A Weekend in Columbus Ohio You Will Remember Forever

Save these dates:  May 30-31, and June 1,  2008
  

Where were you when they were Presidents of the International Students Association?

     
 Remember when  …………..
    1967-68   Mohammed Kurmally
    1968-69   Ato deGraft-Johnson
    1969-70   Vince Ferranti
    1970-71   Marianita Albano
    1971-72   Vijay Sathe
    1972-73   Sin-yan Shen
    1973-74   Marlinda Sardovia
    1974-75   Eric Borchers
    1975-76   Don Faxon

Forty years had passed.  In preparing the above list, we had some discussions, not so much about their leadership, rather, of the years  when they were at the realm.  We  apologize for any errors and would welcome your corrections.

Where have the years gone and where are we going from here?

We welcome you to Columbus:

     Marianita Albano started with the idea of a reunion during a brief trip to Columbus last August.  The idea took roots right away and we started making a list of people whose addresses, specifically , those we could reach by e-mail and receive a quick response.  Her personal message to all: 

“Folks, it has been awhile since we all left OSU, it is about time we get together, relive old memories, make new ones, and share what you have been up to, since we last saw each other.  Please come.  And pass the word around!”

    Marianita came to Columbus for the Celebration of Life of a very special friend of international students.  Others who came to this event were Mukul Mehta (from Cleveland, Ohio), Dhyneshwar Chawan (from Syracuse, New York).  They came with their respective spouses. Chawan’s two sons also attended the event.  The idea of an ISA reunion was endorsed further.  From Columbus,  there was Alma Saddam,  Mohammed Kurmally and his wife, Jane. Cres Guerrero-Ricca and Tom Lebatuan Ricca completed this circle.

When not traveling, Marianita’s ranch house in Salisbury  is a most popular destination where her Hotel Albano is available for all seasons.  Her house is a popular site for  weddings,  anniversaries, holiday vacationers, and summer students learning English as a Second Language.  The students learn fast because they have a very good example from their hostess who introduces them to American living like dishwashing and throwing out the thrash.  Marianita has a  four-legged assistant who comes by a most appropriate name, Shrek.  He does not bite but enjoys chewing leather shoes, if left in the doorway. 

That same week in August, we had another group enjoying a bowl of soup at a Vietnamese cafe.  Joining us were Melinda deGuzman Harty and Kevin Harty with their two children, Karina and Alexander,  We surprised Marlinda Sardovia Iyer with a birthday cake (one candle for a long life).  Our happy faces and laughter added sufficient brightness to light up our dinner table.

Melinda continues to be engaged in research and development.  Her work impacts all of us. One of her responsibilities is determining the formulator mixing of drugs for FDA approval. In addition to her professional involvement, Melinda and Kevin  participate in interesting  activities for both the  Harty and  de Guzman families in the US and in the Philippines, respectively.

Kevin is among the professional staff at the expanded Office of International Affairs at OSU.  To learn more about the changes in what we knew as the Office of International Students  and Scholars, read about it in Links.

Marlinda R. Sardovia Iyer is still busy as ever; she needs to work in order to be able to volunteer.  Her volunteer work consists of being President of IVO (International Voluntary Organizations),  Director of the Columbus International Festival (CIF) Health Fair, (yes, she also helped organize the CIF, formerly the UN Festival-  as Chair for the last several years), and  as Vice President of her neighborhood association —– among other things, the Asian Festival.  At the rate she is going, she may need a bigger house to display all the plaques she has received for her volunteer work and leadership including the latest from the Mayor  of Columbus and the Governor of Ohio.
    

In October, Colonel Shirley Mancheck appeared in flesh at the home of Sharon and Vince Ferranti in Richmond, Virginia.  Shirley had retired from the military and was traveling around to visit friends.  The idea of an ISA reunion was further ignited during this visit.  Vince was trying to convince us we should have the reunion in Virginia where he has “plantations”  where we could roam around. Those of us in Columbus, said, “No, thank you.  The reunion has to be in Columbus, our old stomping grounds – at the Oval, at North High.”  Ahhhhhhh, to see again those places where we enjoyed  last minute  “add-more-water-to-the-soup” potlucks at Marianita’s place on Neil Avenue, and  do you remember the night we all stayed to watch the moon landing at Cres’ apartment on East 15th?

Alma Saddam,  the lady most new international students  will remember as one of the individuals greeting new students  during orientation.  Retired from OSU as Assistant Professor Emeritus. She has not slowed down. She continues to  be engaged in international activities, being Chair of the Food  Booths’  displays and samplings at the annual City of Columbus Asian Festival, an enormous undertaking bringing thousands of visitors at  Franklin Park during the Memorial Day weekend.  When she is not planning this festival,( a whole year preparation in itself), she is a world traveler and recently visited her seventh(!) continent:  Australia and New Zealand.

In planning for this ISA reunion, we discovered Tom Denune still in Columbus, still doing his international stints, making trips to South and Central America, doing good deeds. Tom and  Alma used to be Miss Bailey’s assistants to make sure everyone had a warm blanket for those chilly nights and mornings at Camp Akita.

The first to respond to our invitation was Professor Vijay  Sathe (ISA President, 1971-72).  From his home office at The Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management at Claremont Graduate University in California:

He says,  “It’s about time!  Please come and rekindle old friendships, discover old friends in new ways, and discover new friends in old ways  Peter Drucker says,  ‘ As you grow older, you have a choice.  You can slow down or speed up!’  Fellow ISAers, let’s speed up.”

Mohammed Kurmally  resides in Columbus with his wife, Jane.  They have one son.

Cres and Tuan  returned to Columbus in 1975 after residing and working in Saigon. for four and a half years.  They have one son, Ramon, who is helping his mother design this blog site. 

We will reminisce of old times and we will create new memories – this time in the golden years of life’s experiences. We believe that in the few days of the reunion we can talk about our contributions in developing a peaceful, prosperous, inspiring future for our children and grandchildren. 

Come to the ISA reunion and have a good time!

Here is a preview of activities during the reunion:

Friday, May 30  will start with registration of arrivals and receiving the schedule  of activities of the reunion. Shirley Manchek is designing a “wall of photographs”, her collection of those ISA years we are celebrating at this ISA reunion.  If you wish to contribute some photographs from your own collection,, contact Shirley through the Links/ Comments. Capping Friday evening is a Welcome and Reception hosted by Sharon and Vince Ferranti.Also, at this time, we will share  a Moment  of Silence to remember ISA members who have gone to the Great Beyond.

Saturday, May 31 is the day for small groups tour of the OSU campus  , including the  new improved North High Street scene and  the expanse of buildings and turf on Lane Avenue. Mrs. Si Sokol has graciously offered their spacious residence and swimming pool for the catered  dinner at the time the stars appear in the heavens.  

Sunday, June 1 is a picnic  (weather permitting)  or  group activities at places of interest in the city. Watch for details in the future updates of this web site.

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS

We are arranging for hotel arrangements with group rates:  We will provide you  a toll free number  of the hotel(s)   after we receive your request. Please register to receive hotel information. The  dates of the ISA reunion  will be the start of the summer season .

REGISTER HERE

To complete our plans and arrangements for the activities, we need your response as soon as possible. Please respond at this site. Will you attend the reunion?

Please click on the comment link and leave the following information:

Will you be attending? (Yes, No, Maybe)
Number of guests (including you):
Will you be needing hotel accomodations?
How many of the guests will be staying?

Please leave additional information if you know any of the following:

Help Wanted for addresses or email of these individuals: 

• Ray Berry – said to be working in Southern California
• Ato deGraft-Johnson, last known address Michigan
• Phoebe “Fifi” Golke, not in Columbus, as claimed
• Surinder Kumar – was on “search” list of Vince Ferranti
• Robert “Bob” Maynard – last known address in Virginia Beach
• Kwamena Monney y – was once editor of ISA newsletter
• Ramakrishna Chunchanalakot  Melakote – former resident at George Wells Knight International House on E. 15th Avenue
• Maria Spinelli (Mrs. David White) – last known address Amherst, Massachusetts
• Jacquie Yacher-  last known address, Chicago, Illinois

Please enter your pre-event information in the comments below: please answer the questions in the REGISTRATION section in your comments. We look forward to your replies!