I started 10th grade at University High September 1962. Having recently arrived from South America, I didn’t speak a word of English. As a 15-year-old this was hard. So, I joined the Non-English Speaking class at Uni administered by Miss Clara Marchacos and Dr. Richard Martin. Two excellent teachers who taught English to a class full of students from various parts of the world. After one semester most students went on to regular High School classes and all, as far as I know, successfully graduated in 1965 including myself.

After becoming an American citizen and spending two years in the Army, in 1968 I graduated from Los Angeles Valley College with a degree in Computer Science. I also attended, while already working, a fast path program at Cal State Dominguez Hills. Most of my career in Computer Science was spent at Farmers Insurance Group, where in the last 15 years before I retired I was a Director of Computer Programming. This was very challenging and rewarding work which took me to various parts of America as well as, as luck would have it, on a special project to Santiago, Chile, my home country.

For the last 37 years I have been happily married to my wife, Laura, the most loving and patient spouse anybody could wish for. She is about to retire from a career in teaching 1st graders, which may explain her patience. We have one daughter and are now blessed with a granddaughter whom we love dearly and who keeps us young.

Laura and I enjoy traveling, especially cruising. Our last trip in July of 2016 was a Mediterranean cruise where we visited Italy, Spain, and France. Now that she is retiring we would like to focus our travels on good-old mainland USA.