"We'll Teach you to Drink Deep Ere you Depart" HAMLET

Way back in 1967 an exchange student from Brazil named Magda Machado came to North Shore H.S. and entered my Speech & Public Speaking class with very little English. She quickly became one of the most popular young ladies in the school, and she became very friendly with my daughter, Robin, although she was living with another family. I was able to see right from the start that this was a most unusual and extraordinary personality. Besides her obvious intelligence, she had a beautiful singing voice, which she used to entertain at gatherings of my kids' friends in our house. But to make a long story short, eventually she came to live with us in 1970 when she came back to the USA. There had been some tragedies at home and she had been invited back by the family with whom she had lived before.

Unfortunately, a serious illness in that family made it impossible for Magda to stay with them. To my surprise, I ran into her at the supermarket. She was working at the cash register. I invited her to dinner, and after hearing her story, we told her to come stay with us. She lived with us for almost two years and during that time I took a special interest in her career because she was so far from home, and I tried to give her the best guidance I could within the parameters of having been her teacher and she my student.

Well, the years have flown by since 1970 and Magda is working on her fourth marriage. She is living in Hallandale Beach, does language conversion for TV films, cartoons and documentaries, and performs with a group at various Miami venues. She also has struck two albums of her music which can be heard at www.maguinha.com Today, Rho and I are going down there for a visit and dinner. I was fortunate enough a couple of years ago to have her down here at the clubhouse during my medal award ceremony, where I received a Distinguished Flying Cross, and I am proud to have had her write of her experience after I thanked her for coming. Though her response may be viewed as self-serving, I still want to share it with you because of its genuine sincerity which is hard to come by in this world.


From Magda Machado (Exchange student from Brazil, Class of '68)

It is I who must give thanks for your calm sweetness, your tranquil acceptance of who I am. You and Rhoda were comfortable with my copious tears at your award ceremony and gave me wonderful hugs.
I had considered just giving you a hug and leaving, in order to avoid looking misplaced (I couldn't stop crying), but then I just couldn't leave you so soon... I had to, at least, get you that overly-brewed cup of coffee, the very last in the coffee-maker!
I especially liked to hear your TV interview from up close (I no longer watch television). You were absolutely terrific, and commanded such profound respect. There you were, the agent of untold heroism, a survivor of unimaginable fear and apocalyptic visions, and your heart was wise. How I loved to hear the words coming out of your mouth! The modesty, the compassion and the awareness of the human condition. You are, in all things worthy, a remarkable man. I was proud of you, proud to see you shine at the end of that journey.
How lucky for me that God allowed me the great gift of your influence in my life...

Magda Machado (Graduate North Shore HS 1968)

...and I thank God for allowing me the gift of teaching. In what other career can one think of where in your vocation you get the opportunity to be in the midst of young people for 30 years...every day...and eventually hear that you have touched their lives in ways you couldn't dream of?