[pianotech] THANK YOU LETTER PLEASE IF ALSO CAN BE DIRECTED TO THE OTHER LISTS

[wimblees at aol.com]

Elian

So glad to hear that all is well, and congratulations on finally being a "legal" resident of our country. It was a pleasure to have you and your wife stay with us in Alabama on your way to Florida. Good luck. 


Willem (Wim) Blees, RPT 
Piano Tuner/Technician
94-505 Kealakaa Str. 
Mililani, Oahu, HI  96789
808-349-2943 
www.Bleespiano.com
Author of: 
The Business of Piano Tuning 
available from Potter Press 
www.pianotuning.com



-----Original Message-----
From: Degens Piano Inc <degenpianos at gmail.com>
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: Mon, Nov 23, 2009 8:03 am
Subject: [pianotech] THANK YOU LETTER PLEASE IF ALSO CAN BE DIRECTED TO THE OTHER LISTS




Elian Degen and Family 
Miramar, FL, 33027
November 22, 2009
Thank you letter to all the People who gave me their support over the last ten years .
 
          Last month, October 2009,  I received my green-card.
          Ten years ago, when everything started, I was a Master Piano Technician and Tuner in Caracas, Venezuela. Also I was quite active in the Piano Lists (PTG., MPT., and CAUT) and even though the new ones  will not know me, there is still a lot that will.
 
          1999,  Political and Economical situation was rapidly deteriorating in Venezuela, after  the 1998 elections.  
 
          I tried to find a way to leave, and after discussing it with  my colleagues, I was surprised how many offered me their support and help to get to the United States. 
First of all  I have to extend my gratitude to my parents  (already deceased) who encouraged me to take this step, even knowing that probably I would never see them again.  My Cousin,  Benjamin Reif, who always believed in me.  And nonetheless the rest of my Family , very specially my Wife who stayed behind taking care of all the problems including of my parents to their last breath.
 
In the United States
 
          In a very special way to Mrs. Diane Hofsteter, (California) , and  Diane and John Cordogan (Chicago)  who did all what was possible to keep me there. 
          
 
 
 
 
Mr.  Richard Galassini from Cunningham Pianos. (Pennsylvania) 
 
Excellent  friends from all  the piano lists, which I even visited and spent some time with them, 
 
Ralph Martin† and Barbara Martin, (Florida)
          James Bryant (Florida), 
Wilem Bless (Alabama)
James Coleman (Arizona)
 Newton Hunt† (New Jersey), 
Gina Carter†  (North Carolina).
          Jon Page, (Massachusetts)  
 
Back to California
          SMC (Samik) I worked for them several month until, again, the local Immigration attorney did not know how to handle it.
 
          I was told that in Miami I would find a Lawyer with expertise in my type of case. And so it happened.
 
Florida, I have to mention:
 
Mrs. Tibisay Cordido and her family who helped us stay at her place until finding our own.
Mr. Roberto Filacchione, Helped me when I moved to Weston.
 
Danny Pianos  in Pompano Beach
 
Mr. Manny Perez  owner of Piano and Art Galeria who gave me a job at his store and the necessary sponsorship for immigration. 
Also here I met
 
Mr. Robert Mishkin and 
Mr. Mark Shapiro
 
 
 
Mrs. Gloria Roa Bodin, Immigration attorney who started my process, and Mrs. Maylin Silva who finished it.
 
I also receive a great deal of support  from all the people and Institutions for which I worked here in South Florida and took the time to send my credits to Immigration:
 
Venevision international
Schimmel Pianos
Young Chang
Florida Grand Opera
Mr. Jorge Mejia 
Mr. Baoli Liu
Geneva Intl. Corp.
Bossendorfer
 
And a very special Thanks to a great Friend, Colleague and Man
Thomas Sheehan, who offered himself to do my Evaluation for Immigration, being at the time terminally ill  and refused to accept the normal charges,  I will always remember him.
 
To all who gave me their support thank you very much, To the ones I did not mention, thank you very much also. If I forgot any I am very sorry and thank you also.
 
Ad to finish, to all those who did not believed in me and assured me I would fail, also thank you as that gave me strength to fight even more.
 
 
Elian Degen 
Formerly  Degen y Degen, in Caracas, Venezuela
Now: Degen’s Piano  Miramar FL.
www.degenspiano.com  Phone 9546143453
email Elian at degenspiano.com


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