Jorge Blanco '68

Still practicing law in Coral Gables after all these years, all children on their own except for the youngest who is working as a Jr. Financial Analyst for City National Bank of Florida at their main offices in Miami, Fl., and still home for now. He plans on moving out and planting his own flag as soon as his finances permit it. All kids have graduated from college. I now have four grandchildren two boys and two girls. They are all wonderful, and I am truly blessed to have them in my life. My youngest daughter Carolina has now joined myself and her brother George in the Gator family. She graduated from U.F undergrad and went on to Vanderbilt Law where she graduated. She is now practicing law in Tampa with a large firm. More of a reason to visit Tampa-St Pete. where I now have four kids and two grandchildren living. Sounds like a fine place to retire. George is still practicing cardiology in St. Petersburg. Rachelle, is a teacher, and Christie, an office administrator, are both living in St. Pete and are unmarried. My step-daughter Monica who I consider my own, is the comptroller of a non-profit company, lives in Miami with her husband and my other two grandchildren. We now enjoy family more than ever. Going to visit our kids and grandchildren is great, travel, and getting together with friends.

My fondest memories always center on the pranks we pulled on nice unsuspecting teachers or coaches, or the craziness of the football lockeroom. The fun of watching an unsuspecting underclassman putting on a jock with liniment and jumping and hollering all around the room, the original nicknames given us by Coach Crawford, like "Big Un" for Ruben Ledesma, "Timbuck" for Tim Ervin, "Blankety" for myself. The unrelenting jokes we made of Mrs. Wejebe's accent in Chemistry class, sharing shop class with all the guys, and having more fun than should be possible while going to school. Watching Mr. Evans asking Jorge Campa to go get his paddle because he felt like an "outlaw without his gun". Every story gets better each year. One of my favorites was Ramon Bezanilla better known as "Fearless Fly" trying to fight Julio Perez and finding himself hanging upside down from the second story held by Julio by his ankles until he promised to calm down. There are a thousand stories and which is best is up to the storyteller.