A.G.H.S. BELGRANO R. BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA ON SEP 30, 1947 About 56 years ago, at a moment of time, all of you below took time out to give to me, someone you knew only briefly, a leather embossed photo album of all the photos I took while I attended A.G.H.S. These are the names on the inside of the album given to me at my departure. They are copied in no particular order. Please forgive the spelling or errors. if you know the correct name, please send me an email: david@architectsworkshop.com Earlier in the spring, when I received my copy of the Gaucho Gazette, I took the time to read it from cover to cover at one sitting. What became apparent to me was that we were the children of the first wave of the Internationalists. Our parents were in the foreign service, in the earliest form of world business, traders and travelers. Some fifty-six years later, when I think back, I remember those innocent times as some of the best years of my life. They being emissaries, our lives as children were mirrors of those of our parents. They were social and we were social.I remember dancing to the latest records in the afternoon at Delia's home. Jo Stafford and "... You went away and my heart went with you, I spell your name in every prayer, if there's some other way to prove to ..." These are words of nostalgia that resonates with me when I think of my teens in Andy Hardy-like A.G.H.S. Belgrano R. There was a cover of Life magazine, which my father received every week from the US. On that that occasion, it showed a Mr. Wendell Wilkie. He espoused a notion and vision of One World at peace and in friendship with the US at its helm. Our parents were the first wave of this global view, He and they helped us accept the United Nations. Now, the music of structure and melody has been erased and we hear only anger, vulgarities, and drums amplified. And the One gracious World has been lost to the conglomerate of christian militants and the war lobbies. The very World that a Republican like Eisenhower warned us about.
E-MAIL CORRESPONDENCES FROM ALLAN SMID, Bob Johnson had the great idea of sending me your web site. It is a remarkable accomplishment, congratulations! I wish I had your web skills. The AGHS pics were most appreciated and led me to leaf through several years of the Southern Star to see if I could find pix of you. I think the two you will find below are of you, one in a chorus, group (very serous) next to Bobby Cheng (whom I knew very well: whatever happened top Bobby?), who is also with you in one of your photos, and the other cutting up with buddies (John Bollini, Jan Welters, Martin Llanso...) in a lighter moment. I also found two mentions of you in the Southern Star, 1947, N° 2. The first points out that you submitted the winning title for the Southern Star Chronicle, a seven-page tabloid which appeared every ten days (didn't last long, I fear). And the second is in the issue's Sophomore Report. It states, "With great sorrow our class lost the Advertising and Art Manager (of the Chronicle), David Lowe, who sailed for Canada the first days of October." Because you skipped the country, this seems to explain the fact that you are not in the class photo, sorry. If you like, I can send it. Unfortunately, the names below the photo are in alphabetical order, since it was assumed those receiving the annual could identify everybody. By the way, it was a Sophomore class and, at the time, I was a Freshman, so you're one up on me. I also wanted to tell you that I found two other references to you in my collection of school annuals (I am one of those rare ducks who did all his primary and secondary schooling at the AGHS. My brother and sister still live in Buenos Aires and my parents died there; she was American and he was Dutch, as I am). The first is that I discovered that you placed second (Bill Cooper first, Fred Kalman third) in the 200 m. school sports competition (Category B) and third in the 100 m. dash (Bill Cooper first, Walter Liebling second). For the record, I also was a big jock there and was awarded the Outstanding Athletic Award in my Senior Year. Maybe that explains our good health and longevity. And the second is that in a one-word profile of each member of your class, to the question << Study,>> you answered: <<Architecture.>> Even then, you knew where you were headed! Moreover, your message revealed a remarkable coincidence. It happens that I also went to the Alliance Française in 1959! I came here with a friend, met my first wife (French) at the Centre Americain (also on Raspail), worked at the Paris Herald Tribune (I'm a journalist) and the American Embassy (where I met President-elect Kennedy in 1960) and the following year went back to the States (where I had gone to college and spent two years in the US Army). I returned to France in 1969 and have been here ever since. My second wife is Belgian, we have one son and I have three kids from my first marriage. Believe it or not, I now live 50 yards from the Alliance! It's a small world. So the ambassador was Bobby Chen's grandfather. I also lived in Olivos and went to the Embassy home-villa, as you call it, to play with Bobby. I remember there was a lot of ground (gardens) and that it was very big. Unfortunately, I'm not much of a photographer, so no pic on this one. Josephine Baker sang at your father's departure party? I don't believe it! As I'm sure you know, she's a legend over here. Ah, Carmen Miranda, the Brazilian bombshell. Unfortunately, Rio now appears to be dirty and unsafe. And the unsurpassed elegance of Palm Beach Linen Whites! Them were the days, my friend. I have another couple of tidbits for you. By chance, I came across a reference to one Diana Lowe, whom I presume must be a sister of yours. When you were a Freshman, she was in 7th Grade. She is listed in the class Hall of Fame as 'Most Shy,' along with Felipe Remond (French). I had a crush on his sister, Nadine. There is also a photo of Diana. If I'm correct about all this, I fear you're going to ask me for another photo, right? And in the Freshmen page, which mentions your precocious ambition to become an architect, it is said that you are famous for your courtesy (bravo, says I) and nuts about Ellen Ruiz. Don't let your wife know. E-MAIL FROM CLYDE DICKEY TO CHARLES YATMAN, APRIL 21, 2004, Dear Charles "Commodore" Yatman, I could swear it used to be "Charlie", but note that you use "Charles" in your class write-ups--perhaps it goes with the "Commodore"? It's been a very long time, Charles, but I remember you well at AGHS. I was class of '50, and looked up to you upper classmen, especially your class of '48, which seemed to have so many "leaders". Also, while my memory is starting to play games with me, I seem to recall an exchange with you some years ago when you were with a jeans company--Wrangler? In any event, Allan Smid, '50, David Lowe, '49, and I have been recently engaged in what you might call a "marathon" string of emails. It's been very interesting and enjoyable. David has a fine website, which includes photos and references to his years at AGHS. You may find it interesting--www.architectsworkshop.com. Among many others, you will find references to Bobby Chang (referred as Chen, Cheng), class of '48. The three of us knew Bobby quite well, and have been wondering whatever happened to him. The last spotting of which we are aware is that David saw him over fifty years ago in Manhattan, where Bobby lived in an elegantly decorated apartment and was somehow connected to show business--which sounds like Bobby. We decided to start a search, and David may, in fact, be on his trail. Since Bobby is not in the alphabetical listing in the ACSAA Directory, nor do I believe he has been mentioned in your class notes, I suspect you may have also lost him. However, if by some stroke of good fortune you do know something more recent about Bobby Chang, we would appreciate hearing from you. And, of course, we would enjoy any other news about yourself or others that you care to share with us--we missed your notes in the last "Gaucho Gazette". Many thanks for any help you can give us. Un abrazo fuerte, y muchos saludos, Clyde Dickey E-MAIL FROM CLYDE DICKEY TO DAVE AND ALLAN, Dear Dave and Allan, I'm having a hard time keeping up with you guys, but I won't quit! Also heard from George C. (he asked for some names in the photos on Dave's website), but no news from Charlie Y. Anyway, here's a stab at my backlog:Sorry about the "short bio", Dave, but as my wife, Becky (Chinese: Hong Mei) says, I'm not long on patience for details. I will gladly send something more substantive--perhaps I can copy what I sent to Allan a year ago--if I can find it. Yes, very fortunately, I am fluent in Spanish and still use it a lot. I finally got through your entire website, and did, indeed, enjoy your Chicago summer write-up. You seem to attract very interesting people! We live about a mile from Astor St (very short street), almost on the lake, and know the neighborhood well. However, I don't recognize any of the names you mention (I arrived here almost 20 years later). I did know "Monkey" Ward well--they were a client, and I visited the Canton Fair with them in 1976 when they were first starting to buy fabrics in China. Their bankruptcy was a sad story--and I'm afraid Sears may soon follow. I strongly suspected the girl in the checkered outfit, with the others on the bench, was Gudrun H., but the one of her standing alone fooled me because she looks so much like Margie McCall Geldens--and George C. had the same impression. I had a crush on Gudrun (believe her father was in shipping), but that was before I started dating Janie Heaton Barry. I obviously would likely not recognize Gudrun today. Don't believe I knew Otto H. We are very much looking forward to seeing Allan and family in Paris about five weeks from now (we'll be in London before that). So, unfortunately, we won't be there for your visit in the fall (we'll probably be in China then). The fact is, I just couldn't wait any longer to pay off my debt to Allan!! I believe he wrote you about it. I'll let you know if it's safe to discuss California wines with him! And let's hope that "Bobby S. Chang" responds positively to Dave's inquiry (or is that enquiry, Allan). I have enjoyed the exchanges with Allan, and now with Dave, and look forward to further enlightening "conversations" going forward. ¡Saludos, y hasta muy pronto! Clyde E-MAIL FROM CHARLES YATMAN TO CLYDE DICKEY, dear clyde, your email was waiting when I returned from san antonio, texas, last night... in the 1950's quite a few of us from aghs '48 and '49 were living in new york: peter polak and his wife mary ann, richard and esther eder, henry clark and cenci, ben white, jimmy norris, bobby chang, pat powell, jack wisner and of course myself. of the group we lost track of bobby chang, who was doing public relations ? and jimmy norris who was running a print shop. the rest of us kept in contact. henry clark died in the '80's but I still correspond and/or see richard and esther; peter polak (no longer married to mary ann) ben and jack. I guess you know that mary jane heaton lives in miami. at present we have " group " made up of the classes of 1947, 1948 and 1949 which keeps in touch and tries to get together, I do liaison since I am constantly travelling between the usa and argentina ... I beleive we last saw each other in washigton when we were attending a conference on latin america, you are right I was with wrangler which we subsequently merged with lee and vanity fair + jansport etc to form the vf corporation of which I am, of course, retired for some time, please note that my email system, vtech/companion cannot download attachments - a closing though we have managed to locate people (gordon tait who recently died) through google best regards, keep in touch, charles yatman

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