Belen Jesuit Magazine | Summer 2018

Belen Jesuit Alumni

MESSAGE FROM THE

DIRECTOR OF THE ASSOCIATION

It may sound like a cliché, but returning to Belen Jesuit has definitely been a “coming home.” When I accepted the position as Executive Director of the Alumni Association on June 26, 2017, I knew that I would be leading an organization that dates back 164-years and includes over 7,000 alumni from Cuba and Miami. I believed the Jesuit formation that I received as a student, faculty member and coach would help guide me in my new role. In the 12 years I served as a teacher at Belen, I taught over 1,500 students and coached over 300 athletes. This allowed me to create a special connection to my former students and to continue to be part of their Belen experience.

I’m excited to report that during this past academic year we saw an increase in alumni participation across the spectrum. Our alumni not only participated in more schoolwide functions, but also volunteered the most amount of time to help others in our community through the Magis campaigns. Giving back was a regular occurrence, whether it was speaking at the school, serving on a committee or donating towards the Annual Fund. The Alumni Association facilitated key events throughout the school year to foster brotherhood. No other event is more anticipated than the annual tailgate at the beginning of the school year for the Belen vs. Columbus football game. In 2017, over 3,000 alumni and guests took part in the tailgate held at Tropical Park. The Belen

Gala, the Father Izquierdo Memorial Golf Tournament and the Fr. Dorta- Duque, SJ Memorial Tombola provided memorable moments and opportunities to network and ultimately have fun. Capping a successful year was Alumni Night in April, which brought us together to reminisce about our days at Belen.

Alumni engagement is a key initiative of the Strategic Plan. The alumni tour once again took us out of Miami to visit our brothers in New York, Washington D.C., Houston, Dallas, and Los Angeles. Joined by School President Father Guillermo M. García-Tuñón, S.J., '87 and Director of Advancement Phil Fernandez ’94, our goal is to reengage as many alumni as possible and strengthen the brotherhood. Next year, we will be going to Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta, New York and four Florida Universities: FSU, UF, UCF and USF.

The New York stop will be open to any alum who wants to participate. This out of state reunion will be the first time alumni will be asked to travel out of Florida during an official Alumni Association event, so mark your calendars and see you in the Big Apple on December 7-9.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me during my first year as Executive Director. I have enjoyed meeting many alumni and hearing stories from Belen back in the day. The common thread that unites all of us, is that no matter in what year we graduated, we all can share in the same Ignatian formation. The stories of our time at Belen is what creates the platform for us to build relationships, which can in many instances, evolve into lifetime friendships. I look forward to continue to meet as many alumni as possible to keep the brotherhood strong.

Yours Truly,

Carlos Bravo ’86

ALUMNI MAGAZINE belen jesuit

Bravo ‘86

Borbolla ’56

Felipe 'Phil' Fernandez '94

Executive Director for Advancement and Alumni Relations

Martinez

Sujayla Collins Belen Jesuit

Antonio Castro '86 – President Crescencio Ruiz '76 – Vice President

Tomas Pla '00 – Treasurer

Alberto Paradela '11 – Secretary

Antonio Abella '59

Gabriel Dieppa '96

Manuel Garcia-Linares '87

Jose A. Garrido III '99

Javier Mariscal '86

Peter Montadas '76

Peter Pidermann '06

Orlando Puente '71

Alberto Gutierrez '88 L.J. Rodriguez '93

Francisco "Paco" Ruiz ’73

Fr. Pedro Cartaya, SJ ‘54 - Alumni Association Chaplain

Fr. Juan Manuel Dorta-Duque, SJ ‘40 - In Memoriam

BELEN JESUIT ALUMNI MAGAZINE is published biannually. Circulation: 10,000

Please address all correspondence to the Alumni Office.

Periodicals postage paid at Miami, FL and additional mailing points.

Postmaster: Send address changes to:

Belen Alumni Office

500 Southwest 127 Avenue Miami, Fl 33184

Phone: 786.621.4674 Fax: 786.621.4662 E-mail: alumni@belenjesuit.org

community

By: Anthony Abinader ‘19 Echoes Editor

• Annual Christmas Toy and Gift Distribution at Gesu Church

• Alumni Director Carlos Bravo ‘86 speaks to Belen Jesuit upperclassmen at this year’s “Beyond Belen Mentorship Program and Job Fair”. Over 2 dozen alumni professionals volunteered their time and treasure to assist with this unique event.

• A total of 20 members of the Belen community were recognized for their years of service at the feast of St. Joseph the Worker Mass, held May 1st in the dining hall.

• Dr. Orlando Puente '71, Chair of BASH (Belen Alumni Section of Healthcare) gives a tour of Baptist Hospital to three Taiwanese exchange students interested in medicine.

• Carlos Hernandez '88, Alejandro Muelle '93, Fr. Willie Garcia-Tuñon, S.J. '87, L.J. Rodriguez '93, Rene Carballo '03, Dr. Armando Rodriguez, Carlos Jordan '07, Matthew Jordan '08, Tony Castro '86, Alfonso Duran '94, Thomas de Quesada '94, Javier Perez-Abreu '78 and Crescencio Ruiz '76, past Presidents and Vice Presidents, were honored at the Student Council end-of-the-year banquet.

• The Living Stations of the Cross was celebrated April 3rd and was an amazing experience in which the students reenacted the final hours of the life of Jesus.

• Over one hundred eighth graders made their confirmation commitment in front of the Belen community at a special Confirmation Mass held March 10th. This very special event took place in the new dining hall.

• The eighth grade pin ceremony took place May 3rd, and marked an important event in the lives of the students in the middle school. The ceremony honored the students' accomplishments and marked the transition from middle school to high school.

• The Alumni Pin mass and ceremony was held May 22nd, at Gesu Church in Downtown Miami. Students received their official alumni pins after a mass officiated by Father Willie Garcia-Tunon, SJ. The students then walked over to the James L. Knight Center for a rehearsal of the Commencement Exercises.

NEWS

• The Hunchback of Notre Dame was Belen’s ambitious musical for the 2018 year. It was performed in the Roca Theatre for two weeks, with the grand opening performance taking place Wednesday, March 2nd.

• Junior prom was held on Saturday, May 5th at the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables and was a night to remember. The prom started at 8pm with an opening prayer shortly followed by a dinner and dancing until midnight.

• At the Commencement Exercises, Miguel Murciano from the class of 68 accepts the banner from Felipe Pardo, 2018 President of Student Council. The passing of the banner from one class to the other has been a tradition at the graduation ceremony.

• The Baccalaureate Mass took place May 10th at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Doral. The mass was presided by Father Willie Garcia-Tuñon who, in his Homily, spoke about the true significance of running to the fire and the presence Jesus should have in everyone's life. Seniors and their mothers participated in the entrance procession, to be followed by a mass and campus ministry awards.

• Senior prom was held at Marlins Park in Downtown Miami. The event took place in the evening of May 18th at the top level of the stadium. Seniors and their dates enjoyed a sit down meal, ice cream sundaes served in a baseball cap, a view of their senior video on the jumbotron screen, and an array of fireworks that lit up the night sky.

• The seniors and their teachers enjoyed the annual endof-year luncheon in the school gym. The event included a magnificent meal of lechon with black beans and rice, desserts and drinks. A mariachi band surprised the seniors and entertained them with their music throughout the luncheon. Marlins mascot Billie was also on hand to send the seniors off with a bang.

• Graduation was the true end of the senior year. This year the event was held May 23 at the James L. Knight Center in Downtown Miami. A total of 232 seniors received their high school diploma that evening, making the class of 2018 the largest class to graduate from Belen. The keynote speaker for the graduation was Dr. Mark B. Rosenberg, President of Florida International University.

ACADEMICS

GRADUATION AW ARDS

Valedictorian

Salutatorian

Gerard M. Hopkins, SJ English

Deiter Prussing

St. Francis Xavier, SJ Scholar Athlete

Roger Torres

Andrea Pozzo, SJ Humanities

Francisco Barrera

Pierre T. de Chardin, SJ Science

Christopher Clavius, SJ Mathematics

William San Pedro

John Carroll, SJ Social Studies

Javier Fraga-Vasquez

Karl Rahner, SJ Theology

NEWS Where Are They Going?

Abate, Leonardo: Stetson University

Abunassar, Nicholas: Miami Dade College

Agreda, Alexis: Florida International University

Aguilar, Angel: Dartmouth College

Amore, Guillermo: Babson College

Anderson, Ian: Purdue University

Aparicio, Gabriel: The Catholic University of America

Aparicio, Michael: University of North Florida

Arazoza, Javier: Loyola University Maryland

Arenas Grayeb, Juan-Pablo: Florida International University

Arrizurieta, Alec: Tallahassee Community College

Azpiri, Kevin: Florida International University

Banos, Raul: The George Washington University

Baradat, Anthony: High Point University

Barditch, Jonathan: Manhattan College

Barral, Ivan: Columbia University

Barrera, Francisco: University of Pennsylvania

Bayo, Christian: Florida International University

Belisario, Maxwell: Florida State University

Bencomo, Jeremy: Tallahassee Community College

Besada, Nicholas: Florida State University

Billau, Alessandro: Santa Fe College

Blanco, Eric: Miami Dade College

Bodero, Alvaro: University of Florida

Borges, Angelo: Florida International University

Burch, Andrew: University of Miami

Bustamante, Javier: Florida State University

Cabrera, Ivan: University of Miami

Candela, Alejandro: Miami Dade College

Caputo, Andre: Florida International University

Cardenal, Ignacio: Florida State University

Casas, Luis: Miami Dade College

Castanos, Francisco: Bentley University

Castellanos, Kyle: Cornell University

Castro, Robert: Vanderbilt University

Castro, Victor: Florida International University

Cepero, Alejandro: Florida International University

Chamizo, Sebastian: Loyola University Chicago

Chang, Gerald: University of Miami

Charpentier, Paul: Florida State University

Chaviano, Jose: Florida State University

Chinigo, Drew: Florida International University

Christie, Lucas: University of Pennsylvania

Clark, Sebastian: Florida State University

Collins, Joshua: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Consuegra, Rogelio: Florida State University

Conti, Alberto: Bentley University

Conti, Alejandro: Bentley University

Corrada, Daniel: University of Florida

Corzo, Alejandro: United States Naval Academy

Cruz, Joseph: Santa Fe College

Cuesta, Nicholas: Florida International University

Dacal, Gabriel: Tallahassee Community College

De Los Santos, Christian: Florida International University

Delgado, Anthony: University of Central Florida

Delgado, Eduardo: Stetson University

Diago, Federico: Purdue University

Diaz, Carlos: Florida State University

Diaz, Luis: Florida State University

Dones, Andres: Vanderbilt University

Doval, Alex: Boston University

Duenas, Sebastian: University of Pittsburgh

Ebbage, Anthony: Florida International University

Escarra, Ian: Florida International University

Espina, Ricardo: Georgia Institute of Technology

Estrada, Gabriel: University of Florida

Fager, Daniel: Carnegie Mellon University

Fernandez, Alan: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Fernandez, Alejandro: Florida International University

Fernandez, Ehren: Oxford College of Emory University

Fernandez, Eloy: Santa Fe College

Fernandez, Lucas: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Fernandez, Manuel: University of Florida

Fernandez, Roberto: Florida State University

Fernandez, Ryan: Florida Gulf Coast University

Ferrer, Joshua: Dartmouth College

Ferro, Daniel: Loyola University New Orleans

Fidalgo, Eduardo: Loyola University Chicago

Fraga, Alberto: Villanova University

Fraga, Antonio: Loyola University Maryland

Fraga-Vasquez, Javier: Miami Dade College

Fungairino, Aitor: University of Texas, Austin

Galego, Kevin: University of Miami

Gallinar, Thomas: University of Southern California

Gambin, Joseph: Florida International University

Gamez, Carlos: Purdue University

Garces, Jose: Tulane University

Garcia, Christopher: Florida International University

Garcia, Cristian: Tallahassee Community College

Garcia, David: University of Southern California

Garcia, Eric: Loyola University New Orleans

Garcia, Francisco: Babson College

Garcia, Hugo: Florida State University

Garcia-Chacon, Fernando: University of Michigan

Garcia-Sarraff, Jorge: University of Delaware

Garrigo, Mark: Tulane University

Giacosa, Daniel: New York University

Gomez, Andres: Loyola University New Orleans

Gomez, Kyle: Santa Fe College

Gomez, Matthew: Florida State University

Gonzalez, Cristian: Florida International University

Gonzalez, David: Rhode Island School of Design

Gonzalez, Henry: Florida State University

Hernandez, Eduardo: Cornell University

Hernandez, Marcelo: Florida International University

Herrera, John: University of Miami

Iglesias, Jorge: New York University

Ismail, Kasser: Purdue University

Izquierdo, Justin: University of Miami

Jimenez, Andres: University of Florida

Jimenez, Carlos: University of Florida

Jorge, Sebastian: Florida International University

Khoury, Jason: Florida State University

Krikorian, Andres: Wake Forest University

Krikorian, Gabriel: Georgia Institute of Technology

Krikorian, Nicholas: Florida State University

Labrador, Eric: Clemson University

Lacasa, Roberto: Florida State University

Lam, Juan: University of Florida

Larios, Luis: Temple University

Lastres, Eric: Miami Dade College

Lazaro, Noel: Florida International University

Lemos, Jon: University of Miami

Lenis, Carlos: St. Edward's University

Leon, Francisco: Southern Methodist University

Leyva, Claudio: Boston College

Llaneza, Rafael: The Ohio State University

Llano, Sebastian: Miami Dade Honors College

Llorente, Maximiliano: Fordham University

Lopez-Castro, Ignacio: University of Florida

Lopez-Irizarry, Robert: New York University

Lopez-Morillo, Israel: University of Florida

Louden, Justin: The University of Texas, Austin

Luaces, Lorenzo: University of Southern California

Lubian, Brandon: Florida State University

Mackle, Timothy: Loyola University Chicago

Marimon, Marlow: Florida International University

Marin, Hugo: Florida International University

Marin, Rodrigo: Cornell University

Marrero, Christopher: University of Florida

Martin, Matthew: Louisiana State University

Martinez, Christian: Miami Dade College

Martinez, Robert: Tallahassee Community College

Mascaro, Emilio: Cornell University

Mayo, Ricardo: Georgetown University

Maza, Andres: Miami Dade College

Mena, Eric: University of Miami

Milton, Justin: Tulane University

Morales, Michael: Florida International University

Morales, Richard: University of Miami

Moro, Bernardo: Florida State University

Moscoso, Jorge: University of Chicago

Moustafa, Christopher: Purdue University

Muchacho, Ramon: University of Florida

Mullis, James: Florida International University

Munoz, Nathaniel: St. Thomas University

Munoz, Rodrigo: University of Florida

Navarro, Allan: Georgetown University

Pacios, Alejandro: Temple University

Pardo, Felipe: Boston College

Pereira, Juan: Babson College

Perez, Alfred: Harvard University

Perez, Andres: University of Miami

Perez, Mario: Berklee College of Music

Perez-Blanco, Nicholas: Merrimack College

Piedrahita, Julian: Loyola University Maryland

Plasencia, Jose: University of Florida

Poulat, Bernardo: Boston College

Prindle, Hunter: University of Delaware

Prussing, Deiter: University of Virginia

Pujals, Alejandro: Florida Atlantic University

Pulles, Matthew: Tallahassee Community College

Rice, Javan: Vanderbilt University

Riera, Sean: City College of New York

Rivera, Sebastian: University of Michigan

Rodriguez, Andres: Savannah College of Art and Design

Rodriguez, Jason: Rollins College

Rodriguez, Nicolas: High Point University

Rodriguez, Raul: University of Texas, Austin

Rojas, Evan: University of Miami

Romero, Carlos: University of Arizona

Ros, Andres: University of Florida

Rubio, Juan: Miami Dade Honors College

Salinas, Daniel: University of South Florida

San Martin, Javier: University of Florida

San Pedro, William: University of Pennsylvania

Sanchez, Daniel: Florida International University

Saumell, Javier: University of Central Florida

Schultz, Joseph: Stetson University

Schultz, Matthew: Florida International University

Senra, Adrian: Florida International University

Singh, Kearan: Florida International University

Smith, Andres: Pennsylvania State University

Smith, Nicolas: Tulane University

Soler, Anthony: University of Florida

Sosa, Carlos Eduardo: University of Michigan

Sosa, Carlos Enrique: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Sosa, Nicolas: Fordham University

Stoker, Harrison: University of Florida

Suels, Daniel: New York University

Tinoco, Christian: University of Miami

Tobon, Nicolas: University of California, San Diego

Toledo, Jose: Auburn University

Torres, Humberto: Florida International University

Torres, Roger: University of Florida

Toyos-Sitjes, Alejandro: Santa Fe College

Valdes, Placido: Loyola University New Orleans

Vela, Carlos: University of Florida

Velasco, David: New York University

Venegas, Santiago: Wabash College

Dajer, Marcos: Florida State University

De La Hoz, Marcos: The University of Alabama

de la Nuez, Christopher: Tallahassee Community College

De La Vega, Diego: Florida International University

Grande, Carlos: Georgetown University

Guerra, Daryel: Florida International University

Guerrero Vicente, Javier: Georgetown University

Guthrie, Nicholas: Miami Dade College

Hart, Jared: Florida International University

Hernandez, Andrew: University of Pennsylvania

Newlin, Tyler: University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign

Nunez, Diego: Babson College

O'Flaherty, Luke: Fordham University

Olesen, Matthew: University of Miami

Pachon, Ivan: Wake Forest University

Verdeja, Lucas: Florida International University

Vila, Enrique: Florida International University

Villasmil, Ignacio: University of Pennsylvania

Vizcarrondo, Jorge: Florida International

University

Yaffar, Diego: University of Michigan

Yurkon, Conner: Georgia Institute of Technology

Zumpano, Lucas: Cornell University

By: Xavier Cerrate ‘19 Echoes Editor

ATHLETICS

• Even though the Varsity Tennis team had a difficult season, they made it to Districts, losing by only one point. They ended their season with a record of 3-6.

• The Middle School tennis team struggled throughout the season but had some difficulties getting a win. The young team looks to play in the next level next season.

• The Varsity Volleyball team had an amazing season only losing 4 of the 23 games they played. They won Districts and lost at the Regional level, making it the second time in school history that this team wins the District title.

• JV Volleyball followed in the footsteps of the Varsity team by winning 4 of the 5 games they played throughout the season. The young team comes back next year to play at the varsity level.

• The Varsity Baseball Team started out by winning many of the games early in the season. Unfortunately, the team was plagued by injuries to some of its top players, and hit a rough patch towards the end. Their final season record was 15-6.

• The JV Baseball team started out slow losing hard against tough, more experienced opponents. They picked up the pace and won most of the later games in the season ending with a 16-5 record.

• The Middle School Baseball team played an amazing season losing only one game and tying another. The Sixth Grade Team didn’t lose a single game, going undefeated this season.

• The Varsity Track team performed well, placing first in six of their meets and second in their District Championship. Seven athletes qualified for the States Championship where the team came in eighth place. A very young team will be back next year to race for the titles.

• Middle School Track and Field was almost undefeated placing third in their first meet, and first in every meet after that. The Middle School Team came in first at the State Championship. The Sixth Grade Track and Field Team went undefeated the entire season. Its athletes show great potential for the years to come.

• Varsity Lacrosse played well this season losing only seven of their twenty-two games and winning Districts. They came very close to winning Regionals, but unfortunately lost their final game.

• JV Lacrosse had a difficult season winning only two of eleven games. They were able to defeat the Explorers with a score of 21-0.

• The Middle School Gold Lacrosse team ran into an obstacle during the end of the season losing four games straight and only winning three games. The Middle School Blue team went undefeated the entire season.

• The Varsity Water Polo team had a few injuries that prevented them from excelling throughout the season. Even with those challenges, the team played their best winning more than half of their games against some tough opposition.

• The Middle School Water Polo team went undefeated throughout the entire season. All of their games were won by landslides. The Midle School athletes look forward to playing at the varsity level.

Father Izquierdo Golf Tournament

For the last 19 years, we have honored and remembered Fr. Jose Maria Izquierdo SJ with a Golf Tournament at the International Links Miami Melreese Country Club. The mission of this event is to raise funds for the Belen Financial Assistance Program, which provides aid to over 300 students, to give young men the opportunity to attend Belen Jesuit. We would like to thank our sponsors for their participation and support.

ALUMNI NIGHT

WHY I GIVE BACK

By: Eduardo '87 and Orlando Garcia '88

Orlando Garcia '88

President of Everglades Steel Corp. & Eduardo Garcia '87

The Trio Group, LLC

Garcia and Xiques, PA

Real Title Property Group LLC

It’s 6:45 a.m. and Orlando “Orly” is honking outside the window. Eduardo “Tito” is late, yet again. Grabbing his tie and a glass of milk as he walks out the door, Tito hops in his cousin’s car and waves goodbye. It’s Friday, so the two will stop at Chantilly on the way to Belen, a breakfast stop that has become a ritual they look forward to every week.

It is a privilege for Tito to have his older cousin there to guide him in his middle school years— to give him the in’s and out’s, to tell him what to leave in his locker, to nudge him in the hallways and zip up his backpack.

In our family, Belen takes the form of a cross-generational tradition. Our father, Eduardo Garcia ’54 (classmate of Father Cartaya), attended Belen in Cuba, as did his brother Felipe. In the days before prep courses, group materials, and group chats, we remember taking our own entrance exams for Belen in Little Havana early on a Saturday morning. Our father told us the school we would be attending was the offspring of the best school in Cuba, but we could not have fully known what that meant until ‘87 and ‘88, when we would graduate one year from the other. It is daunting to think that Orly will graduate just next year and Tito with the class of 2023.

Tombola, band concerts, baseball and soccer games, father-son days, pin ceremonies and parent representative meetings are experiences all too familiar to our family. Three generations of Belen graduates and students have rendered both the school institution and the Jesuit practice itself a very important entity, even for the Garcia women. Marrying into a Wolverine family, our wives appreciate what the school has done for the community and for the men in their lives. Immune to years of listening to the same stories told by their husbands and Belen classmates, they volunteer at functions and engage with the school community because again, it is more than tradition—the school has shaped our family academically and spiritually for over 70 years.

In recent years, we have been grateful for Fr. Willie’s return to Belen and his vision, one that is so inspirational to the alumni and students. Such is found in his monthly newsletter full of wit and insight that we always look forward to opening in our inboxes. Shining a bright smile at 7 a.m., Fr. Willie has the ability

to make both students’ and parents’ mornings at the drop-off line. It is this optimism that will lead Belen in continuing to shape young men and help our community for many years and generations to come.

Amongst the various values instilled is importance of giving back, by parents and students alike, as well as by alumni. Orly will be traveling to the Dominican Republic in July to help build a bridge in San Felipe Abajo as part of Belen Youth Missions. This trip has become something that the students not only look forward to year after year, but a time when the boys become united under a common front as they roll up their sleeves, slip on their oversized rain boots, and march to the job site with their retreat cross necklaces tucked into their shirts. This service trip serves as a testament to the various service opportunities not only offered by the school, but those who are just part of the Belen culture. Over the years, our family has participated in events like the Magis gift collection and distribution, helping paint "el" Gesu and working various shifts at Tombola. All acts that bring our family and classmates together to help the community.

When something comes up and we need somebody to pick up Tito from Belen in the afternoon, our mom often offers to pick him up. She does not offer, she asks—for her, it’s a treat. Not only so she can shower him with snacks and spend some time with him driving down “la ocho,” but also so she can sit in that pickup line, like she did for her older grandson, Orly. Like she did with us.

We give back so that others can reap the benefits of this amazing environment, so that others can learn from the educators and mentors that have been at the school for many decades forming young men—young men who leave Belen not only as brothers but well prepared to contribute to our community as lawyers, doctors, volunteers, politicians, and spiritual leaders. We give back not only to help ensure that future generations of students continue to receive a Belen Jesuit education, but to help the spirit live on, a spirit so transformative and unique. It is the least we can do for a place that has influenced this family so profoundly.

MAGIS

HEALING

O Hands

By: Roberto Gonzalez ‘19 Echoes Editor

rlando Puente is a third generation Belen alumni who graduated in 1971. His grandfather Abelardo Codinach Segura graduated with the class of 1921, and his father Orlando Puente Perez was class of 1937.

While at Belen, Puente considered himself the kind of person who flew under the radar. He was an unmotivated student who did not push himself hard enough with his studies. He played baseball and basketball and was a part of the school's teams, but even the practices seemed more of a chore to him than fun.

As a student, he did not like having to wake up that early to be at school by 8. He was laid back, and whenever possible, avoided hard work. He would study to pass the tests, but for the most part, he did the bare minimum. Puente started at Belen in the eighth grade, and studied under Jesuit Fathers such as Alberto Garcia, Pedro Suarez, and Luis Maderal. Those men made such a significant impact in his life that to this day he has not forgotten their words.

After he graduated from Belen, he attended Miami Dade College, fully aware that he wanted to one day become a doctor. He knew that he wanted to help people, and taking care of their health seemed the most obvious choice. It was during these years that his father passed away, leaving him with the necessary motivation for him to achieve his degree as a medical doctor. He applied himself to his studies so much that he was later inducted in Miami Dade's Hall of Fame for academic achievement.

"My father died when I was only 21 and all of my siblings were either finishing high school or in college. I knew I had to do something to help my family out. I started to work harder at school in an effort to support my mother and my family," said Puente.

After finishing his Associate Degree, he moved on to FIU, and then the Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra in Santiago, Dominican Republic. During his years in medical school, he worked as an orderly in a local hospital. It was there where he got to know the people who lived in the area, and their struggles. During this time, Puente never forgot the Jesuit traditions that he picked up at Belen, and he used them to help those in need. He knew right then and there that there was a need for the people of the Dominican Republic, and that he was just the man to help them.

He noticed an immediate need for medical supplies, food, ambulances, and other medical materials; simple things like bandages and gauze were scarce. People were going untreated, and there was a lack of materials that were often taken for granted and discarded in the United States.

Puente graduated from medical school in 1980 and he returned to the United States. He applied to the Matching Program and worked in a hospital in Connecticut for five years. He took care of patients and received the experience necessary to go on his own and practice medicine. He spent one year specializing in vascular surgery in Toledo, Ohio and finally graduated in June of 1986, when he came to Miami to practice medicine.

He returned to Miami with one goal, to help those people in the Dominican Republic whom he had met while he was studying there. He began to recycle medical materials that were normally wasted or thrown away in the US such as scrubs, gloves, and lab coats. What most people took for granted here, he knew would be greatly needed there.

The director of customs at the time had been a patient of his, and he helped Puente ship the medical equipment to the Dominican Republic. He was able to bring much needed relief to the areas stricken by poverty and to those who lacked money and transportation to get to a doctor.

On one occasion, Puente found out that one of the locals wanted to learn how to be a pilot, but he could not afford the education. Puente paid for his flight classes, introduced him to other pilots, and eventually helped him to get his license to fly. For Puente it's not just about helping someone to get something, but also helping people to achieve their dreams.

medical procedures on the locals.

Puente currently has two sons in Belen, Benjamin Puente '19 and Hayden Puente '21. In the year that Hayden graduates, his father will celebrating the 50-year anniversary of his own graduation from Belen.

For Dr. Orlando Puente, helping others simply comes naturally, and the most satisfactory part is the end result when he gets to see how hard work pays off. According to Puente, his desire to help others stems from two things: his Jesuit traditions and his honest enjoyment in seeing people getting the help they need. The Jesuit traditions that Puente learned from Belen many decades ago have stayed with him throughout his life, especially helping those who live in poverty. Puente has made a vow to help others who are less fortunate and try to help as many people as possible as long as he can.

"To get ahead you have to be ahead,” said Puente. These are words that he lives by.

"It's like you plant a seed, plant a seed, plant a seed, and one day it will grow to be something better," said Puente.

Since those early days, Puente has travelled to the Dominican Republic with the Belen Youth Mission numerous times as well as other groups to help those in need. He works at the makeshift clinic and treats wounds, vaccinates kids, and even performs small

The reason he pushes himself and others is because he now understands that to be successful, one must be willing to push one's self to the absolute limit. His hard work and dedication have helped hundreds of people, and inspired many others to do the same. The young boy who worked hard at doing the bare minimum is now a true inspiration for others of what hard work and selflessness can accomplish when it is done for the greater glory of God.

Rum&coke

A Story of Two Men and Their Legacy

Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire and received a chemical engineering degree from Yale University. He spent 20 years as a master brewer, launching Bacardi’s famous beer, Hatuey and cornering the Cuban beer market. He was trained as a master brewer at the Schwartz School of Brewing.

To this day, Bosch enjoys drinking beer, especially on Saturdays when

Cover Story

he attends horse races at Gulf Stream Park in Hallandale. He usually drinks Miller Light or Budweiser, but enjoys Honey Blonde Ale, a craft beer, when he visits Yardhouse Restaurant in Hallandale. “I love beer,” said Bosch.

The early turning point in Bosch’s spiritual life came when he met his wife, Yvelise Molina, in 1950. That’s when his loyalty and commitment to the Jesuit mission began.

“She was very religious. My family was not. She took me to church every Sunday,” said Bosch. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the confusing maze of exile twisted relationships across time and distance. Belen in Cuba was shut down in 1961. A few months later the school reopened in Miami at Gesú School on the third floor in downtown. Bosch remembers those early Belen years.

“I got a call from my father saying that the Jesuits wanted to buy a house on Southwest Eighth Street, Calle Ocho and that they needed some money,” recalled Bosch. “He asked me to please send them a donation from the company - we did.”

Father García-Tuñon said Bosch helped Belen make the transition from a “mom and pop bodega-style operation” to a more professional, American-style institution.

“It had a lot to do with Bosch’s work with the board, and his expertise at Bacardi dealing with banks and refinancing of the Belen bonds and the loans,” said Father García-Tuñon. “The very solid financial state that Belen finds itself in right now had a lot to do with Bosch.”

“Time and time again, Bosch stepped up to help Belen in times of need, and to strengthen it financially,” said Father García.

“It’s about influencing your community,” said Father García, in explaining Bosch’s help to Belen over the years. “How are you going to transform the world and leave it a little better than how you found it? These are the politics behind the Jesuit philosophy.”

Bosch said it’s important for Belen alumni and supporters to carry on the tradition of supporting the school. He gives the example of a Belen alumnus who worked at Morgan Stanley, and helped the school get its investments out of the failed Lehman Brothers investment bank and through the financial crisis a decade ago.

He said Belen alumni often don’t fully appreciate the impact Belen’s education had on their lives until they are older.

“In time, as you go through the test of life, the spiritual education that they received is important,” said Bosch. “And it’s going to be important for them in the development of their family and their children.”

Bosch’s wife, Yvelise, died eight years ago. The couple had two sons, Jorge Alejandro, who died of swine flu, said Bosch, and Jose Ignacio. Bosch retired from Bacardi in the 1970s, and went on to work in real estate investment and financial work. He remains a devoted Belen supporter.

Father García-Tuñón, who is Belen’s first president to have graduated from the school in Miami, said he hopes the examples set by Goizueta and Bosch are an inspiration to younger generations.

As a fourth-generation Belen alumnus, Father García-Tuñón said he feels both the pressure and the pride to take Belen into the future.

“It’s my generation now that is at the point where they should be motivated to give back to their school,” said Father García-Tuñón. “I take over an institution that has a proven track record academically, spiritually, morally, and that has a very, very bright future.”

Oscar Corral, ‘92, is an Emmy-award winning journalist and documentary filmmaker and CEO of Explica Media

Above: Mrs. Olga Casteleiro de Goizueta and Father Marcelino Garcia, SJ unveil the Goizueta Athletic Center. School wide mass held in the Goizueta Athletic Center. Jorge Bosch with Bishop John Favalora. Jorge Bosch addresses the Belen community.

Opposite Page: Roberto Goizueta as CEO of Coca Cola. Jorge Bosch in his Miami home. Mrs. Olga Casteleiro de Goizueta gives a speech during the opening of the Goizueta Athletic Center. Roberto Goizueta with students during the Coca Cola Campaign at Belen.

ENHECHO CUBA

10 QUESTIONS FOR 1 ALUMNUS

By: Jose Toledo '18 Echoes Editor

Dr. Jose Armas '77

Dr. Jose Armas graduated with Honors from Universidad Catolica, Madre y Maestra with a Medical Doctorate. As an internist, he founded MCCI Group, a leading physician healthcare group in the Southeastern United States. His executive responsibilities are vast, but his humble attitude towards others and his desire to serve clearly demonstrate the Jesuit values instilled in him throughout his life.

Q. What extracurricular activities/sports did you participate in during your school years?

I played JV and Varsity football as well as basketball, and I ran cross country. I was also involved in Student Council and I was class president multiple years. During my senior year, I was elected Vice President of the class of 1977.

Q. Is there one funny Belen moment that still makes you laugh?

Back in high school we had Mr. Eugenio Ferreiro as our math teacher. If you knew him well, you'd know he was left handed. I would sit in the back of the class and clown around. Mr. Ferreiro would throw the blackboard eraser and peg me in the back of the head with 'tremenda punteria'. No one could see it coming. We both had a good laugh back then.

Q. What did someone say to you while at Belen that you'll never forget?

Father Izquierdo once said to me 'Lo que eres es tan alto que no oigo lo que gritas' (You are so tall that I cannot hear what you are yelling). Father Izquierdo was a quiet influence who was calming and very deep. He was a spiritual leader to me

and someone who taught me how to achieve inner peace. I remember him fondly.

Q. What is a typical day in your life?

I typically wake up and get on my knees and ask God for help and guidance. At the end of the day, I get back on my knees and thank God for the blessings of the day. The time in between is filled with family, work, and exercise. In addition to my daily job, I also have other ventures that I deal with on a day to day basis, for example, I am on the Board of Trustees at FIU. I do try to keep busy, but I always make time for God and family.

Q. What is the toughest part of your job?

The toughest part of my job is to be honest with my patients and their families. Many times I have had to tell my patients that their condition is terminal and there is nothing that they can do. I basically have to tell them that there is no hope. These are things that no one wants to hear, and I do not want to give anyone a false sense of hope. However, I am a man of faith and I do believe in the miracles of God, but I have to be careful with the person. It is a very fragile situation, and I work hard to be rigorous about being honest with my patients.

Q. Do you do pro bono work? If yes, where and why?

My family has always given under the premise of doing so in an anonymous manner. It is a family principle that we adhere to strongly. We mostly concentrate on giving back by providing scholarship money for children in different places. It is very important to be able to give kids an opportunity to be educated and improve their lives. I think that is very important. My family also sponsors an all-girls orphanage in Santiago de los Caballeros in the Dominican Republic. This community is very needy and we try to provide a good life for them. We give to other charities that are related to the church and to education. I have been to several Belen Youth Mission trips over the past years with both Father Willie and Father Eddie. I always find that the most impressive thing about mission work is that when you get to the poorest part of the world, where all seems hopeless, the joy of life the locals share is very moving. Often time, they don't even know what they are lacking, and their gratitude is immense. Once you get back home to the United States, you see the complete opposite. As soon as you land, even in the airport, you see people complaining and taking the things they have for granted.

Q. What is your definition of morality and values?

To me morality and values means trying to live God’s will in my life every single day. I am not always sure what he would have me do, but it is always very clear what I should not do. It means being honest with myself about who I am, being unselfish, being loving and kind to myself and others, but mainly, to be of service to God and others. Try to feel the presence of Christ within others and myself. I also believe it is important to enjoy the times of silence to listen to God.

Q. What quality should every man possess?

The most important thing a man should possess is the knowledge and acceptance of his own character. A man needs

to be honest with himself and live by the values and principles he believes in. He should not worry so much about what others think or his own reputation. At the end of the day, you should be happy looking at the man in the mirror. A man should finish his life content with what he has accomplished while trying to live God's will.

Q. What is the most important thing in your life?

My family. My wife of 35 years Ada, my children Joey, Carolina and Anthony, and my grandkids Daniel, JJ ad Elina. When I am no longer here, I would like people to say that I was a family man, and that I dedicated my entire life to my family, my children and grandchildren. That’s the number one thing in my life.

Q. What advice would you give current students?

I would tell them to work hard and to be persistent, but ultimately, to leave the final outcome to God. To tackle everything, and give it all, but remember that the outcome is always up to God. Your job is to do the best you can with what you have, then move on to the next thing. You should not be concerned with the outcome. That is for God to decide.

By: Carlos Jimenez '15 Contributing Writer

Thomas “DQ” de Quesada finished his final year as Dean of Men at Belen Jesuit. This June, he will be heading to Fairfield Prep in Fairfield, Connecticut where he will be the new principal. Fairfield is a Jesuit all-boys high school with approximately 830 students enrolled. His departure signals a new era for both Belen and Fairfield as he undoubtedly leaves very large shoes to fill.

In 1987 de Quesada started his Belen journey as a sixth grader. He had heard about the school from his friends who had older siblings, and he showed an interest to attend.

"The more I learned about the school, the more I wanted to be here,” said de Quesada, who at the time was attending St. Theresa.

He was always very involved in school whether it was basketball or peer ministry. As a senior, he was elected student body president, and he took this job very seriously. When he graduated in 1994, he continued to be involved in the Belen community as a class delegate. In 1998, four years later, he returned to his alma mater as a teacher. He chose to be an educator because of the positive impact he could have on people.

“Jesuit education challenges us to leave our very positive mark as Catholic leaders. I knew I wanted to be back at Belen as a faculty member because of my experiences there. I wanted to give back to the place that gave me so much,” said de Quesada.

He taught world history to freshmen and Latin American History to seniors that year, and he has continued to teach every year since. He was also the moderator of Model UN (1999 - 2007), co-moderator of OSP with Charles Cleveland and Patrick Collins (19992007), basketball coach (2003 – 2005), Student Council Moderator (2006 - 2013), Dean of Students (2009 – 2013), and Director of Advancement and Alumni Relations (2013 – 2016).

In 2016, for the second time, de Quesada took the position of Dean of Students, with the new title of Dean of Men when Jesuit Father Guillermo Garcia-Tuñon began his first full year as president of the school. As Dean, he managed everything that had to do with discipline and student activities. There were exciting moments such as traveling to Orlando for the football state championship in 2009 and he experienced difficult moments such as passing of then senior Tony Acosta in 2010. He had to be strict, but he always did this with a smile on his face. He did not take any decision lightly, because he knew that the job was not to discipline students but to form them into men.

“I want the students to appreciate that our goal was always to be fair. We genuinely care about the students, and all our decisions were about doing what was best for them. I also wanted them to have a great experience while you were here as I once did – to make it memorable and to make it a place that they could leave their mark on,” said de Quesada.

Andres de Angulo '93, will be stepping into big shoes next

fromD.Q.

year, but DQ, as he is fondly referred to, has left him with a great team of people who back him up and help him to get acclimated.

“I wish Andy the very best. He is an incredibly great person whom I have great respect and admiration for, and he can count on my friendship and support in this process. I know that he is going to be extraordinary because of the type of person he is and his values and commitment to Jesuit Education," said de Quesada.

De Quesada is the exact definition of what it is to be a Belen Lifer. He has been a teacher, a coach, a mentor, and a friend to many people throughout his 28 years at Belen. It is bittersweet to see him go, but the Belen community is confident that he will be successful in his new position. We wish DQ the best in his new endeavours, fully aware that he exemplifies what Vince Lombardi referred to when he said "the man on top of the mountain didn't fall there."

toD.A.

By: Nicolas Roca '16 Contributing Writer

Jesuit Father and President Guillermo García-Tuñón ’87 announced April 9 that Andres de Angulo ’93 would be coming home to Belen Jesuit to take over as the new Dean of Men. De Angulo has been working in the field of education for the last 19 years at Ransom Everglades School, the last three of which he was the Athletic Director. Belen has always held a special place in his heart, and he now looks forward to coming back home.

During his years at Belen, de Angulo dedicated much of his time to the pool. As a talented swimmer, he held the school record for the 50-meter freestyle for many years. After graduating, he went on to attend the University of Miami where he continued to flourish as a

student-athlete pursuing a degree in International Finance and Marketing, while also swimming for the Hurricanes.

“A lot of the great experiences that I had growing up before Belen, while at Belen, and in college came thanks to the opportunities athletics gave to me,” said de Angulo.

During his time at the University of Miami, he also coached swimming to middle and high school students to help pay for school. It was his time coaching that eventually led to his career in education.

“After working in the professional world of marketing for a short time, I decided to focus my efforts towards athletics. I remained as a swim coach with Miami Swimming, which eventually led me to become a Varsity Swim Coach at Ransom. Soon after, I became the Assistant Athletic Director and the rest is history,” said de Angulo.

Aside from life as a swimmer and coach, de Angulo takes great pride in being a family man. He has been happily married to his wife Daniele for nine and a half years and has three children, Alec, Sofia and Lucas.

“Family, without a doubt, is the most important thing in my life,” said de Angulo. “Undoubtedly, everything I do every single day is for my family, to properly represent my family and to let my children know that we care and love them.”

With his family’s support, de Angulo now looks towards the future with excitement as he begins this new chapter in his life. He fondly recalls early memories of Belen as a student with many of the faculty and staff who are still here, and some who are no longer with us.

“One of the teachers who impacted my life greatly was Jesuit Father Jorge Sardiña ’45. I hope to be able to use the Jesuit principles instilled by him to help guide me as Dean of Men,” said de Angulo.

As de Angulo settles into his new office this summer, and the role of Dean of Men, he anxiously awaits the beginning of a new school year and all the excitement that comes with it. Students, on the other hand, may have some trepidation as to who their new Dean of Men will be.

“Students should expect me to be very fair, willing to listen, and willing to help. I am someone who wants to be there to help mold them, guide them and become better human beings. We proudly say we are Men for Others, and I want these young men to be able to live that mission and embrace that motto for the rest of their lives,” said de Angulo.

On the lighter side of things, de Angulo ranks "Rudy" as one of his top favorite movies of all time, he is a big fan of Latin music artists such as Carlos Vives, Juan Luis Guerra and Juanes, and his favorite sports team, you guessed it, the University of Miami Hurricanes. His favorite vacation spot is the island of Hawaii, in his spare time he enjoys boating, and his favorite all time passtime is going to the beach with his family.

With much lying ahead in the upcoming school year, the Belen community opens its arms and welcomes one of its own back home to be the new Dean of Men.

Vocation to Family Vocation to Marriage announcements

• Gisela Martin and Jorge Hernandez-Toraño '75

• Carla Dueñas and Frankie Ruiz ’96 with Barbie Ruiz, Nicholas Ruiz ’11, Barbara Ruiz and Paco Ruiz ‘76

• Gabriel Alejandro, son of Alejandro Gravier '88

• Gaby Tembras and Jon Erik Alvarez '06 pictured with his father, Jorge Alvarez '71, brothers Jorge Jr. '99 and Javier '02, and classmates Enrique Zamora, Marshall Thomas, Kris Garcia, Salvador Camaraza, Bryan Herrera, Anthony Vega, Ian Rivero, Jordan Sanchez, Ryan Bofill and Harry Bluestein.

• Virginia Soto and Eric Fernandez ‘05

• Courtney Gay and Gabriel Bermudez '06

• Carolina Sanchez and Kyle Aguilar '07

• Rebecca Santos and Michael Cruz ‘07

• Michelle Ducker and Asis Lopez '07

• Michelle Hernandez and Daniel Silva '07

• Alexander James Alvarez, grandson of Agustin 'Tinti' De La Vega '76

• Emília Isabel, daughter of Louis Iglesias '88

• George Ryan, son of George Jalil '02

• Celina Rodriguez and Matthew Jordan '08

• Maxima Elena, daughter of Frank Ortega '92

• Isabela Michelle, daughter of Eduardo Gomez '95

• Francesca Arya, daughter of Paco Fernandez '97

• Riley Katelyn, daughter of Daniel R. Rodriguez '97

• Fernando Jose Garrido, son of Jose A. Garrido III ’99

• Siena Mari, daughter of Tab Verdeja '99

• Theodore Xavier, son of Victor Leon '02

• Eva Grace, daughter of Agustin De La Vega '03, granddaughter of Agustin 'Tinti' De La Vega '76

• Derek Alexander, son of Alex Esteban ’03

• William Lambeth, son of George Metcalfe '04

• Nicolas Eduardo, son of Eduardo Pizarro ‘05

• Charlotte, daughter of Alexander Peraza ‘06

• Julian Andres, son of JP Chavez '01

• Lily James, daughter of Francisco Ponce de Leon '06

• Juan Javier, son of Juan Carlos DiazPadron '08

• Penelope Beatrix, daughter of Charles Melendez '08

• Julia Therese Lopez, granddaughter of Joaquin Ruhi ’73

announcements

In loving memory of our alumni friends In Memoriam

• Dr. Antonio Visiola ’48

• Eloy Fernandez '51

• Francisco Ruiz Beceña '53

• René Pierra Sardiñas '55

• Nicolas Aneiros '56

• Carlos Valentin Perez '56

• José Collazo Serracant '57

• Juan Febles '60

• Juan Santalla Madruga '61

• Luis Vidal ‘73

• Johnny Leyva Torralbas - Dolores

Family and Friends

• Madeline Fernandez-Raña, wife of Victoriano FernandezRaña '54

• Graziella Espino, wife of Ramon 'Monchi' Espino - Dolores

• Jose Ramon Santiago, son of José Maria Santiago and nephew of Ramon Barcia ‘60

• Lucila Martínez Arango de Azcarate, mother of Eduardo Azcarate '60

• Maria Antonia Larrinaga, mother of Gerardo Simms ’69 and grandmother of Daniel Simms ’15

• Mercy Arcay, mother of Jorge '77 and Jose Arcay '82 and former Belen Staff Member

• Carola Calderin, mother of Charlie '90 and Johnny Calderin '92, and former Belen Jesuit Administrator

• Irma Cartaya, mother of Belen Professor Maria Elena Cartaya

• Dr. Alberto Melchor Iglesias, father of Francisco '81 and Luis Iglesias '88

• Vicente Fernandez, father of Anthony Fernandez '06 and Belen Jesuit's Director of Basketball Operations

• Sergio Garcia Palacio, step-father of Augusto Venegas '85 and step-grandfather of Augusto Venegas '10

• Jose Orlando Padron, father of Jorge Padron '86 and grandfather of Alfonso Martinez '16 and Jorge Padron '16

• Carmelina Manrara, grandmother of Andres '04 and Carlos Manrara '05

• Eneida Sancerni Machado, grandmother of Carlos ValdesLora '06

• Hilda Guas Bustillo, grandmother of Oscar Bustillo '86 and Belen Jesuit's Director of College Counseling Lisa Peterson and great-grandmother of Nicholas Peterson '15

Class Notes

1940s, 1950s, 1960s

Elena and Luis Maderal, Fifi and Mauro Hernandez, Magaly and Manuel Garcia Lavaniegos, Jose Fernandez-Planas, Carmen Rosa and Roberto Borbolla ’56, celebrated the 80th birthday of classmate Raul Villaverde

Members of the Class of ’57 with Roberto Borbolla ’56 and Alumni Executive Director Carlos Bravo ’86 at an Alumni Luncheon.

Frank Quintero '76 & JP Broche '01 from Quintero Broche, P.A. spoke to the Legal Systems and Concepts class about their experiences in the area of Criminal Law.

1980s

Ronnie Ramos ’81 was promoted to Executive Editor of the Indianapolis Star and supervises 5 newspapers in Indiana.

Members of the Class of 1960, known as "Los Cadetes de la Reina", and their wives, celebrating their 58-year reunion aboard the Carnival Conquest.

Jorge Fernandez-Ceballos ‘61 and family celebrating Christmas.

Jorge A. Fernandez Ceballos ‘61, Fernando Mata ‘60, Julio Lago ‘60, and Eduardo Azcarate ‘60 at the Wall Of Martyrs display in the Administration building.

Class of ‘78 annual reunion at Carlos Allen's house.

Class of ’85

Danny Garrido, Alex Sueiro, Northern Trust

Vice President Alex Adams, Erick Deeb, Carlos Muñiz, Emilio Marrero, and Raul Cardona at the Belen Alumni Luncheon hosted by Northern Trust.

Eddie and Zach Muñoz, Javier and Danny Mariscal, Greg and Gregory Viejo, Ralph and Danny Fernandez de Castro, Luis and Louis Vazquez, and Jorge and Javi Vasseur, members of the Class of 1986 and sons, for the 6th grade entrance exam.

David De Celis ‘89, begins his 3rd year as the Chairman of the City of Cambridge Public Art Commission.

1990s

Several members of the Class of 1989 enjoyed pre-game festivities outside Hard Rock Stadium at the Notre DameUM game.

Andres De Angulo '93 was named the new Dean of Men replacing Thomas de Quesada '94 who has been named the new Principal of Fairfield College Preparatory School in Connecticut.

Patrick Hidalgo ‘97 and Steven Henriquez ‘99 were featured in Brickell Magazine's "The 2018 Top Professionals Under Forty".

2000s

Tab Verdeja '99 was nominated for the South Florida Business & Wealth “2018 Up and Comer Awards” in the category of Accounting.

The Class of ’00 Christmas Happy Hour at House Kitchen & Bar in Coral Gables.

Raul Moas '06 joined the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation as its Miami program director.

Luis Rodriguez '07, Network Producer at Univision, was the focus of an online profile on FIU News.

Carlos Trujillo '01, with his wife, Carmen, was sworn in by Vice President Mike Pence as U.S. ambassador to the Organization of American States. (Picture courtesy of Ralf Ledesma).

Daniel J. Rodriguez '03 was named partner at Lee Equity Partners in New York.

Roly Vicaria '03, Victor Ruiz '03 and Juan O' Naghten '03 at a Professional Sections networking happy hour. Special thanks to Mr. O' Naghten and everyone at Nightlife Brewing Co.

Alberto Aran and Michael Ortiz ‘04, and their company ‘JoJo Tea’ were recently featured in a Miami New Times Article.

John Pistorino '09 received the ‘2018 Young Engineer of the Year’ award by the Miami-Chapter of The Florida Engineering Society.

2010s

Belen Professors Luis Dulzaides, Charles Cleveland and Juan Vazquez '92 gather with members of the Class of 2010 at Tank Brewery.

C.J. Vazquez '17, playing Baseball for Fordham, was selected Atlantic 10 Conference Co-rookie of the week.

Please update the Alumni Office with any news about you and/or your family.

Contact us by e-mail at alumni@belenjesuit.org or by phone at 786-621-4667

GALLERY OF REUNIONS

GALLERY OF REUNIONS

GALLERY OF REUNIONS Sagua

OF THE SCHOOL PRESIDENT

I recently sat with my grandfather for a few hours. A graduate from the class of 1940, he believes he is the last member of his class. He could be right. As he reminisced about his days at Belen, his life in Cuba, his wife and children, and beamed as he spoke about his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, he didn’t fail to mention how grateful he is. Grateful to God for the many blessings that he clearly has experienced throughout his 96 years of life, but also grateful for the challenges because he is aware that even in those, God is present.

It’s a good exercise. St. Ignatius would agree. Our founder calls it the Examen. He encourages every Jesuit and those associated to the Ignatian way of life to spend some time every day reflecting on the presence of God, to give thanks for where He is found and ask forgiveness for when He has been shut out. In large part, the exercise also helps us become aware of what we need to change, while becoming aware of what can stay the same. St. Ignatius was so keen on this exercise that he even recognized, that while a Jesuit may possibly miss a daily mass because of travel, schedule, or ill health, there is no excuse for missing the Examen.

This edition of the Belen Jesuit Alumni Magazine does exactly that. It steps back, examines, and gives thanks for two key members of our school community. Both Roberto Goizueta ’49 and Jorge Bosch have profoundly impacted the history of our school. With all the progress going around at Belen Jesuit in recent years, we cannot revel in it without recognizing those individuals who made so much of it possible. In the words of Sir Isaac Newton, “if we have reached great heights it is because we are standing on the shoulders of giants.”

Both Goizueta and Bosch have been giants for Belen Jesuit. After years of working to build up Coca-Cola to become one of the most recognizable brands in the world, Goizueta never forgot his alma mater. In a recent conversation with his son, Roberto mentioned that never a week went by without his father mentioning el Colegio de Belén. In life, Goizueta was very

generous to our school making our gymnasium possible and establishing the Goizueta Scholars Program. But even in death, with The Goizueta Foundation, his commitment continues. Jorge Bosch is much of the same. While not even an alumnus of the school, his passion for Ignatian spirituality and his commitment to the Society of Jesus brought him close to Belen Jesuit. Deepening a relationship with Fr. Marcelino García, SJ during his tenure as the school’s president, Bosch served as a financial advisor and chairman of the Board for over 25 years. Mr. Bosch gave to Belen Jesuit both of his time and treasure and helped steer our school through some of its most challenging years. It is clear we would not be here if not for his support.

Education is challenging and it doesn’t take a village. Villages are too small, its members too similar, its boundaries too near. No, it takes a city, one that is diverse and filled with the richness of experiences from people of all sorts of backgrounds and expertise. Men like Goizueta and Bosch are a testament to the fact that raising a child requires the support and encouragement of all those who are passionate about education, whether they are alumni or not. It does take a city. And yet, even in the midst of these varied experiences and realities, I confess that one thing does remain the same… a profound love for Belen Jesuit and a commitment to a great education.

Auspice Maria,

Fr. Guillermo García-Tuñón, SJ '87

Belen Alumni Association of Jesuit Schools from Cuba and Miami Alumni Office

500 Southwest 127 Avenue Miami, Florida 33184

Calendar of events

July

July 6

July 13-15

Monthly alumni mass at Gesu (noon)

Class of 1958 - 60 year reunion

July 21 Colegio Dolores - Reunion anual

July 27-29

July 31

September

Sep. 7

Sep. 14-16

Class of 1973 - 45 year reunion

Feast of St. Ignatius Mass at Gesu

August

Aug. 3

Aug. 4

Aug. 17-19

Aug. 25-26

Aug. 31

October

Oct. 5

Monthly alumni mass at Gesu (noon)

Class of 2008 - 10 year reunion

Sep. 21 Belen vs Columbus Tailgate/Football Game

Sep. 28 Monthly alumni luncheon (Noon)

Oct. 12-14

Oct. 19-21

Oct. 26

Oct. 28

November December

Nov. 2

Nov. 3

Monthly alumni mass at Gesu (noon)

Annual Belen Gala

Nov. 16 Monthly alumni luncheon (Noon)

Dec. 7

Monthly alumni mass at Gesu (noon)

Class of 2017 - 1 year reunion

Class of 1968 - 50 year reunion

Class of 1963 - 55 year reunion

Monthly alumni luncheon (Noon)

Monthly alumni mass at Gesu (noon)

Class of 1998 - 20 year reunion

Class of 1988 - 30 year reunion

Monthly alumni luncheon (Noon)

Colegio Sagua - Reunion anual

Monthly alumni mass at Gesu (noon)

Dec. 14 Monthly alumni luncheon (Noon)