April 2005

Not much news was submitted over the past 7 months. But it looks like we are setting a record this month for news submittals. Keep it up. Come on guys, surely you have some news to share with everybody. You can submit your news bits on the Newsletters page.

Submitted by: Tommy Davis
Date: April 8, 2005
The years you were in Venezuela: 1951 to 1956
City and State you live in now: Orlando, Florida
New email address announcement: rdavis2@cfl.rr.com
Your Other News: 15 years with the Walt Disney Company, this month. Want to retire to Central Texas in 5-6 years. At 58, began riding a Harley Davidson Road King 4 months ago...love it!
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Submitted by: Kathy Clifton Royal
Date: April 17 2005
The years you were in Venezuela: 1950 to 1968

Your Other News: Just wanted to say a big hello to all my schoolmates. I am living in Colorado Springs, Co. Yes, it is a darn sight colder than El Paso, Texas or San Tome for that matter. However, there's skiing only a couple of hours away so that's the trade off.

I am still working for El Paso Corp. even after a gazillion downsizings. I head up the group that schedules gas for Colorado Interstate Pipeline. Far cry from the English teacher I thought I was going to be all my life.

Nigel Willsdon dropped me a line from sunny Baku (Azerbaijan) and he and his wife Susan had just spent a weekend in Dubai and were off to Turkmenistan. Wow. Exciting life!

I have spent most of the last year trying to potty train a couple of baby Italian Greyhounds -- Gabriela and Gina. When I first opened the door to my snowy backyard, they looked at me all sweet-faced and politely declined to go potty in the cold outdoors. I guess I wouldn't want to run out there naked either. So I got them jackets to wear but that didn't work. Finally, we switched to pee pads until the warm weather arrives, if it ever does. I should've followed my parents and gotten Pomeranians!

Both our folks are gone so George, Joyce, and I try to stay in touch. We went to Italy last year together with Joyce's mom and had a terrific time.

Let me hear from you. Would love to get a visit or two so I can show off this incredible scenery. Kathy
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Submitted by: Ned and Helen Eastlack
Date:April 19, 2005
The years you were in Venezuela: 1953 to 1957
City and State you live in now: Lincoln, Nebraska
New email address announcement: signalsgtww2@aol.com

Your Other News: Retired from Atlantic Richfield Co (1983) after 14 years in Maracaibo, San Tome', Caracas, and Maracaibo again. Then transferred back to Dallas, 1966-1977, Alaska, 1977-1983. Daughters Julie and Marjie graduated from Campo Alegre Caracas school. We have 5 grandchildren - would like emails from friends who knew us in San Tome.
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Friday, April 22, 2005

Submitted by: DeeDee Muesse
The years you were in Venezuela: 1956 to 1960 and 1964 to 1967

Passing Announcements: My Dad: James Muesse (Manager of Atlas) January 27, 2005 He so wanted to attend a San Tome Reunion. He held dear all of his friend from his years in Venezuela. Thanks to each of you for all the memories he so cherished.
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Submitted by: Pedro Arnal
Date: APRIL 27
The years you were in Venezuela: 1948 to 1966

Your Other News:
Hi Terry and all the wonderful people from San Tome. I don't know if you remember me ,but I remember you, Allen and many who are registered in the San Tome web site. We played a lot of baseball together in the little league teams. I attended the Venezuelan section of the Staff School together with my sister Arlin.

I'm 56 years old and partially retired. I devoted most of my working years to various big multinational companies in the marketing and sales areas. My wife's name is Ana Maria, we have two kids, Pedro 31 and Alejandra 24. No grandchildren yet.

I really enjoyed running into the San Tome Web site and going back in time and remembering very happy years of my life. I'm sure many have the same feelings.
I have been back to San Tome two times after I left in 1966, the last time was in December 2000. While driving through the camp many names and memories came to my mind , believe me I couldn't hold my tears. I don't want to go back because I have heard that everything has changed for the worst and our beautiful camp is not nearly what it used to be. But anyway today 39 yeas after I left San Tome I still believe there is no place in the world better to grow up in than the San Tome we grew up in. And I wouldn't change my years there for anything. I think that all of us who had that luck belong to a special breed. What did it? I don't know, maybe it was the freedom, the open space, the friendship, or even the DDT we breathed while chasing the truck and getting into the DDT cloud.
Terry, thanks for you effort to keep this web site alive.

Best Regards. Pedro Arnal
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Submitted by: Alex Rivas
Date: April 28, 2005
The years you were in Venezuela: 1956 to 1973

Passing Announcements: My father Dr. Frank Rivas, passed away last November, he was 87 years old.
Moving Announcements: Now living in China since Sept. 2003

New email address announcement: arivas-sha@eac.com.sg
Your Other News: Hi everyone. It's been a while since I last visited this great site.
As I indicated above, my dad passed away last November. Most of you Santomesinos born around around '50-70's were probably delivered by him. He did work his entire life in San Tome up until the last 5 years before retirement when he was assigned to head the medical department for Meneven in Caracas.

He is survived by all 5 daughters and sons who live in Coral Springs, Florida, except for me. I moved from Caracas to Shanghai almost two years ago. I am in charge of a Danish company which produces and markets infant formulas and specialized milk powder for kids.

This is one exciting place to be. This city (and country) is just booming. There are so many things and places to visit. Last year my brother Luis and his family came to visit and we managed to go to Tibet...fantastic. Great place to visit and so different from the rest of China.

If any of you happen to plan a trip to this part of the world, please drop me a line or call me (86)1381.780.1555. I will be more than happy to try to make your stay a special one.

Submitted by: Randy Glasson
Date: Saturday, April 30, 2005
The years you were in Venezuela: 1964 to 1970

City and State you live in now: Portland, Texas
Your Other News: Debbie & I are doing great. Dad & Mom (Bobbie & Betty) are doing fine and are also living here in Portland. My sister, Ginger Ingledinger, who lives in Bryan, Texas is also doing well and they are expecting their first grandchild. Our two daughters, Heather (25), whose a college graduate and is working in the Physical Therapy field, Brittany (20) who is a junior in college are both doing great and we are very proud of them.

Greetings from South Florida,

Thanks for the update on the San Tome website and upcoming reunion. I have a bit of sad news to pass along and I emailed you about a week ago informing you but I guess you didn't receive it.

My brother Arturo Molieri died March 29th at ll:00 a.m. at his home in Weston, Florida. He had been fighting cancer for several months to no avail. It eventually compromised the bone and became terminal. He was 64 years old on March 19th just before passing away. I wanted this info to be posted to let his friends know. Mom, Mabel, his wife Shelley and I will miss him terribly.

Hope you had a nice Easter and all is well with your family. Mom lost her home in Jupiter during Hurricane Jeanne and has relocated to Ft. Lauderdale until her home gets rebuilt. She has had a lot to deal with these last six months but health wise is doing good. Again, thanks for the update.

Vivian Griggs (White)
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Terry,

My name is Mike Wilhelm. I am a naturalized American citizen, originally from Venezuela. I was adopted there by an American family back in 1955 and brought to the USA. I’ve been back to Venezuela one time when I was about 5, and have not returned since. I am very interested in learning more about the area and where I came from. For several years after I was adopted, my new parents and I lived around San Tome in an oil camp. My adopted father worked, like most foreigners in Venezuela, for the oil industry. He was a driller for Gulf Oil ( I think). I am looking for any information about the camp. I think it was a Gulf Oil facility, but I’m not certain. I attended kindergarten there but I don’t know if it was in the San Tome Staff School or some other school. Any assistance you can offer would be appreciated. I would like to know what happen to a few of the people I do remember from those days. Thanks, Mike
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Dear Terry: Don't know if you will know or remember my family who lived in San Tome from 1947 to 1973, Wehmeyer's, our house was one of the first you saw coming down that road from main office building, Casa 654, next to us was LoPresty and Morgans. My name is Lonnie, had an old sister Sandra, then me, my other sister Frances, two younger brothers Frankie and Richard. It was I who first started selling pop corn, I ran the pop corn machine, and delivered the Miami Herald.

Anyway wanted to let you know I have many pictures of San Tome during the 50's when I was a teen in San Tome. I just got my computer couple months ago and still learning, but am planning on sending a few when I learn how, and also have to make prints of the slides, most of the pictures I have are slides. I did make a slide presentation a couple years back when I went to a San Tome Reunion in Austin. Haven't been to one in few years but am planning to attend the one this year. By the way I was in the San Tome Staff School-Class of 1957.

Keep up the good work, keep San Tome alive.

Un Amigo de San Tome

Lonnie Wehmeyer

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Terry,
Maybe you don't remember me, I drove the "little red car" during the late 50's and early 60's. I'm a cousin of the Enets and Willy Holdack. I recently moved to Miami after living in St. Louis, MO for 36 years. This place is a jungle, nothing like it used to be.
Regards,
Bert Ramirez-Enet

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Hi Terry:

First of all let me take the advantage of thanking you for sending me your recent San Tome Up-Date message and being still in Venezuela (unfortunately / It's not in the least the way we all remember it to be) but hopefully I'll up date you on how things have changed and the horrific situation it is to live in Venezuela at the present time during my next visit to Florida! My oldest daughter lives in Florida and I usually visit my good friend John Schwartz in Sand Key when I! I also usually et to Houston where my mom lives; plus I'm seriously considering moving to Spring Texas when I leave Venezuela some time this year!!??

Well Terry good night for now. Saludos, Brian Goddard

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Hi Terry,

Thank you for keeping us all updated. I found these pictures (drawings) at my parents’. They were meant for greeting cards (70’s), and I don’t know who drew them. I’d like to share them with everybody. If I find anymore I’ll send them right away.

Regards,

Luisa Serpa Vollbracht

Click on image to enlarge

Hi,Terry and friends. I registered in your website because I spent several years in Eastern Venezuela in the Anaco area (remember Socony or Mobil?) as a young engineer in the sixties and made some good friends in San Tome. I don't think that qualifies me as a full-fledged member but at any rate, I enjoyed looking at the pictures and the people. Some of the fellows who still are my friends and live in Venezuela are Juan Chacin and Carlos (Charlie )Garcia. Their email addresses are: juanchacin@telcel.net.ve and cgarcian@cantv.net. I am sending them San Tome's newsletter website address hoping they register if they haven't already. Will enjoy to continue receiving the newsletter. Bye for now. Alfredo Essis.

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Terry,
Thank you for the San Tome update. I will mail a contribution to you this week. I think you have done a great job on the San Tome web site. I enjoy perusing it. Also, good choice of music.

Don't know if you recall, I was in class of 59', Johnny Servello, John McGhee, Bruce Weaver, etc. We were transferred back to Anaco mid year, then off to boarding school. I was in Anaco & San Tome from 1950 - 1962.

I noticed you are in Clearwater. My brother, Chris, is a dentist there. Do you know him?

Hope all is well. Again, good job on the web site. Regards, Ben Bonham

Hi Terry, my name is Jose Malave. I am from Venezuela ( Puerto La Cruz) , but actually I am living in Austin, Tx since 1982.. I don’t belong to the generation of San Tome but I would like to say that I always read the website…My father worked for Mene Grande for almost 42 years at Puerto La Cruz Terminal since 1936, his name was Alejandro Malave Reyes, He passed away last March at the age of 83 years, may be people of the old generation who worked at Puerto La Cruz Terminal remember him..

Also, I worked for Meneven at the refinery in Puerto La Cruz since 1974 to 1982 at the Engineering Department at the time when Jose Luis Gonzalez was Department Manager. Actually, I work for Advanced MicroDevices (AMD) in Austin since 1990…

Now I know that you are doing an excellent job to keep alive the work of Craig Weide.

Best regards,

Jose