Newsletter for past alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.
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Dear Friends,
Here are the writings of a couple of good friends of the Circular.
Also for those that went down to the Sports field, either three times a week, Wednesday Saturday and Sunday or those that went down every day, yours truly.
I am enclosing the first four photos of the famous short cut (legal).
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Attila GYURIS
Sunday, April 26, 2009 6:18:48 PM
Hi Cornel:
I remember you as a "big boy" (compared to me) when you were at the Mount.
You were one of the boys engaged in building the dens in the bush weren't you?
You and I didn't hang out together at the Mount probably due to our age difference, so probably you don' t remember me, as a " small boy" from
I was good friends with Jan " Dutch" Koenraadt, a Dutch boy from
I was there 5 years from 1964 to 1969.
I started in Prep "A" in 1964, and I left Form V in 1969.
So, as you can see much of my formative years were spend at the Mount also.
I remember all those names you mention below, plus Mr. Basanta, Spanish teacher, Mr Chow Fatt, Math Teacher and great ping-pong player, Mr Yip Chuck, always smoking, was my biology teacher.
Also Fr. Gregory's (the Duck) brother, who was Fr. Theo, Fr Augustine ("Rughead") my French teacher.
Bro. Rupert was in charge of our swim team the Aqualads.
Mr Carter was also my teacher, but I forget what subject.
I remember Cecil Camacho, and Phillip Laughlin, he ended up graduating with me in Form V, I think he had to repeat a year.
He was also the singer for the school rock-and-roll band.
Then I remember Rafael "Cheche" Echeverria, who was in your class.
I recently met up with him in
Strangely enough, I basically remember almost everybody in your class also (from that picture) , as I looked up to all of you guys as the" big boys" to learn all the tricks from.... and I learned well I think.
And a bunch of other names, too numerous to mention.
Since you asked, here is an updated copy of my short Bio That I had sent to Ladislao some time back.
If you do a search in the blog of the Circulars, you fill find a few of my pictures also.
This is my Bio I sent on request from Ladislao:
Bio of Attila N. GYURIS (updated as of March 2009).
- I attended The Abbey School from Sep 1964 till June 1969. I went though all the grades from Prep “A” to Form V. (I did both Form II and Form III in one year, that’s why the years don’t match).
During my 5 years at MSB I was active in athletics in the House of St. Anthony, in the “Aqualads” swimming Team, and in the Scout Troop, where I earned my Queen's Scout award.
I was also a drummer in the MSB marching Band.
I remember my favourite activity during weekends at MSB was to hike up the hill up to the “white stones” or escape into the “bush” behind the Refectory and build a “den” (stick house).
I had a pellet gun hidden in the bush with which I had many adventures.
After graduating Form V at the
That took me a whole year in the Liceo San Jose in
After graduating a second time from this
I graduated there with a degree in Chemical Engineering.
After graduation, I worked for a while as an Industrial Engineer/ Building Inspector for the Cuerpo de Bomberos
Then I immigrated in 1978 to the
During this time I also attended
I worked as a flight instructor and charter pilot to help pay for my graduate school tuition and the rent.
After finishing my M.B.A. at UCLA in 1981, a Venezuelan oil company head hunter found me in and gave me an offer I couldn’t refuse, so I returned to
I worked for Maraven/Shell in
Then, in short order, got transferred to the
But I was not loving my engineering career, besides, the Venezuelan oil industry and economy was by then in disarray and had begun its long slide downhill.
During my engineering career I kept moonlighting as a pilot and flight instructor during my free time. I realized that my true calling was in aviation. I had to make a career-change decision while I was still young, single, mobile and was not yet saddled with any family responsibilities.
So, while still working in NYC, I resigned from Maraven for good in 1983 and embarked fully on my commercial aviation pilot career. I have been in that field since then. Along the years I have worked as a commercial pilot and flight instructor for several companies and airlines, among them: Petroleum Helicopters in the Gulf of Mexico flying
Finally, I got hired by the US Federal Government as a Law Enforcement Agent / Pilot. I graduated from the US Federal Law Enforcement Training Centre as a Special Agent / Criminal Investigator in the beginning of 1986. This is where I made my definite career.
Initially I began working and flying for Federal Officer / Pilot for The US Dept of Treasury-US Customs, conducting counternarcotics interdiction and strategic smuggling investigations. I also spent 4 years deep undercover missions in
Recently, (8 years ago, after the 9/11/2001 terrorist attack), I got transferred to the newly formed US Dept of Homeland Security (D.H.S.) as an Air Interdiction Agent / Pilot at a grade equivalent to Lt. Colonel, (0-5). There, I conduct, coordinate and supervise all kinds of federal police tactical work, undercover, instructor and liaison / intelligence assignments to several US Embassies overseas and antiterrorism investigations. I am also a member of the DHS SWAT team as a Tactical Paramedic. I am also an US State Dept and DoD accredited translator / interpreter with a federal top secret /SCI security clearance.
Currently I am a designated aircraft commander / captain in 4 aircraft types: the jet C-550 Citation , turboprop B-200 King Air, the following 2 helicopters AS350 Astar and the UH60 Blackhawk. I pilot these aircraft for personnel and VIP transport, disaster rescue and tactical missions in criminal investigations, both in domestic and overseas environments. I also serve as top cover from the air for the Secret Service in presidential movements when the President is visiting our region in
I will be retiring from federal service at full 25-year retirement at the end of 2010, then I will probably look for civilian commercial pilot adventures (such as a Helicopter Medical Services pilot) in the private sector and teach as a University Professor. Or maybe just stay doing honey-dos' at home and travel, who knows?
I am happily married to my wife Susy (from
My long-standing hobbies include sport skydiving, scuba-diving, practical pistol shooting, and long distance motorcycle touring.
I have run and finished the LA Marathon recently in 4.5 hours, (never doing that again!)
I own a house on 5 acres in the mountains of
My home ph: is 951-780-4197.
My email address: gyuris@yahoo.com.
snail-mail address:
Attila Gyuris
The
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From: Cornel de Freitas corneldefreitas@hotmail.com
Date: Saturday, April 25, 2009, 9:29 AM
Hi "Attila":
I guess it is safe to 'assume' that you were not in 'my class' -[for me see class picture of 1964 - Circular #186 - #29].
I have been privileged to read many of your emails and also in the "Circulars" ( I have a lot of catching up to do).
It would make me particularly happy to read about yourself.
I have noticed in your writings you are a 'straight up' guy, and I can identify with that.
It is always a really good feeling when one can reach out and touch a chord in someone else's heart especially when that chord is filled with great harmonics.
Could you take a moment and enlighten me with a little bit about yourself?
Like, when was your 'jail' time (just kidding); when did you graduate; any special experiences; ......(I still have a few to share)
During My time we had Fr.Eugene as the "Dean", Fr. Cuthbert took over later; Fr.Bernard was the Principal; Ms.Kitty Marcus; Bro.Vincent (purser); Fr. Augustine (Latin); Fr. Benedict Science/Class photographs/events photographer/entertainment, (and a few others I can't list them all).
I participated in sports events.
I believe I won the school sports trophy 2X (my name was put on a shield a fixed to the trophy).
Do you reside in
A lot of queries, hope you don't mind.
GOD bless you and your loved ones,
Cornel de freitas ...
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Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 09:17:51 -0700
From: gyuris@yahoo.com
That was very nice. It gives a whole new expanded meaning to the word "brother".
I never thought of that way until now.
Attila Gyuris
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From: Glen Mckoy mckoy43glen@hotmail.com
Date: Friday, April 24, 2009, 1:52 AM
My dear brother,
My father passed away 2 years ago, I just got out of that depression, it effected my life with my family also, as I kept my hurt inside, now I am trying to mend these emotions with my family who do care.
You are not alone, you only expressed yourself, and in expressing yourself, it will slowly release the hurt.
I love you my brother and God bless you for having feelings, many brothers have told me stories that I cannot repeat, it was hard on us all, after leaving our security blanket, the Mount.
Thank you for this email, I do hope you will start feeling good about you, because we feel good having you on board, my brother,
Best Regards Glen McKoy.
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From: corneldefreitas@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 23:50:36 -0400
Hi Glen:
Sorry if I am being a pain in the butt ... but I am not attempting to be one.
I do however like to keep in touch with those I can phone once in awhile if just to 'chat' for a few minutes if they are within reach.
Sometimes it is easier to express oneself on a certain topics better by the spoken word.
I even call Ladislao once in awhile (I don't want to get him jealous you know, just because you guys live close by).
I do not know if I ever told you this, but for a long time I always felt something was missing in my life.
I did express these thoughts to Ladislao, but I don't know whether or not I ever mentioned this to you.
This period of time actually began right after life at the
I was the eldest of five.
There was Marcella my sister, two years younger and she did 'know' me.
Then there was Carlos after her. ( Carlos is the brother who passed away 28th March)
Carlos and I got along quite well, since he did know that he had an older brother that was away in
He understood me and even new I was trying to adjust to living at home again when I had two younger siblings that started as babies - as they usually do, but did not know who this strange guy was that came to their home at different times in their little lives especially at Christmas time.
Carlos was the 'big' brother I had that I could relate to.
I am missing being able to call
Can you imagine what being rediscovered meant to me.
I am not saying my life was bad.
I've had my share of ups and downs, and I also got a gift ~ ~ no two gifts from GOD. My two grandsons. Lorenzo and Christian.
I cannot express or put to words the emotions that went through me, nor could I express how really happy it made me.
I was bursting, exploding with feelings of joy.
Kinda similar like a reverse prodigal 'brother'.
I know that you could certainly translate those kind of feelings into words after receiving this message from Ladislao.
When I left The Abbey School Mount St. Benedict it was tantamount to being ripped away from those I lived with for a very important period in my life. (I never realized that those boys were my brothers.)
I am sure that you being an Abbey School boy yourself you can identify realistically with what I am attempting (perhaps even struggling ) to express.
Now I have been reconnected to my "family" of brothers - to me it doesn't matter whether older or younger - we share a common bond of brotherhood.
It doesn't matter if you went to the Mount in the Forties or Fifties or Sixties, you are all my brothers and I (I can say) I am very proud to be your (all of you) brother and will act as such, because that is the way I feel.
I mean, think about what I am saying.
Even if your real maternal brother hurts or offends you, can you truly 'hate' him?
I can't - and to me that also applies to me naturally with any Mount brother.
Sure I may "not like what you did" but I will still care about them, just like you would for your natural brother.
After about forty years, I get a message from Ladislao saying "Cornel, thank God we've found you" was like reopening a part of my life I thought was lost forever, and I thank the Lord you found me.
I am so sorry for rambling, but since Carlos died unexpectedly, I have been running a gambit of emotions that I am not familiar with or used to.
So please forgive my 'ramblings'
Hope we get to talk soon
GOD bless you and yours,
Cornel ...
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For those that went down to the Sports field, here are some memoires on the small down hill asphalted track.
Regards,
Ladislao Kertesz, kertesz11@yahoo.com
So now you have all the exchanges and photos.
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09LK0095TTVISITPAX, Tucupita´s house and of others on the way down to the field
09LK0098TTVISITPAXT, Start of the downhill road.
09LK0099TTVISITTRA, The downhill track
09LK0097TTVISITBEN, The bench that was the first milestone towards the sports field.
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