Leida Ann Merhige DiMascio

Profile Updated: August 8, 2014
Leida Ann Merhige
Residing In: Coral Gables, FL USA
Spouse/Partner: Charles "Charlie" DiMascio
Occupation: Retired School Counselor and English Teacher
Children: Cicely, born 1975
Marissa born 1976
Haily born 1979
Joseph born 1081
Yes! Attending Reunion
School Story:

I was in Mr. Alonso's class for Spanish. Since he was a native of Cuba,we had the opportunity to hear the authentic Spanish accent. He constantly and insistently reminded me to resist using English in the class, by shaking his finger and saying,"S-s-s-s-s-s-s, Leidia, en Espanol."

Four, years after graduation from NEHI, I was in the UF library at Gainesville, when I heard a voice in the next book stack, that sounded a lot like Mr. Alonso's. I gingerly peered around the corner and to my disbelief, there was Mr. Alonso. I said, "Mr. Alonso, what are you doing here?" He replied with his dancing, sparkling black eyes and broad smile, "S-s-s-s-s-s-s, Leidia, en Espanol!"

Since liveing in Miami-Dade County, and working as both an English as well as an ESL instructor, and counselor, with a large Hispanic student body, I am thankful to have had such a wonderful, patient, and dedicated teacher.