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Reunion Notes
Going to the reunion? Submit your Reunion Note now.
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Robert Ochoa '76
rochoas@charter.net
My last name is now Ochoa-Schutz. After Mac, I joined the Air Force, served for four years, went on to get my degree in Computer Operations Management and,
for 10 years, set up accounting software for PC's before opening my own
coffee house called Graffiti Retreat in California (which lasted 3 years...and I had a blast!).
After closing Graffiti Retreat in 1997, I moved to Worcester, Mass. to
attend Clark and earn my Masters in urban studies...but broke up with my guy
of 18 years and worked first for UPS for four years training young guys and
girls how to load and unload trucks and now I am a Supervisor for Charter
Communications, a video and internet cable company. I joined United Congregational Church—a very progressive congregation—in 1999 and am still an active member.
My Mac Memories: I remember being very shy and I kept to myself during my freshman year, meeting only a few people. I was lucky to have had the perfect roommate"Spence"
(Turck Hall room 303), but St. Paul and Mac in particular seemed so alien
to me—being this kid from an East Los Angeles Mexican American barrio in
California—everyone seemed so radical and I remember being extremely
homesick for tortillas and salsa. I remember going to my first Pow-Wow in
South Dakota with the kids from Indian House and doing "ethnic" things
like participating in Latino/a events. I remember coaxing and teaching
my friend Susan Schmidt to perform "La Negra"—a Mexican folk dance—with me
at one of these events (Sue was great). I remember how I didn't seem to
understand a word Minnesotans said, how Minnesotans did not seem to
understand me and experiencing my first winter (BRRRRRRR!) I also
discovered the funny smoke and drink to keep me warm those winter
nights and my favorite hangout, the Hungry Mind Bookstore.
My second year is when I came out with a vengeance. First, I was the
odd man out living on the 2nd floor of Hebrew House ("Buckhorn Beer
Gardens" ha!) I was the invisible roommate. For our Holiday party gift
exchange, I was given a plaque that said "There is no place like
home". How Judy Garland! I'm still not sure if the joke was on me or on
them". I fell madly in love for the first time with Sam
Hernandez. Joined the acting class to be near him. I unknowingly took
the last spot in class and he ended up not able to enroll. But, Hatfield
and the class proved to be what I needed to get out of my shell. I met a woman who
would prove to be my best friend in college in that class—Judy Simms.
We kicked ass on the dance floor with our boogie woogie
moves. I also met Larkin, Bert, Miriam, and so many others! I remember helping to start one of the first GLBT groups at Mac and having to deal with a lot of surprised people in 1974 and 1975. There was no such thing as being "metrosexual"
then.
I grew to love the Twin Cities though and stayed for a total of eight years
before returning to California. I have been back a few times to visit Mac
and have seen some of the physical changes (I envy the new Library...but
remember spending so much time in the old Library...and it was OLD even
then). But, the Mac essence remains the same. I look forward to the
reunion. Especially to stroll Grand and Summit avenues and perhaps walk
to the Mississippi river, which I did often during my freshman year for
refuge during rough times. Yet I survived it and became stronger for it!
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