Florida Camps and Group Homes 1jul2014

8/11/2019 Florida Camps and Group Homes 1jul2014

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ORIGINAL DOCUMENT: August 28, 2010LAST REVISED: 12-26-13, 07-01-14

Copyright 2010 by Clemente C. Amzaga & Elo sa Echazbal.

Unaccompanied Cuban Childrens ProgramFlorida Camps and Group Homes

1960 through 1978The Unaccompanied Cuban Childrens Programand Operation Pedro Panhad their beginnings in the offices ofthe Catholic Welfare Bureau, November 1960 395 N.W. First Street, Miami, Florida.This is a living document and will be changed as revisions are needed.

St. Josephs Villa 3290 NW 7th Street, Miami December 26, 1960 a Catholic shelter for homelesschildren . This was the only children residential facility operated by the Catholic Welfare Bureau in Miami since1944. It was staffed by theSisters of St. Joseph whocared for dependent children.It had 26 beds. Sister LouisGonzagawas the superior.The first two unaccompaniedCuban children to arrive onDecember 26, 1960, with theunderground operation laterknown as Operation PedroPan, were brought heretemporarily. It was used on andoff to care for Cuban childrenuntil 1974.In 1974, it became the firsthome of St. Lukes SubstanceAbuse treatment facility. It wasdemolished ca. 1980.

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Unaccompanied Cuban Childrens ProgramFlorida Camps and Group Homes1960 through 1978

Academy of the Assumption 126 S.E. 15 Road, Miami A private girls boarding school operated bythe Sisters of the Assumption. Since it was empty during the Christmas Holidays, the first few girls who arrived weretemporarily housed there. Thenuns also provided lunch andsupper in their cafeteria for theboys from the Ferr Home whichwas just across the street.Mother Elizabeth was the

superior. The girls were out byJanuary 6, 1961, and were takento the newly opened KendallChildrens Home.On the photo, the Academy ofthe Assumption is seen with itssign in front. The dormitorybuilding and the church can alsobe seen behind the group of boysfrom the Jesuit Boys Residencewith * Father Federico Arvez,SJ.It closed in 1976 and the church is now St. Jude Melkite Catholic Church.

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The Ferr House/Cuban Boys Home/Casa Carrin 175 SE 15thRoad, Miami December 29,1960 This house belonged to the Ferr family who loaned it to the archdiocese and to Father Bryan Walshto care

for the arriving Cuban children.This was the first home for Cubanteenage boys in Miami. It openedwith bunk beds from CampMatecumbe which was not beingused at the time. In January 1961,there were up to 42 boys living

there. The house was operated byFather Bryan Walsh (appointedMonsignor in 1962) who wasassisted by the lay couple Angeland Nina Carrinthe reason whyit was frequently called CasaCarrin. Mr. James D. Baker, fromthe Havana Ruston Academy, andwho from the beginning helpedFather Walsh create the CubanBoys Program, acted as the firsthouse father, followed by Mrs.Mary L. Larkin as the housemother before the arrival ofpermanent house parents Mr. and Mrs. Carrin.Hector Carrin, one of the two sons of Angel and Nina, worked at the house doingcleaning or acting as driver for Mrs. Larkin.The Cuban children that had been placed temporarily in St. Joseph Villa were nowmoved here. In September 1961, this house closed and the children were moved tothe newly opened St. Raphaels Hall.The Ferr House now became occupied by the Sisters of St. Joseph, theSt. JosephHome, to care for orphan children, mostly girls and one Pedro Pan boy, until July 1962 when they moved out with thegirls. The boy stayed with the Jesuits who acquired this residence becoming the second house of the Jesuit BoysResidence, and both houses can be seen on the pictures on the top of the page on the far right.


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Whitehall 1303 Brickell Avenue, Miami August 1961 Was intended to be a permanent shelter One of thefirst Cuban childrens homes, it operated as a foster home for a small number of boys under the supervision of theowners, Vernon andNarcisa Morgan, before it was turned over to the Jesuits in mid to late August 1961. The housewas built in 1910 forCarl Fisher and hisfamily as their winterresidence, and it wasthe first house built in

that neighborhood,where they lived until1914. During WWII itwas used as aboarding house. Thefront of the house was about 300 ft. fromBrickell reaching the middle of 13 Street. Itwas made of wood and native coral rock.When the Morgan family left, only two boysremained in the house and the rest went withthe Morgan family. Following the arrival ofJesuit Fathers Luis Ripoll S.J and JessM. Nuevo S.J., around 30 additional boysarrived from Camp Matecumbe. In less than

a month, they had to move out due to a neighbors frequent complaints that triggered an order from the FireDepartment which considered the house a firetrap due to overcrowding. (From two old Miami News articles: 30Evicted Cuban Boys are Given New Homes.Ousted from old Carl Fisher home at 1300 Brickell Avenue by order ofthe fire department9-24-1961 and Too Noisy Cuban Kids Told to Leave House 9-22-1961, photo below, FatherJess M. Nuevoleaving with his kids)Upon closing Whitehall on September 24, 1961, the children were transferred to two separate homesone operatedby the Jesuits, The Jesuit Boys Residence, and the other operated by Father Bryan Walshhimself, St. RaphaelsHall, which had opened earlier in the month with the children from The Ferr House /Cuban Boys Home/Casa

Carrin.The house was sold by the Morgan family on August 6, 1968, and it was demolished in the seventies to make roomfor new office buildings and urban development.


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The Jesuit Boys Residence 163 and 175 SE 15 Road, Miami A permanent shelter The housenumbered 163 SE 15 Road and belonging to the Ferr family opened in September 1961 with a group of boys fromWhitehall. It eventually housedabout 20 boys.The houseadministratorwas FatherJess M.

Nuevo S. J.assisted byseveralmembers of the Society of Jesus,including Fathers Luis Ripoll, Andrs Ruisnchez,

Alfredo Cuadrado, Pedro Cartaya, EduardoSalvad, Jorge Sardias, Roman Espadas andothers.In July of 1962, the house next door, 175 SE 15Road, St. Joseph Home, also the property of the Ferr family, was vacated by the nuns of St. Joseph who cared for afew orphan girls and a Pedro Pan boy (see the Ferr House). Then the Jesuits took this house too and brought in 20more boys from the camps. The one Pedro Pan boy that lived with the St. Joseph nuns stayed with theJesuits. Among the staff were Alfonso Amenbarand his wife Ana Mara Junco who started to work as

housekeepers in the summer of 1962.Photo # 1of house No. 175 with F. Pedro CartayaSJand F. Alfredo Cuadrado SJ. Photo # 4byhouse No. 163with F. Luis RipollSJand F. Jorge Sardias SJ . Photo # 5 of house No. 175 with F. Alfredo Cuadrado.The boys attended Belen Jesuit Preparatory School, first at the Gesu building, and later at SW 8 St.The Jesuit Boys Residence closed in 1964, probably in September, just before the new school year, and the fewremaining boys were taken to the Opa Locka facility, along with the remaining children from the other facilities.


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St. Raphaels Hall 325 NE 21stSt. & 347 NE 21st St., Miami (off Biscayne Boulevard) September 1961 Apermanent shelter Catholic Welfare Bureau leased an apartment building at this location. It was licensed for 70teenage boys. Msgr.Bryan Walsh, the staff,and the boys from theFerr Home moved to thisfacility. He was the homeadministrator and was

assisted by Father PedroLuis Prez, todayMonsignor. Among thestaff at different periodswere Angel and NinaCarrin , Rafael GarcaRubio, and Pilar Fortnand her husband Tomsde la Aguilera. The two

sons of Angel and Nina,Hector and TonyCarrin, were members of the staff andwere called Los Esclavos (The slaves)by the boys.When Whitehall closed in September

1961, additional children moved infollowed by others from the camps.Some of the boys attended La SalleSchool, some Beln Jesuit and othersArchbishop Curley High School.The boys published EL FRATERnewsletter.This house closed in September 1964,and the few remaining boys were taken tothe Opa Locka facility along with theremaining children from other facilities.The building was demolished in 1999.

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Kendall Childrens Home 11395 SW 79 St., Miami January 7, 1961 A transient shelter DadeCounty leased this facility to the Catholic Welfare Bureau for a dollar a year. It had been the Countys home for Black

children. The County had desegregatedits facilities the previous summer. It hadsixty beds, and consisted of threeseparate structures--a girls cottage, adouble-wing boys cottage with kitchenand dining room in the middle, and a four-

classroom building with plenty ofrecreation area around. It opened with layhouse parents Mr. and Mrs. Pruna.Among the house parents that followedwere Mr. Germn Porto and wife Mrs.Carmen Rivas and Mr. Juan Gallo andwife Lilia. Then some of the UrsulineSisters from the Merici Academy inHavana, and who were caring for a groupof girls in the Ursuline Academy in NewOrleans, moved with the girls to the recently opened KendallCamp, where they remained for a couple of months. TheUrsuline sisters were followed by the St.Philip Neri Sisters led by Sister MaraIsabel Lasaga, and among them were

Sister Ana Mara Campos, SisterPaulina Montejo, Sister Cristina, SisterBeatriz Blanco, and Sister MaraVictoria Ortega. Sister Mara Paz did notreside at the camp but provided support.The girls and the boys under 12 eventuallymoved to the Florida City Camp togetherwith the St. Philip Neri Sisters. Only theboys between 13 and 15 remained. The older boys from 16to 18 had been moved August 2, 1961, to CampMatecumbe.Father Oriol Tremoleda de Bols, a Piarist,alsoprovidedspiritual and administrative assistance.The Piarist Fathers were followed by the Marist Brothers from the orderof the Little Brothers of Mary; among them were Brothers MaximilianoMediavilla,Anton io Luis Galdeano, Rafael G. (Hugo Mara) Martn ,Gilberto, Carlos Hernndez, Pedro, Miguel Rodrguez, Cndido,

Antonio Ramn, Alberto, and others. They were assisted byinstructors Fernando Quintero, Juan Jos Prez Montejo , Paco Piedra, Raul dela Cruz y Olegario Surez, all Marist alumni, and several other staff membersincluding office administrator Mr. Pedro Pelluco Garca.The camp closed at the end of January of 1963, when it was reclaimed by theCounty Welfare Department, and the Marist Brothers and the boys moved to former Marine Corps barracks at OpaLocka Airport. What was the Kendall Children Home is now a Metropolitan Dade County Park, Indian HammocksPark. Some of the buildings are used by the State of Florida Department of Juvenile Justice and the Miami DadeDepartment of Human Resources-Childrens Center.


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Camp Matecumbe 13700 SW 120 St, Miami August 2, 1961 A transient shelter Summer camp locatedon 78 acres owned by the Diocese of Miami, part of 150 acres of the Everglades known as Log Cabin Ranch. This

camp had facilities for sixtyboys. When Kendall becameovercrowded, the 16 and 18year old boys were movedhere August 2, 1961. Thenumber of boys continued to

increase and the State ofFlorida Welfare Departmentapproved the use of armytents. A building program began and eventually the use of tentswas phased out. At its peak, Camp Matecumbe provided shelterfor up to 400 boys. FatherFrancisco Pal Ulls, a Piarist, wasthe original administrator, assisted by several staff members andthe original three cabaas instructors Evelio W. Ley Jr, SergioGarca Mir, and Enrique Baloyra, who replaced Evelio. Theywere followed by other cabaa instructors, among them

Armando Martnez, Edgar Garca, Pepe Lpezand HeribertoEspinel. A third open wall cabaa was used for classes and forFriday dances with the Kendall girls, and was later walled in tohouse more children. For a time classes were provided in theopen air.SomeboyscalleditElInfiernoVerde.The Marist brothers, among them Brothers MaximilianoMediavilla, Carlos Hernndez, Anton io Luis Galdeano,Rafael Martn and Cndidooriginally taught the classes to theboys. Father Guerrero followed Father Pal as administratorbut only for a short time.The La Salle Christian brothers assumed the last direction of the camp withBrother Benjamn Roque (Mr. Otto Coro) DLS as the director and BrotherLuis DLS in sports. The office administrator was Mr. Carlos Florido, and Mr.Carlos Oliva was an instructor. During this period, Father Iaki, a Franciscan,was the chaplain. The boys published a newsletter named FORJA.For a couple of years, the School Department of the Archdiocese of Miami andthe La Salle Christian Brothers ran a high school, Matecumbe High School, in thecamp, with Brother Alfonso Vernet acting as Principal. A competent staff ofeducators was assembled which included Ms. Margarita Oteiza, Mr. Charles

McEwan, Ing. Jos Gonzlez, Dr. Raul L. Zayas-Bazn y Perdomo, BrotherAntonio Ramn DLS, Brother Benjamn Roque DLS, Brother AndrsAgustn DLS, (TodayBrother Francisco Martn) and others. In the summer of1963, Matecumbe High School graduated its first and only class. Nineteen boysearned their high school diplomas; and most of them took their SAT at theUniversity of Miami, applied to and were admitted to various prestigious collegesand universities throughout the country and Canada.Camp Matecumbe closed in May 1964, after Miami Bishop Coleman Carrollordered all remaining shelters for teenage boys, including St. Raphaels Hall, TheJesuit Boys Residence, and Camp Matecumbe to gradually be consolidated intothe Marine Corps Facilities at Opa Locka Airport by October 1964. In November 2003, Camp Matecumbe waspurchased by the Parks and Recreation Department from the Archdiocese and became a public park.


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Florida City Camp 155 NW 14 St., Florida City October 1961 Opened as a transient shelter. MainBuilding located at the Coral Bay Manor Subdivision, occupying six acres with the boundaries being as follows: Onthe north, NW 16 St.On the south, NW 14Street. On the East,NW 1stCourt. On theWest, NW 2nd Court.The Catholic Welfare

Bureau leased 18structures with 80apartments. Thiscamp was used as a temporary shelterand processing facility for girls of up toeighteen years old and boys under theage of twelve. It was licensed by theState Welfare Department for 700children.The first documented arrival of a girl fromCuba was on November 7, 1961,although the camp began to open gradually in lateOctober. The first mass was officiated by FatherCeferino Ruiz S.J at Our Lady of Charity chapel. Thecamp complex had its own elementary school, Our Ladyof Charity School, staffed by the Sisters of St. Philip Neriled by Sister Mara Isabel Lasaga and qualified layteachers mostly from Cuba. The Sisters, among themSister Ana Mara Campos, Sister Paulina Montejo,Sister Cristina, Sister Beatriz Blasco, and SisterMara Victoria Ortega had come with the children from the KendallCamp and directed it for a few months with the help of a number of layassistants including Hector Figueredo, Jo Ann Ross and Agust nGuarch.Sister Beatriz Blascobecame the principal when Sister Mara Isabel Lasagawent to Spain accompanied by SisterMara Paz Royo,due to health problems.In 1962 FatherSalvador De Cistierna, a Franciscan,became the administrator and was assisted byseveral staff members and Cuban couples serving as

house parents. His successor was Father PaulSaghy, originally from Hungary. Other clergy involvedwere Father Orlando Espinosa, Father CeferinoRuiz SJ, Father Jorge Bez Chabebe, Father PedroLuis Prez, Padre Jos Vazquez, O.P. and FatherIreneo Vzquez who provided spiritual andadministrative assistance. Additional structures werebuilt in 1962, a dining hall and a dormitory. It had amodern and well equipped infirmary staffed by a qualified doctor, certified nurses, psychologists and social workers.The girls published EL SUSPIRO and El CLARN newsletter.It closed in June 1966, after most of the children were reunited with their parents. The few remaining children went tolive at what wascalled CasaPorto, 1415Brickell Avenue,

and eventually toSt. Joseph Villain 1969. TheFlorida Citybuildings stillexist and areused for lower income housing residents.Some of the children attended The Sacred Heart school in Homestead, others the local public school.When the girls turned 18, and could no longer continue in the camp, they had the option of going to Villa MadonnaDella Pace, 407 NE 17 Ter., Miami, a home operated by the Sisters of St. Philip Neri, so they could remain protected.


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Opa LockaCamp Opa Locka January 25, 1963 A transient shelter Former Marine & Naval Station Six barrack buildings located in the block delimited by Ely Road on the North, Bennet Road on the East, LangleyRoad on the South and an alleynamed Musica Road along theWest side of the mess hall.There were several barracks: twofor sleeping, one mess hall, onefor administration, one chapel,

one for clergy quarters and onefor laundry. It opened first withthe boys from the KendallChildrens Home in January 1963followed by the boys from CampMatecumbe in May or June 1964.All the remaining group homesand shelters for teenage boysgradually began to close and byOctober 1964, all the boys hadmoved to this facility. It wasinitially supervised by the Maristbrothers under the direction ofBrother Maximiliano Mediavillaand assisted by Brothers

Antonio Luis Galdeano,Rafael (Hugo Mara) Martn,Gilberto, Carlos Hernndez,Miguel Rodrguez, Cndido,and other brothers from theSociety of Mary. Most of themhad also served at the Kendalland Matecumbe Camps. Amongthe instructors who supervisedthe boys were Reynaldo Monasterio andRoberto Sotuyo.When the Marist brothers left after almost ayear, the Jesuits assumed the direction of thecamp, with Father Luis Ripoll SJ,as director.

He was followed by Father Jorge SardiasSJ and Father Enrique Osl SJ was theprefect in charge of daily operationsand discipline.The boys attended differentschools. Some attended MonsignorEdward Pace High School (Marist),Carol City High School, La SalleHigh School, St. John the ApostleSt. Peter and Paul and Belen JesuitPreparatory School.The boys participated in manysports activities with excellent teams of baseball, softball, and basketball. They published EL LORO and ELGRITN news letter.These barracks could accommodate 500 boys. It closed in June 1966.


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The Cuban Boys Home Miami 1966 Seven months after the start of the Freedom Flights, most of thechildren had been reunited with their parents. The facility at Opa Locka was closed and the remaining 25 teenageboys were moved to the leasedSweet Dreams Motel at 83 SE 8 thStreet with instructor Mr.AlbertoCuartas and Father Luis RipollS.J. as the director. Mr. Cuartashad been a teacher at one of

Havanas prestigious EscuelasPas. Another instructor whoworked at the house for some timewas Arsenio Touzn , who passedaway shortly after leaving. It closedin 1970 and The Cuban BoysHome moved to a new and finallocation at 11450BiscayneBoulevard, once theBikini Motel, whichbecame the originalSt. MarthasChurch. Theyoccupied twocottages behind thechurch. Msgr.Bryan Walsh wasthe director of thislast facility, wherehe lived for 10years. It closed in1980.

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BISHOP BARRY HIGH SCHOOL 6333 Ninth Avenue North St. Petersburg, Florida a temporary shelter April1961.A group of 25 Cuban boys were temporarily sheltered on the second floor of a building belonging to Bishop BarryHigh School. The building was located in the school grounds and Irish Father Brendan Lawlorwas the president. Hewas assisted by Father Antonio Len,among others.The boys were supervised and instructed by Dr. Carlos M.Calonge, LL.D., M.Ed. and his wife Mrs. Margarita PardasEcheguren de Calonge.

Lodging accommodations for the boys at this institution werevery spartan, almost inadequate, but relations were excellent.The boys attended daily mass officiated by Father Lawlor.The shelter closed on June 15, 1961, and the boys were dividedinto two groups. A group of 13 boys was transferred to CampSaint John near Jacksonville, Florida, and the other group of 12boys was transferred to Camp San Pedro near Orlando, Florida.Dr. Carlos M. Calonge accompanied the boys that went toCamp Saint John, and he stayed there for about two monthsteaching before returning to St. Petersburg. He did not reside atthe camp. In St. Petersburg he worked as a professor of Spanish at Admiral College and later at Florida SoutheasternCollege in the city of Lakeland. He died in 1989.


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Camp Saint John Switzerland, Green Cove Springs, Florida by the banks of the St. John River, near thecity of Jacksonville February, 1961 The camp was originally called St. John Manor A permanent shelter forCuban boys in the Dioceseof St. Augustine.The property was a statelytwo story Manor whichincluded a chapel,spacious parlors, and numerous

bedrooms, a junior- Olympic-size pool, aGreen House used as a cottage,kitchen, dinning space, study hall,recreation, etc. It had been purchasedbyArchbishop Joseph Patrick Hur ley in 1958. In 1959, Camp St. Johnopened as a camp for the youth of theDiocese of St. Augustine.On February 7, 1961, the camp openedfor the Cuban children program with thefirst group of boys, some from the FerreHouse and the Kendall Camp in Miami.On June 15, 1961, a group of 13 boysarrived from St. Petersburg, Florida,when the temporary shelter for theCuban boys at Bishop Barry HighSchool closed.During the entire time it served as ahome for the Cuban boys, the camphoused some 93 boys, with around 60living there at any one time.The camp director was the Rev. FatherJohn J. Lenihan, an Irish priest, who asalso a Jacksonville local pastor and theDirector of Catholic Charities.* Years later, in 1967,he was ordained Monsignor. There were somesecular priests from the Diocese who providedcounseling and spiritual support to the boys, amongthem was a Spanish priest named Father Jaime C.

Lara Carreras who years later was ordainedMonsignor.In 1962, Thomas J. Aglio, who had a MastersDegree in Social Work with advanced study atAlbert Einstein Medical College, became the campadministrator.He was considered padre segundo (secondfather) by the children and he fulfilled roles ascounselor, confidant, maintained records, reviewedbudgets, devised procedures, projects, and manyother duties but was rarely a disciplinarian. He wasresponsible for the smooth operation of the camp.He was the person who had to tell the children that the camp was closing, and theysoon would be transferred to other locations. He wrote a beautiful farewell letterand arranged for the group picture taken before the camp closed.

Tom eventually started Catholic Charities in Orlando in 1963 and served for 40 years as its Executive Director.Aracely Guzmn de Lpez Cuquita was a volunteer worker and through her efforts the camp in Orlando wasoriginally opened. The bus driver was Ernesto Fernndez, whose brother had been the cook in Camp San Pedro.Other members of the staff when the camp opened for the Cuban boys included Francisco Freire, Mario Mir a/k/aEl Viejo, Mr. and Mrs. Eugenio Bravo, Patrick Grace, Mrs.Joseph Berger who was the camp nurse, and aCuban couple by the name of Dr.and Mrs .Quintana. Hermaiden name was Gonzlez,and she had been a teacherat Colegio Cima in Havana.A gentleman who was addressed as Mr. Ronnie worked at the camps office.The Cuban children attended Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville.When Camp St. John closed in June 1962 at the end of the school year, the children were transferred to otherlocations, mostly to foster homes.


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Camp San Pedro - 2400 Dike Road, City of Winter Park, Orange County, north of Orlando, Florida - April1961- A temporary shelter for Cuban boys in the Diocese of St. Augustine.The camp, on the East bank ofLake Howell, was purchased inthe 1940s and 1950s by

Archbishop Joseph Hur ley and was used as a Diocesansummer camp. It consisted of

two buildings and a cabin. Themain building was used forgeneral purposes and a messhall and included a full kitchen.The second building was adormitory with bathrooms andshower facilities, and providedloc kers for storage. The thirdbuilding was a cabin used asliving quarters for thesupervisors.The first group of Cuban boyswithin the ages of 13 and 18arrived in Camp San Pedro on April 11,1961. On June 15, 1961, a group of 12 boysarrived from St. Petersburg, Florida, whenthe temporary shelter for the Cuban boys atBishop Barry High School closed.There were about 50 to 55 boys at any giventime at Camp San Pedro. The camp wasowned and managed by the St. MaryMagdalene Parish and secular priest Father Hubert Reasonwas the top authority or director. It was originally organized,administered and supervised by Radd Guzmn Varela, a/k/aDan Mathews, who was also the camp bus driver and houseparent. The bus was referred to by the boys as La Caldera delDiablo.Mr. Guzmn was assisted by his wife, Virginia Vargas deGuzmn, a/k/a Seo, who also acted as house mother. Mrs. Vargas de Guzmnwas also a home room teacher at

Bishop Moore Catholic High School in Orlando, where most of the boysattended. Father Farmer from this school provided considerable support,compassion and assistance to the Cuban boys and is dearly remembered bythem. The school was founded in 1954. The two youngest boys attended St.Margaret Mary Catholic School in downtown Winter Park. It wasadministered by the Sisters of Christian Charity who founded it in 1954.Other camp supervisors includedlvaro Betancourt and Jorge Cunil. Mr.Betancourtwas the person who picked up the first group of Cuban boys at the airportduring the early hours of April 11, and when he resigned was replaced by Mr. Cunil. Mr.Cunilresigned in the summer of 1961 and was replaced by a seminarian named VernonF. Uhran.There was a Cuban couple, Mr. and Mrs Fernndez, who were addressed as tos bythe boys, and who served in the kitchen preparing Cuban style meals. They had replaced a lady namedMary.The last camp administrator wasFermn Rodrguez, an engineer by training, who was recruited by Mr.

Guzmnto relieve the Parish of St. Mary Magdalene of the administrative duties.Camp San Pedro closed as a shelter for Cuban children in or around December 1961 because it wasnot prepared for the cold winter months and lacked a heating system.Most of the boys were transferred to Camp St. John in Jacksonville, Florida. Some stayed in Orlando.The facility continued as a center for retreats and spirituality under the Diocese of St. Augustine until 1968 and up tothe present time under the Diocese of Orlando.


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STAFFMEMORY LANE

Addi tional staff members and fr iends w il l be added to the l is t below as names are remembered.First on the staff list is the first person we met.

When you arrive, do not worry, just ask for GeorgeMr. Jorge George Guarch, waited for most of us at the airport and took us to our assigned locations.

FERRE HOUSE/CASA CARRION

1. Mr. Angel Carrin and wi fe Mrs. Nina Carrin, house parents.---------------------------->2. Mrs. Mary L. Larkin, house mother .----------------------------------------------------------------------------->3. Mr. James Baker, first house father.------------------------------------------------------------->4. Mr. Hector Carrin, staff. ---------------------------------------------->

CAMP MATECUMBE

1. Dr. Arango Sr, office staff. Paid the $1.50 weekly allowance, 1961. --->2. Mr. Juan Puig , off ice staff . Paid the $1.50 weekl y allowances, 1962. ---------------------->3. Mrs. Haydee Rodrguez de Puig, laundry room.--------------------------------------------------->4. Mr. Luis Pazos, Cuco offi ce manager.5. Mrs. Ann Brown, social worker.------------------------------------------------------->6. Mr. Robert Brown, Bob , off ice staf f.----------------------------------------------->

7. Mrs. Minina de Pazos, office secretary.8. Mrs. Ernestina., day nurse.9. Mr. Raul Puga and his son, camp staff and camp bus dr iver .----------------------------------------->10. Mr. Eduardo Garca, poo l main tenance staff . ------------------------------------------------>11. Mr. Valdes Romero, social worker.12. Mrs. Amaris del Pino, social worker.13. Dr. Arango Jr ., religi on teacher. --------------------------------------------------->14. Mrs. Condom, soci al worker.15. Mr. Charles McEwan, English teacher.16. Mr. Jos Antonio Lpez de la Fuente Mao , swimming and P. E. instructor .----------------->17. Mr. Carlos Amenabar, kitchen superviso r.*18. Mr. Arturo J. Sordo, swimming and physical education ins truc tor.------------------>19. Mrs. Concepcin Colunga de Rodrguez, Conchit a, cafeteria staff.*20. Mrs. Virginia Gil, cafeteria staff.*21. Mrs. Margarita Sabater de Blanco, cafeteria staff.*

22. Mrs. Hilda Prez Pazos, laundry room.------------------------------------------------------------------------>23. Mr. Otili o Capi Campuzano, physical education instructor . ------------------------>24. Mr. Raul Diaz Galup, phys ical education instructor.25. Mr. Raul de la Cruz, Marist alumnus. He previously worked at Kendall Camp.26. Mr. Humberto Barcel , cafeteria staff.*27. Harold Mac Maguire, food services staff.* - all camps.28. Mr. Sergio J. Garca Mir, instruc tor. Jesuit alumnus .Became a doctor and a pr iest.-------->29.30.31. Mr. Evelio Walfredo Ley Jr., inst ructor. His parents were Florida City house parents.32. Mr. Enri que Baloy ra, inst ruc tor . Maris t alumnus.---------------------------------------------------------->


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18. Mr. Benigno Larrea, and wife Mrs. Teresa Aguirregaviria, house parents .----------------->19. Mrs. Lieberman, office.20.21. Ms. Joan Gross, camp administrator and head social worker.------------------------------------------->22.23.24.25. Dr. Ramn Gordon, DDS, and wife Mrs. Blanquita Surez, girl s house parents.--------->26.27.28.29. Dra. Mercedes M. Garca-Tudur, director of our Lady of Chari ty School.------------------------>

30. Mrs. Zenaida Piero, nurse.31. Dr. Leopoldo Arista Salado, art teacher. Lawyer in Cuba.--------------------------------->32.33.34. Mr. Dionis io Rubn Fajardo and wife Dr. Elosa Lpez, (pharmacist ) house parents.35. Mr. Hector Figueredo, and wife Mrs. Nora Rodrguez, girls house parents.36. Mr. Pedro Garca and wife Carmen, girl s house parents.37. Mr. Manel Surez, maintenance staff .------------------------------------------------------------------------->38. Mrs. Perla Ramrez, teacher .39.40. Mr. Juan Mora and wife Mrs. Dolores Daz, girl s house parents Papioli, Mamioli.-->41. Mr. Ernesto Espada, gate keeper .------------------------------------------------->42. Mr. Arturo Sivilla and wife Mrs. Mara Elena Oves, house parents.43. Mr. Manuel Martn and wife Paquita, boys house parents.44. Mr. Jess Mier and wife, substitu te boys house parents.

45.46. Mr. Eudaldo Muoz and wife Mrs. Elda Garca, gir ls house parents .---------------------->47. Dr. and Mrs. Velasco, house parents. He was a dentis t in Cuba.48.49. Dr.Jos Ignacio Lasaga Travieso and wife Mrs. Agueda Demestre Gastn, psychologists.50. Mr. Gabriel Villar and wife Mrs. Delia Diaz, house parents.He organized events.-->51. Mr.Agust n Guarch, assistant .52. Mr. Carlos Baeza and wife Mrs. Gladys Alfonso , house parents.->53. Dr. Rosaura Garca-Tudur , art teacher.54. Mr. Ernesto Garca-Tudur , science teacher.55.56. Mr. Olegario Surez, spor ts/p. education. Marist alumnus. Had worked in all camps.57. Mr. Romeo Cesari Nino and wife Mrs. Hortensia Noriega Peluca, gir ls house parents.58. Mr. Francisco Cuadra and wife Mrs. Aurora Daz, girl s house parents. She was a teacher.59. Mr. Rafael Beda, mathematics teacher.------------------------------------------------------------------------->60.61. Mr. Juan Gonzlez and wife Mrs. Sara Espinosa, house parents.62. Mr. Carrin Pombo and wife Amparo, house parents. He was athletic director.63. Mrs. Mara Modesta Daz Rouco, literature teacher.------------------------------------------------------>64. Mrs. Asunc in.., Chon , 5thGrade teacher.65. Mr. Manuel Garca Comesaas and wife Mrs. Ofelia Vidal, boys house parents.66. Dr. Manuel Surez and wife Mrs. Aime Mendizbal , gir ls house parents.-------------------->67. Mr. Nicols, bus driver.68. Mrs. Luisa Mola, office staff.69.70.71. Mr. Santiago de Solo, Chagui to , gatekeeper and maintenance staff .--------------------------->72. Mrs. A.G. Pea, off ice staf f.73. Mrs. Raquel Prez Gonzles del Valle, office staff.

74. Mr. Jos Gabino Campos, bus dri ver. (No relation to Raul and Aida Campo below)75. Mr. Raul del Campo, bus dri ver in all the camps.------------------------------------------------->76. Mrs. Aida Nena Gonzlez de del Campo, cafeteria staff in all the camps.*------------>77. Mr. Fulgencio Parodi and wife Mrs. Matilde Alvera, boys house parents.78. Mr. Felix and wife Olga, kitchen/cafeteria staff.79.80. Mr. Mario Alcoz and wife Mrs. Altica Dujarr it, girl s house parents.--------------------------->81. Dr. Orlando de Varona and wife Mrs. Carmen Carrin , girl s house mother.82. Mr. Sixto Garca and wife Mrs. Isolina Valdes, girls house parents.83. Mrs. M. de Zendegui, Engli sh teacher.84. Mr. Raul Rodrguez Walling and wife Dr. Isabel Betancourt, gir ls house parents. ---------->85. Mr. Francisco Angones and wife Mrs. Mara Lidia del Monte, boys house parents.


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86. Mr. Jos Manuel Bermdez and wife Mrs. Florencia Parr, boys house parents.87.88.89. Mr. Agustn Arias and w ife Mrs. Obdulia Fernndez, boys house parents.---------------->90.91.92.93. Mr. Guillermo Bueso and wife Mrs. Nelly Taquechell, boys house parents.94. Mr. Leonardo Dalmau and wife Mrs. Rosar io Piera, boys house parents.------------------------->95. Mr. Manny Rodrguez Walling, maintenance staff.96. Mr. Francisco Regil, maintenance staff.97. Mr. Tony Quintero, kitchen/cafeteria staff.*

98. Mr. Evelio W. Ley Sr. and wife Mrs. Alia Fernndez, b. house parents.->99.100. Mr. Arturo Martnez and wife Dora, boys house parents.----------------------------------------->101.102. Mr. Eugenio Pichardo Gallego and wife Mrs. Josefina Rodrguez, g. house parents.-->103. Mr. Manuel Villamil and wife Rita, kitchen/cafeteria staff.104.105. Mr. Nelson Ley, kitchen/cafeteria staff.*106.107. Mr. Alfredo Prez-Martn and Mrs. Cachita Fernndez de Prez, g. house parents.----->108. Mr. Romeo Nino Cesari and wi fe Mrs. Hortensia Peluca J. Cesari, house parents.109. Mr. Pedro Pelluco Garca and wife Mrs. Carmucha Carrillo Garca, house parents.110.111.112. Mr. Miguel Estades, gate keeper, bus dr iver and other duties in all the camps.------------->

113. Mrs. Rosa Garca de Estades, teacher .-------------------------------------------------------------------->114. Ms. Margot Garca Comezaas, office staff. Group picture below next page.115. Ms. Luisa Gorgas, office staff.Group picture below next page.116. Mr. Alberto Cardelles, kitchen/cafeteria staff.*117. Ms. Elena Gross, office staff.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->118. Ms. Mara del Carmen Mueca Arrechaedera, teacher, elementary.Group picture below.119. Ms. Tet Gonzles Comesaas, office staff. Group picture below next page.120. Ms. Renee Malgarat, office staff. Group picture below next page.121. Ms. Teresa Baldor, offi ce staff. Group picture below next page.122. Mrs. Charo Hernndez, boys house mother.123. Ms. Emma Pituca Rodrguez, receptioni st.--------------------------------------------------------------->124. Mr. and Mrs. Chinea, house parents.125. Mr. Alfonso Amenbar, kitchen/cafeteria staff. Also worked at the Jesuit Boys Residence.126.127. Mr. Arturo Weiss and w ife Dolores Lolo, girls house parents.128. Ms. Orqudea Gonzlez Br ian, teacher, elementary school .------------------------------------------->129.130. Mr. Eduardo Rodrguez (Pitucas b rother) kitchen/cafeteria staff.*131. Mr. Francisco Baldor and wife Mrs. Ma. Cristina Rodrguez, girls house parents .------>132. Mr. Ricardo Covin and wi fe Blanca, house parents.133. Mr. Raul Ar razcaeta, kitchen/cafeteria staff.134. Mr. Carlos Rodrguez (Pitucas brother) kitchen/cafeteria staff.*135. Mr. Ramn Arrechavaleta, engineer, supervisor of camp maintenance.-------------------------->136. Mr. Enrique Sixto, kit chen/cafeteria staff.*137. Mrs. Emilia Pomar de Estopin, laundry staff.138.139.140. Mr. Oscar Castill o and w ife Carmen, subst itute house parents.---------->141.

142. Mr. Alfonso Trespalacios and wife Margot, house parents.143. Mrs. Mara Teresa Lara, mathemat ics teacher .----------------------------------------------------------->144. Mr. Humberto Esp inosa and wife Olga, substi tute house parents.145. Mr. Mario Pella and wife Delia, subs titute house parents .146. Mr. Guillermo Prez-Plana and wife. Mara Antonia, girls house parents.-----------------> 147. Mrs. Marta Lpez, English teacher.148. Mrs.Rosa Abreu de Cisneros, nurse.---------------------------------------->149. Dr. Miguel Cisneros, medical staf f.-------------------------------------------->150.151. Mr. and Mrs. Cuartas, house parents.152.153. Mr. Joaqun Rodrguez Haded and wife Mrs. Gloria Nodarse, house parents.------------>


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154.155. Mr.Juan Prez-Cubas and wife Esther Nuna, substi tute house parents.156. Mr. Amauri Almeida and w ife Mrs. Elsa Campanera, house parents.157. Dr. Luis A. Galainena, camp resident doctor.-------------------------------------------------------->158.159. Mrs. Hernndez, social worker.------------------------------------------------------------> 160. Mr. Luis Testoni, kitchen/cafeteria staff.*161.162.163.164. Mr. Carlos Amenbar, kitchen/cafeteria manager, *Crotty Brothers Food Service Company.165. Mr. Germn Porto and wife Mrs. Carmen Rivas, boys house parents.

FLORIDA CITY STAFF GROUPS

ST. RAPHAELS HALL

1. Mr. Angel Carrin and wife Mrs. Nina Carrin, house parents.------------------------------->2. Mrs. Alicia Honan, Abuela, housekeeper and assistant to Fr. Walsh.---->3. Mr. Benito Rivacoba, house chef.4. Mr. Enrique Agero and wife Ernestina, house parents. -------->5. Mr. and Mrs. Luis Pando, house parents.6. Mr. and Mrs. Noy, house parents.7. Mr. Morgan, assistant to Fr. Walsh8. Mr. Toms de la Aguilera and wife Mrs. Pilar Fortn , house parents.--------------------->9. Mr. Alberto Mendiguta and wife Amelia, house parents.10. Mr. Rafael Baena and wife Mrs. Gina Morgado, house parents. She also worked at laundry.11. Mr. Rafael Garca Rubio and wife Tina, house parents.-------------------------------------------------->12. Mr. Tony Carrin, bus driver.13. Mr. Don, early bus dri ver and coach.14. Mr. Mario Molins and wife Clara, house parents.15. Mr. Carlos Al fonso Baeza and wife Gladys, house parents. Also at Florida City.------>

16. Mr. and Mrs. Eduardo Garca Rubio , substitute house parents.17. Mr. Enriqui to, housekeeping and maintenance.18. Mr. Hector Carrin, staf f. ---------------------------------------------------------------------->19. Mr. Tony Carrin, staf f. ------------------------------------------------------------>20. Mr. Manolo Granda, housekeeping and maintenance.21. Mr. Ray McGrow, social worker, CWB.22. Miss Ellen ODonoghue, social worker, CWB.23. Mr. Angel Surez, maintenance.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------->24. Mrs. Mary Maxwell, assis tant to Fr. Walsh.25. Mr. Jos Pepe Gari and wi fe Nena, house parents.----------------------------------------------->26. Mr. Vicente Cauce Carrazana and wife Mrs. Ana Vivanco, weekend house parents.


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OPA LOCKA CAMP

1. Mr. Jos Massana, camp chef, formerl y from Kendall Camp. Marist alumnus.2. Mr. Alberto Cuartas, Matecumbe, Opa Locka, Cuban Boys Home. Piarist alumnus.----------->3. Mr. Lino Prez, inst ruct or.4. Mr. Olegario Surez, inst ruc tor, Marist alumnus. Had worked at Kendall and Florida City.5. Mr. Juan Jos Prez Montejo, instructor. Marist Alumnus. Supervised the youngest.6. Mr. Lucas Alvarez, Kitchen staff. Dulces father. No relation to Carlos M. Alvarez.7. Mr. Emeterio Gonzalez, coach.8. Mr. Raul del Campo, bus dr iver in all the camps.---------------------------------------------------->9. Mrs. Aida Nena Gonzlez de del Campo, cafeteria staff in all the camps.*--------------->

10. Mr. Valeriano Ito Garca, driver. Also at Kendall.11. Mr. Pedro Pelluco Garca. Also at Kendall.12. Mr. Miguel Estades, bus dr iver and other dut ies in all the camps.-------------------------------->13. Mrs. Rosa Garca de Estades, laundry staf f.-------------------------------------------------------------->14. Mrs. Gina Morgado de Baena, laundry staff. Formerly at St. Raphael.15. Mr. Reynaldo Monasterio , Marist Alumnus, inst ructor.16. Mr. Roberto Sotuyo , inst ructor.17. Mr. Benito Rivacoba, chef.*18. Mrs. Carmucha Carrill o Garca (Pellucos w ife), laundry staff. Formerly at Kendall Camp.19. Mrs. Irene Parapar, housekeeping/laundry staff. Previously at Kendall Camp.20. Mr. Carlos Alvarez, instruc tor. Jesui t alumnus . Supervised the Jesui t boys .-------------------->21. Mr. Rafael.., instruc tor. Supervised the Jesuit boys.22. Mrs. Dulce Alvarez, kitchen/cafeteria staff.23. Mrs. Mara Faes-Puga, reception ist & secretary. Had been at Kendall Camp.24. Mrs. Lill ian Pichardo, soc ial services secretary.

25. Mrs. Irene Parapar, laundry staff. Later at Kendall Camp.26. Mrs. Ernestina.., nurse. Later at Opa Locka Camp.27. Mr. Raul Rodrguez Betancou rt, social wo rker. Son of Raul and Isabel Rodrguez Walling.28. Mrs. Amalia Diaz, camp nurse. Previously at Kendal l Camp.------------------------------------------>

CUBAN BOYS HOME

1. Mr. Alberto Cuartas, inst ruct or. Also at Matecumbe and Opa Locka camps.-------------------->2. Mr. Arsenio Touzn, inst ructor.3. Mr. Michael Mintern, staff helper. Was a seminarian.4. Mr. Stephen Hilley, English teacher. He became a priest & pastor of St. Just in Martyr in Key Largo.5. Mr. Benito Rivacoba, chef.

OTHER ARCHDIOCESE AND CATHOLIC WELFARE BUREAU (CWB) STAFF WHO PARTICIPATED IN THEPROGRAM SERVING ALL CAMPS AND GROUP HOMES

1. Mrs. Loui se Cooper, social worker.2. Mrs. Maxwell, soci al worker.3. Mr. Jess Gonzlez Pita, first Cuban accountant hired by Msgr. Walsh in 1960*.--------------->

*He is Mara Modesta Daz Roucos husband, see Florida City Staff.4. Brother Reynaldo Alonso, Centro Hispano Catlico. He provided visa waivers.5. Mrs. Vicky Villaronga, CWB office staff.6. Mrs. Lloydine McGuinn, Monsignors secretary.

MEDICAL TEAM, among many others:

1. Dr. Roberto Garcia-Rivera, medical staff phys ician.----->2. Ms. Nlida Rey, medical staff nurse.-------------------------->3. Mrs. Reynolds, medical staff nurse supervi sor .----------->

4. Mrs. Amalia Daz, medical staf f nurse.------------------------>5. Dr. Lui s A. Galainena.--------->6. Mrs. Ernestina, nurse.7. Mrs. Rosa de Cisneros.8. Dr. Miguel Cisneros.9. Mrs. Sara L. Yaball, nurse.10. Mrs. Zenaida Piero .11.12. Mrs. Joseph Burger, nurse at Camp St. Jonn.

*NOTES:


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1-Pedro Pelluco Garca, Haroldo Garca, Valeriano Ito Garca, and Rosa Garca de Estades, were siblings.

2-*CROTTY BROTHERS FLORIDA, INC. (Food Service, Ki tchen and Cafeteria Staff provider.)This company suppli ed the food and staff fo r the camps, includ ing St. Raphaels Hall and the Jesuit Bo ys Residence. Theyworked with dieticians and over eighty cooks and helpers and a distribution system.

All or most of the kit chen and cafeteri a staf f were company employees.

CENTRAL AND NORTH FLORIDA CAMPS STAFF

CAMP SAINT JOHN

1. Father Jaime Lara. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->2. Mrs. Aracely Guzmn de Lpez, volun teer worker.

3. Dr. and Mrs. Quintana, evening and night staff.4. Ms. Jazmin, camp cook.5. Mr. Ernesto Fernndez, bus dr iver . --------------------------------------------------->6. Mrs. Joseph Burger, staff nurse.7. Mr. Mario Mir, staff.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------->8. Mr. and Mrs Eugenio Bravo, staff.9. Mr. Patrick Grace, staff . -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->10. Mrs. Joseph Burger, staff nurse.11. Mr. Francisco Freire, staff.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->12. Mr. Ronnie,office staff.13. Thomas J. Aglio , camp manager and Padre Segundo. -------------------------------->14. Mr. Hershey, coach.15. Mrs. Stankes, kitchen staff.16. Ms. Violet, cook .17. Mrs. Incln, nurse.

BISHOP BARRY HIGH SCHOOL TEMPORAY SHELTER

1. Father Brendan Lawlor,school director.2. Dr. Carlos M. Calunge and wife Mrs. Margarita Pardas Echeguren, instructors. -------------->

CAMP SAN PEDRO

1. Mr. Radd Guzmn Varela, adminis trador. ------------------------------------------------------------------>2. Mrs. Virgini a Vargas de Guzmn, house mother and assis tant admin istrator. ---->3. Mr. Alvaro Betancour t, supervi sor.4. Mr. Jorge Cunil, superv isor .5. Mr. Vernon F. Uhran, superv isor .

6. Mr. and Mrs. Fernndez, Kitchen staff.

7. Mr. Fermn Rodrguez, last adminis trator.8. Father Hubert Reason, camp director.---------------------------->9. Ms. Mary, ori ginal cook. She was replaced by Mr. and Mrs. the Fernndez.---------------------->

*************************************************************************************************************************************

Prepared by:Elosa Echazbal Pi and Clemente C. Amzaga Wolf.

We would like to thank all the Pedro Pans and other friends who contributed to th is

document.And

Our eternal gratitude to all the members of the many Roman Catholic religiousorders and the staff of the camps and group homes and the many friends whoassisted Monsignor Walsh and the Archdioceses of Miami in making this programpossible.

[email protected]@bellsouth.net

Florida Camps and Group Homes 1jul2014

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