Return Home Page
In Memory
This is a listing by alphabetical order deceased former students, friends, faculty or staff of Ruston Academy based on answers to the "Memory" questionnaire.
Abreu, Mr. Jaime Sanchez
Year(s) Associated with Ruston: 1940-1941
This former student is my deceased uncle, my mother's brother. He attended for only one year 1940-41 graduating that year. His paternal grandmother was the famous "monkey lady", Rosalia Abreu, internationally known for her large collection of monkeys and apes right on her property, Quinta Palatino or Finca de los Monos, Born:August 26, 1923 - Died:July 6, 1990
Reported by: Mr. Paul del Junco, E-mail: pdelj@sympatico.ca

Agramonte, Dra. Estela A
Year(s) Associated with Ruston: 1934-1961

Dra. Agramonte taught from 1934-1961 in the Bachillerato Department. She passed way on July 15, 1989 at the age of 83. She lived in Cuba until 1961, when she moved to Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. There she went on to be the Academic Dean at Puerto Rico Junior College. After retirement in 1978, she moved to Miami, Florida to be near our family. She is survived by myself and my three children: Laura (28), Eduardo (25) and Lillian (23).
Reported by: Mr. Aristides F.Rodriguez-Agramonte, E-mail: AFRodrigue@aol.com



Alejo-Baisman, Dr. Margarita
Year(s) Associated with Ruston: 1958-1960

Margarita Alejo Baisman- Ruston class of 1963- passed away on Nov. 7, 2001 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Born on Nov. 10, 1945 in Habana to Raul and Margot Alejo (principals of Mungia-Alejo y Hermanos), our beloved Maggie started Ruston in Ingreso in Sept. 1957. (along with her younger sister Marielena Alejo Villamil) With her clear blue eyes, sweet personality and charming smile, Maggie soon became a central member of our class. The sincere, friendly personality of her youth, barely showed the courage and strength that she would teach us in later years. Maggie moved to Tampa with her family where, after finishing H.S., she attended the University of South Florida for her B.S. In the late '60s she finished her Masters in Mathematics from the University of Florida and later her Ph. D. from the University of Miami. Maggie was a professor of Mathematics at the Miami-Dade Community College, where she served as Faculty Senate President. She authored 4 books on Mathematics Education before retiring as a full professor. Maggie later became a Financial Advisor with Morgan Stanley and was involved in many community activities. She served with Leadership Miami, was the first female president of the Interamerican Businessmen's Association and was a member of the Public Health Trust. Maggie's strength, sincerity, dedication and scholarship were always supreme examples of how we, as Rustonians, were taught to behave. She will be sorely missed by her family and classmates who adored her. Maggie is survived by her Rustonian sister, Marielena Alejo Villamil, her loving husband Oscar Baiseman, her 4 children and 8 grandchildren. Rest in peace,
Reported by: Mr. Joaquin J.Rodriguez, E-mail: Rod44@bellsouth.net

Alfonso, Mr. Carlos Jose
Year(s) Associated with Ruston: 1955-1960

Carlos started Ruston Academy in kindergarten and was there with sister Delia until the school closed. His family never left Cuba and Carlos, a promising young painter, arrived in the US through the Mariel Boatlift in 1980. Initial struggles led to a brilliant career tragically cut shorth by AIDS in 1991. A major exhibition of his work started at the Miami Art Museum went to the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, DC in 1998, the best attended exhibition in the nation's capital that summer.
Reported by: Not Available



Barroso, Mr. Jose
Year(s) Associated with Ruston: 1945-1947

Jose passed away in 1987 in Ohio. He is survived by his widow, Lore, and 3 children: Carlos, Lisa and Jefferey. Jose (Jern) was a warm, compassionate and very loyal friend We're sorry that he left us at such a relatively young age.
Reported by: Mr. Dan Klepper, E-mail: kleppersny@netscape.net

Barroso, Mrs. Mylva
Year(s) Associated with Ruston: 1950-1952

Reported by: Ms Zoe Prio, E-mail: susypri@aol.com



Batista Godinez, Mr. Fulgencio Ruben
Year(s) Associated with Ruston: Unknown

After battling leukemia, Ruben peacefully passed on November 7, 2007 at 7:45PM. ­CUANDO UN AMIGO SE VA! It is then that you come to realize the great loss it
Reported by: Mr. Roberto A. Torricella, E-mail: rtorricella@delacova.com

Berek, Mr. Claudio Yves
Year(s) Associated with Ruston: 1958-1958

laudio Berek passed away on 1989. As an account traveled around the world. Was 5 years on the Reserve, in New York. Married with no children. On 1959 went from Havana to Europe and then to New York. Moved to Miami. My husband was always optimist and a happy man until the end of his life.
Reported by: Mrs. Carmen VelezBerek, E-mail: stanleighs@hotmail. Com



Bugeda, Mr. Diego J.
Year(s) Associated with Ruston: 1946-1953

Diego passed away on February 14, 2001, a day before his 65th birthday. Upon graduation from Ruston, he entered the Universiy of Havana where he earned a dgree in Law. In 1961 he moved with his family to Mexico City, where he resided until his last days. Recognized by all as a very smart individual, Diego was well known and liked by everyone who knew him at Ruston. All of us from the Class of '53 will certainly miss him.
Reported by: Mr. Eduardo M.Lopez, E-mail: edmlopez@aol.com

Cross, Mr. Patrick
Year(s) Associated with Ruston: 1954-1958

My brother Patrick Cross died in March of 1984 from Cancer in Dallas, Texas. He left behind a wife and three young children. I am the sole survivor of my family. We both attended Ruston until we moved from Havana to New York.
Reported by: Ms Mary Anne MindaCross, E-mail: minda@owt.com



Crossman (Jones), Mrs. Jeanne Muriel
Year(s) Associated with Ruston: 1934-1941

Jeanne M. Jones, daughter of Norden and Gwendolyn Jones, lived in Havana from age 8 until graduating from Ruston Academy in 1941. She briefly attended Sweetbriar College in Virginia, returning at the outbreak of war to work at the U.S. Embassy in Havana. After the war she married Robert Crossman and lived in Syracuse, NY until her death this past March, 2001. As her daughter, I have many of her photos, papers and letters relating to Ruston Academy from 1934 through 1941. She also left many written memories as she planned to write a book about her life in Havana. It is sad to find this website (and to know there was a reunion last year) only a few weeks after her death,as she loved Ruston. She was on the staff of The Rustonian from its first issue in 1937 and served as editor-in-chief in 1940-41. I have a copy of the first issue.
Reported by: Mrs. Barbara CrossmanBell, E-mail: bici@pobox.alaska.net

Delgado, Mrs. Maria Causa
Year(s) Associated with Ruston: 1951-1959

Graduada de Bachillerato en Letras, clase de 1959. Nacida en La Habana el 4 de diciembre de 1941, fallecio en San Antonio, Texas el 17 de septiembre de 2001. Hija del Dr. Anibal Causa, gastroenterologo y profesor de la Escuela de Medicina de la Universidad de La Habana, y de Mirta Delgado. Salio de Cuba en Noviembre de 1960 y se establecio en San Antonio con su familia, que incluye a otra alumna del Ruston: su hermana mayor Mirta Causa Delgado, casada con Luis Marti. Maria Matilde contrajo matrimonio con el cubano Miguel Millan y tuvo dos hijos: James y Miguel Anibal Millan y dos nietas. Trabajo muchos anos en San Antonio de maestra de ensenanza primaria. Recuerdo a Maria Matilde en el Ruston como companera carinosa que detestaba los deportes. Por alguna razon tenia que refrescar sus lentes de contacto a menudo, y mas de una vez, en el bano, todas las que estabamos ahi tuvimos que ponernos por el suelo a buscar un lente de Maria Matilde que se le habia caido al piso. Nunca la pude ver en Estados Unidos.
Reported by: Ms Margarita Garcia, E-mail: garciam@mail.montclair.edu



Fernandez, Mr. Francisco Pancho
Year(s) Associated with Ruston: Unknown

We remember our friends. His mother, Marta and wife Graciela worked at HRS Welfare in Miami Beach. I believe he had one son. Let us never forget our pain & suffering. May you rest in Peace.
Reported by: Mr. Luis FranciscoRodriguez, E-mail: LouieR1004@aol.com

Galban, Mrs Ada
Year(s) Associated with Ruston: 1946-1958

Born in Havana 8/8/39 ; Died in Havana in 1988 . Married and divorced Jose ( Pepito ) Rios . Two children living in Havana : Maria del Carmen and Jose Gabriel .
Reported by: Br. Stephen Juan (Stephen) Galban, E-mail: sjg27@hotmail.com



Galban, Dr. Flavio
Year(s) Associated with Ruston: 1934-1945

Married Beba Saladrigas 1953 . 6 children . Medical school UH ; 1959 : internship & residence at Northwestern , Evanston , Ill. Pediatrician . Settled in Las Cruces , NM 1968 . Died there 1989 . Always true Rustonian .
Reported by: Br. (Stephen) Juan Galban, E-mail: sjg27@hotmail.com

Hamilton, Mr. William ("Bill") J.
Year(s) Associated with Ruston: 1954-1958

Bill atended Ruston for several years, roughly 7th grade to 12th grade, (except for 10th grade when he went to St. Stanislaus in Bay St. Louis, MS). He graduated from Ruston with the class of 1958. During his high school years he was a disc-jockey on Radio Kramer's Teen Age Turntable, a columnist with The Havana Post's teenage column, and he played football and baseball with Club de Profesionales in Miramar. After graduating from Ruston, Bill went to Tulane University in New Orleans, LA for one year, and then went to the United States Naval Academy, graduating in 1963. He was a naval aviator, flying S2s, in a squadron based out of North Island Naval Air Station in Coronado, CA and assigned to the USS Bennington (CVS-20) aircraft carrier. He completed his second deployment to the West Pacific, flying over 120 missions in Vietnam, and returned to the San Diego area in April, 1967. Three days later he died in an automobile acident on the Silver Strand Highway just South of Coronado, in April of 1967. His rank at the time was that of Lieutenant. He was a great Naval Officer, son, friend, and brother.
Reported by: Mr. Bob Hamilton, E-mail: Rjham165po@aol.com



Hammel, Mr. Arthur James
Year(s) Associated with Ruston: Unknown

My father passed away June 29, 1998. He shared with my sister and me his many wonderful memories of Ruston which he attended in the l930's
Reported by: Mr. Steven Hammel, E-mail: Shariandsteve@aol.com

Harper, Mr. George K
Year(s) Associated with Ruston: Unknown

Our dad passed away December 13, 1997, one week shy of his 82nd birthday. He didn't attend Ruston, but had four kids who did, as well as a wife who taught there.
Reported by: Mr. Rocky Harper, E-mail: gharper@kilstock.com



Heath, 1st. Lt. Isaac Edward
Year(s) Associated with Ruston: 1956-1959

1st Lieutenant Edward Heath: November 11, 1940 - March 18, 1969. Killed-in-action, Vietnam, in Operation "Atlas Wedge" in the Michelin Rubber Plantation. Troop L, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment; Awarded Silver Star for gallantry in combat. Also known as "Eddie": Eagle scout, devoted son, protective big brother, happy-go-lucky, loyal friend, Kappa Sig, party animal,lover of beautiful women, man's man, brave and courageous soldier.
Reported by: Ms Marie Heath Prescott, E-mail: popotitas@yahoo.com

Herrera, Mr. Jose Antonio (Pilin)
Year(s) Associated with Ruston: 1956-1960

Our darling "Pilin" left Cuba in 1960 for Chicago where his parents, Lucia & Jose Luis Herrera and I, had arrived a few months earlier, after graduating from Ruston, he worked in computers at the Standard Oil Offices in Havana and did the same in Chicago for Spiegel, Inc. Sadly, he was taken to heaven much too soon at age 29 from Leuquemia in 1966, I was his fiancee and will never forget his magnetic personality.
Reported by: Ms Angelica Ruiz, E-mail: realangelica@hotmail.com



Llerandi, Mr. Manuel (Cholo) A.
Year(s) Associated with Ruston: 1951-1955

Manolo (Cholo) was a unique individual - caring, hardworking and very bright. (He always was the best student at Commerce Dept.) He passed away untimely at the age of 53, is sorely missed by all of us and will always be in our hearts. Manolo was a true friend, excellent listener, and incredibly fair. I met him at Ruston. Later, we made contact again while we were both attending evening classes at Escuela de Publicidad (he was also attending Villanova in the afternoon and worked in his father's business in the morning - all these with A grades!) We married in 1960 and came to the United States in 1961 with our first daughter, then we had 4 more. He was a tireless worker, brilliant with numbers, and with a common sense few people have.Ruston had a definite influence on him, and provided him with tools to carry on after graduation. He passed on to a better and more tranquil life on February 13, 1993, and to us, his family and friends, it has been a very hard and difficult loss.
Reported by: Mrs. Ada ElenaMateo Llerandi, E-mail: alerandi@bellsouth.net

Lopez, Mr. Evelio Garrido
Year(s) Associated with Ruston: 1953-1958

Reported by: Ms Carmina DellundeDearing, E-mail: larampa@mediaone.net



Lopez, Mr. Evelio Garrido
Year(s) Associated with Ruston: Unknown

My cousin Evelio joined the Ruston family after his father (mi tio Evelio) died in a tragic and untimely car accident, remaining at Ruston until his graduation in '58. Evelio died February 5, 2000 after losing a long and sad battle with Alzheimer's Disease. Our entire family sorely misses him though we are thankful he is finally at peace.
Reported by: Mrs. Silvia PereiraLopez-Bennett, E-mail: slbennet@mail.mc.maricopa.edu

Moore de Delgado, Mrs. Felice Kathryn
Year(s) Associated with Ruston: Unknown

Born and raised in Cuba of American parents, true Cuban, true American, "natural-born teacher". Exiled in the US since 1960, became the first ESOL teacher in Montgomery County, Maryland schools. Taught and loved many Cuban exiled children as well as Southeast Asian, Central American and African kids. Mother to Felice Anne and George Delgado, Rustonians and beloved "Granny" to Elizabeth, Naty and Andrew.
Reported by: Mrs. Ana MargaritaRodriguez de Delgado, E-mail: Yoyid@aol.com



Perez-Andrew, De Soto, Dr. Anthony (Tony)-Adam
Year(s) Associated with Ruston: 1945-1956

Adam (Tony) attended Ruston from 1945-1956. He got his Ph.D. in Computer Science and worked at IBM for 22 years until he retired. Over the past year Tony made contact with some of his old friends from Ruston, which brought him much joy. He was planning to come to the Reunion in July, but came down with pneumonia in early May. Sadly, many complications followed and we lost him in early July. He is survived by his wife, Kate, and his son, James. We will miss his great sense of humor and joy for life.
Reported by: Ms Vicky Samson, E-mail: vbrown@mail.ucf.edu

Ratcliffe, Mrs. Mimi Ogden
Year(s) Associated with Ruston: 1958-1959

My sister, Mimi Ogden, died in October 1976 after a very brief illness of viral pneumonia. She was married to A. M. Ratcliffe, Jr. and the mother of 4 children at her death--Mary, age 9;Catherine & Virginia, ages 7; Andrew, age 10 months. She left Ruston in the 11th grade in 1959 and graduated from St. Genevieve of the Pines, Asheville, NC that next year. We all made our home in Natchez, MS after we left Cuba in February 1960 with our parents Ed and Nancy Ogden. Mimi also left two other sisters, Nicky and Ellen.
Reported by: Ms Anita OgdenMoore, E-mail: anitaomoore@yahoo.com



Rodriguez, Ms Zaira Ugidos
Year(s) Associated with Ruston: 1953-1958

Reported by: Ms Carmina DellundeDearing, E-mail: larampa@mediaone.net

Rodriguez - Marquez, Mr. Rolando
Year(s) Associated with Ruston: 1944-1959

"Rolo" passed away after a courageous battle with cancer in the mid 80s. Will always be remembered as our dear classmate, brave Bay of Pigs veteran, loyal business partner and beloved father of Roly and Ryanne.
Reported by: Mr. Raul UrbanoMartinez, E-mail: rmartine@enbfl.com



Rodriguez Ugidos, Dra. Zaira
Year(s) Associated with Ruston: 1953-1958

Zaira stayed in Cuba, where she became a distinguished professor of Marxism-Leninism at La Universidad de La Habana. She died in an automobile accident on the corner of Linea y G 199?. We hug her from here where we are for a while longer.
Reported by: Dra Olga Karman Mendell, E-mail: Buffalolga@aol.com

Samson, Prof. Rita Agostini
Year(s) Associated with Ruston: 1953-1958

From an alumni,and friend,if you will. You were one of my best mentors. G-d Bless You and Keep You
Reported by: Mr. Edward (Eduardo) A.Ferrer, E-mail: eaferrer@webtv.net



Schutte, Miss Esther Alvarez
Year(s) Associated with Ruston: 1953-1958

Esthercita was our Class Valedictorian and a sweet friend who will always be missed.
Reported by: Ms Carmina DellundeDearing, E-mail: larampa@mediaone.net

Smith, Mr, Dixon
Year(s) Associated with Ruston: Unknown

Dixon passed away in Santa Rosa, CA., March 27, 2008 at the age of sixty-six. He is survived by four daughters; Donna, Anita, Fran and Kelly and his second wife of twenty-one years, Susan, and his sister Nancy. Dixon was a chemical engineer and analytical chemist with most recently, Pace and Sequoia Analytical in Petaluma, CA. Dixon was born in Waterbury, Connecticut and went with his family to Cuba (1945 - 1960) for most of his school years, with some time spent in Venezuela as well. While he did not go to Ruston Academy, most of his friends did. Dixon attended Lafayette School in Miramar. In his little autobiography when he first registered with the Ruston Alumni site in "Friends" he states that he fondly remembers Don MeCouch and Jeanette Lamas. Dixon and Susan enjoyed going to the reunion in Coral Gables some years ago and seeing many friends from days gone by. There will be many Rustonites who will remember him. He was a gentle, quiet and unassuming person; a nice guy. (Tom)
Reported by: Mr. Tom Darlington, E-mail: ptdar@sympatico.ca



Tucek, Dr. Charles
Year(s) Associated with Ruston: 1957-1960

Died in the mid-eighties. High clorestorol problem keeled over while canoeing. Was a psychiatrist.
Reported by: Mr. Tom Parker