoyed a field day with their grandchildren on the Belen grounds.
Star Gazing 2011: During Easter week, a group of Astronomy Club students and their parents, accompanied by Frs. Frank Permuy and Pedro Cartaya, director of the Fr. Viñes Observatory, visited Mt. Wilson Observatory near Los Angeles, California, and did some star-gazing through a 60-inch diameter telescope from the top of a 6,000 foot high mountain. The group was able to observe galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, and planets. It was at this observatory that Edwin Hubble discovered the existence of other galaxies and the theory of the expanding universe from the 100-inch telescope which will be open to the public in the near future. Mr. Hubble’s discovery of the expansion of the universe confirmed the Big Bang theory as proposed by Fr. George Lemaitre in 1929, who happened to be a
Jesuit alumnus from the Sacré Coeur Jesuit High School in Chateau des Princes de Ligne at Antoing, Belgium.
The group also visited Mt. Palomar Observatory which is home to the giant 200-inch telescope, and was allowed to visit in spite of being restricted to research scientists with proper credentials. Included in the Star Gazing 2011 trip was a tour of the Getty Museum. The complex covers 24 acres on the top of a mountain surrounded by 700 acres of forest and has over 1 million visitors per year. Finally, the group stopped at San Juan Capistrano Mission (est. 1776), the home of the first winery in California, and the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, a magnificent multimillion dollar temple which has a display of the vestments worn by Pope John Paul II during his visit to Los Angeles.
Belen Jesuit entrance exams were conducted in December 2010 and February 2011. Close to 1,500 students will attend Belen Jesuit next year. Competition to enter Belen gets tougher every year as more parents decide to give their sons the Jesuit education that Belen Jesuit provides.
The Golden Jubilee Gala Dinner will be on November 5, in order to help raise funds for financial aid to deserving students who need help. The star entertainer Mr. Willy Chirino will host the event. In 2010-2011, in the midst of the economic crisis, Belen allocated $1.9 million in financial aid, the greatest amount ever. Thanks to the Gala, the Tombola, the Fr. Izquierdo Golf Tournament and to generous donations received from alumni, friends and benefactors, Belen is able to offer such help to about 26% of its student body. Donations to Belen Jesuit School are tax-deductible.
Rev. Pedro A. Suarez, SJ ‘58 President
School Athletics
2011 Winter & Spring Sports
Coaches: Yunian Cabrera
Jeffrey Montes '05
Roberto Ruiz
Program Highlights: Varsity 2011 Youth State Champion Lightweight Four, Mens Pair, Lightweight Double, JV 2011 Youth State Champion Freshman Four
WRESTLING
VOLLEYBALL
Team Record: 12-12
Team Record: 4-2
Coaches: Fidel Albelo
Jason Machado '04
Ivan Enriquez '01
David Cuervo
Individual Achievements: Esteban Gomez-Rivera (119 lbs) State Runner-Up, Regional Runner-Up and District Champion. Benzo Rudnikas (130 lbs.)-District Champion and Randy Mompremier (214 lbs.)-District Champion.
Coaches: Juan David Zapata Giovanni Rodriguez '08
Program Highlights: JV 7-7, Middle School 12-4, ACC Runner-Up
TENNIS
Team Record: 10-1 (District and Regional Champions)
Coach: Timothy Vanscoy
Program Highlights: Varsity 5th place at State, Middle School 3-1
TRACK AND FIELD
Team Record: 16-0 (District Champions, Regional Runner-Up)
Coaches: Victor Arrieta '95, Carlos Barquin, Joey Scott, Tammy Foster, Tina King, Jose Garcia '03
Program Highlights: Varsity Regional Runner-up
Middle School ACC Champions
6th Grade ACC Champions
SOCCER
Team Record: 19-2-2 (District and Regional Champions, State Semi-Finalist)
Coaches: Tanger Mendonça, Angelo Alessis, Jorge Powell '81, Charles Curry, Washington Orquera
Program Highlights: JV 4-3-2, Gold Middle School 9-1-0, ACC Champions, Blue Middle School 7-2-1, 6th Grade 7-0-1, ACC Champions
WATER POLO
Team Record: 11-7 (District Champions, State Quarterfinalist)
Coaches: Osvaldo Garcia
Luis Martinez
Program Highlights: Varsity State Quarterfinals, JV 7-1
BASKETBALL
Team Record: 13-15 (District Runner-Up; Regional Quarterfinalist)
Coaches: Jose Roca '84
Ruben Marrero '75
Carlos Bravo '86
Jorge Martinez
John-Paul Mendez '04
Vicente Fernandez
Program Highlights: JV 20-0, Freshman 11-3, Gold Middle School 18-3, ACC Runner-Up, Blue Middle School 10-6, 6th Grade 10-0, ACC Champions
BASEBALL
Team Record: 16-11 (District Runner-Up)
Coaches: Andres Blanco
Leo Mayi
Chris Altieri '06
Jorge Rodriguez
Javier Rodriguez
Program Highlights: JV 10-5-1, Freshman 0-8-1, Gold Middle School 14-1, ACC Champions, Blue Middle School 11-6-1, 6th Grade 11-5, ACC Champions
LACROSSE
Team Record: 8-7 (5th Place at Districts)
Coaches: John Okunski
Christopher Manly
Roger Lara
Program Highlights: JV 4-6
Photo Courtesy: Manuel Mares
Milestones
In Memoriam - Alumni
Jose I. Rivero '38
Eduardo Sardiña '39
Ignacio Almagro '45
Carlos Barroso '46
Peter Cano '46
Vicente Cossio '46
Emiliano J. Prats '46
Jose E. Puente '46
Alberto Barcelo '47
Enrique M. Lenza '50
Jose Manuel Arriandiaga '56
Sergio Abilleira '61
Juan C. Ortiz De La Renta '61
Antonio B. Tarafa '79
Julio Pestonit, Jr. '83
Antonio F. Chavez, Dolores
In Memoriam - Family and Friends of the Alumni Association
Vivian Asensio, mother of Juan Carlos Zorilla '76
Emelina Marina Borbolla, mother of Carlos '52, Alejandro '54, Roberto '56, Raul '58, Jose Luis '60, and Javier '66, grandmother of Alex ‘79, Francisco Javier '92, and Daniel '94, and great-grandmother of Victor '09 and Daniel J. Rodriguez '05
Yvelise Bosch, wife of Jorge Bosch, Dolores
Gerardo Garcia, Sr., father of Belen Professor Brother Gerry Garcia
Oscar Hernandez, father of Oswaldo Hernandez-Campos '58
Julio C. Lopez, father of Julio '09 and Anthony '10
Alberto D. Malats, father of Alberto Malats '99
Tomas Mauri, father of Tommy '92 and Eric '98
Carmita Raventos, wife of Antonio Raventos '44
Silvia Smith, mother of Jorge '73 and grandmother of Carlos '00
Births
Julian Antonio Jelke, born to Tom '85 and Rebecca Jelke
JohnPaul Mario Gonzalez, born to Jose '87 and Ana Gonzalez
Kassidy Maria Zequeira, born to Alexis '90 and Jessika Zequeira
Sebastian Chamorro, great-grandson to Manuel A. Dominguez '48
Charli Anna Basso, born to College Counselor Claudia Basso
Daniel Sebastian Davalos, born to Belen Professor Sylvia Davalos
Baptisms
Sofia Belen Fernandez, daughter of Ben '82 and Beatriz Fernandez
Ralph Thomas Anrrich, son of Rafael '87 and Barbara Anrrich
Mariano Francisco Lago, son of Cesar '87 and Tanny Lago
Joaquin Antonio Varela, son of Jack '88 and Viviana Varela
Alejandro Aurelio Garcia-Chacon, son of Luis '89 and Maria Garcia-Chacon
Cecilia Suarez, daughter of Tony '89 and Lizette Suarez
Gala Cristina and Sara Victoria Escudero, daughters of Gilbert '92 and Carmen Escudero
Noah Castellanos, son of Alexander '95 and Jennifer Castellanos
Carlos M. Trujillo, son of Carlos '01 and Carmen Trujillo
Lucas Sebastian Marquina, grandson of Arturo Marquina '63
Olivia Matilde Orduñez, daughter of Math Professor Ulyses Orduñez
Alex Permuy '88 and Lorena Juarez
German Delgado '90 and Adriana Suarez
Julio Bertemati '99 and Maria Cristina Garcia
Erimar von der Osten '99 and Jennifer Del Amo
John Paul Madariaga '01 and Hisa Kurenuma
Richard Bruguera '02 and Josephora Fleming
Michael Fenton '02 and Danielle Quintero
Jordi Martinez-Cid '04 and Elena Santaló
Alexander Peraza '06 and Anna Garrido
Br. Christian Saenz '95 (pictured right) was ordained a Deacon at the GESU Church in Rome, Italy on April 26th by Archbishop Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer S.J. Christian will be ordained a Priest at GESU Church in Miami on December 10, 2011.
José González-Llorente '57 published a new book, “Visiones de los Últimos Dias y Otras Historias”.
Michael Pascual '10 was named ‘Freshman of the Year’ by the University of Florida.
Arturo Martinez '10 was selected to the University of Notre Dame’s football team. Art will be a Tight End, wearing Number 86 for the Fighting Irish.
Frank Quesada '98 (pictured right) was elected on April 2011 to the City of Coral Gables Commission.
Please make sure to update the Alumni Office with news about you and your family.
Contact via Phone: 786.621.4667 or via E-mail: alumni@belenjesuit.org
Alumni News & Notes
Jonathan Salum '02, Christian Rodriguez '04, Derek Varona '03 and JC Alam '02 create an impromptu reunion in Chicago, Illinois
Architecture/Construction/Engineering Section members team-up with Belen students at their annual community service project
Jorge and Nina Méndez, Nini and Mario Ariet, Carmen Rosa and Roberto Borbolla, Georgina and Eduardo Morales '56 in St. Augustine.
Julian '58 and Angela Vazquez with son, Vicente and grandson, Vincent '13, celebrate his third place showing at the Scholastic Rowing Finals.
The Class of 1958 welcomes Santiago Valdes Andraca from New York and Eduardo Menéndez from Puerto Rico to their monthly luncheon.
Enrique '60 and Esperanza Rodriguez Bocanegra with Josefina Lago, wife of Julio '60, in front of the Puerta de Alcalá in Madrid, Spain.
We want to thank the following businesses for their support
JORGE M. CABRERA, M.D.
If you’ve suffered a sports injury, all you want is to get back on the field. The Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Programs at Coral Gables Hospital can help ensure you’ll be there again. We offer a comprehensive sports medicine program, with advanced diagnostics, surgical expertise and state-of-the-art rehabilitation. You can rest assured that you are being cared for by a dedicated team of highly trained professionals, including some of the most experienced and respected orthopedic surgeons in the area. If you’ve suffered an injury on the field, call on Coral Gables Hospital so you can score the winning goal.
For a physician referral call 305-441-6877 24 hours a day/7 days a week.
Coral Gables Hospital is proud to be a Corporate Sponsor of Belen Jesuit Preparatory School.
