Ron and Jane Gomes Casseres 

Continuing our series “Getting to Know Our Neighbors,” we want to introduce you to Ron and Jane Gomes Casseres. Ron and Jane purchased their condo in December 2012 and moved in May 2013. They had been renting an apartment in Central Square for 1 ½ years. During Ron’s 45th MIT reunion celebration at the Museum of Science, they spotted the Esplanade and wondered what it would be like to live in such an interesting building right on the Charles River. When they were shown Mary and George Pugh’s condo that was for sale, they knew that this was the place for them. Ron mentioned that the Pughs loved that they were selling to a MIT graduate since George Pugh had been a well-known MIT physicist. Ron loves being on the second floor—“I like being low and seeing green in front of me!”

Being a Curaçao resident and a Dutch citizen, the amount of time Ron could spend in the US was limited and they enjoyed seeing their children and grandchildren during these trips. Last year Ron got his Green Card and, now, they enjoy a schedule that includes visiting Curaçao (where they still have an apartment) for the Jewish holidays in September and October, and then from January to March. He noted that his first language was Papiamentu — a Portuguese-based Creole language spoken in the Dutch Caribbean—but he was required to speak only Dutch when he entered school at the age of six. He now speaks English, Dutch, Papiamentu, and Spanish.

Ron and Jane met in Boston when they were both in school—Jane at Boston University and Ron at MIT. Ron was born in and grew up in Curaçao.  After graduating from high school at 16, Ron applied and was accepted at MIT.  “I always wanted to come to the US and was fortunate to join a fraternity upon my arrival. It was like family and helped my adjustment to a new country, a new language, and seeing snow for the first time!” (Ron and eight of his fraternity brothers still stay in touch via Zoom about every six weeks.) His fraternity house was in Kenmore Square and only two doors down from where Jane lived – a wonderful coincidence! They began dating after meeting on a blind date and married in June of 1968 just after they each had graduated. Soon after, they moved to Curaçao where they worked, raised their children, and made their home in the same house for 40 years.

Ron held two jobs in his first 10 years back in Curaçao and then joined the Maduro & Curiel Bank, the largest and oldest bank in Curaçao—founded in 1916 (https://www.mcb-bank.com). He worked there for 35 years. He loved the job and was one of three on the Managing Board when he retired. Jane transitioned to living in Curaçao and early on helped establish the first International School there. She also taught several grades. As their children got older, Jane tutored SAT to prospective applicants unfamiliar with US education and continued to be involved with the International School’s administrative and financial issues. Ron also notes that she “did the financial work for the first Pizza Hut on the island!”

Ron and Jane have three children and six grandchildren (ages 7 to 26). Their three children all attended universities in the US and have settled here. They also speak Papiamentu, Dutch, English, and a little Spanish. Their oldest son, Marc, recently moved to York PA with his wife to take on a higher responsibility with his employer; their two children actually live in Medford MA! Their second son, Glenn, lives with his wife and two sons in Newton MA and their youngest, a daughter, Lisa, lives with her husband and two children in McLean VA. Ron and Jane get together with them as often as they can.

Since he retired at the end of 2010 Ron has been “keeping very busy” documenting his family history and the history of the Sephardic Jews on Curaçao; he is a direct descendent of Sephardic Jews who first landed on the island in 1690. His father, who died in 2006, documented the genealogical history of the Gomes Casseres family going back five centuries and wrote several articles and books on the history of Curaçao’s Jewish community.  Ron credits his father and other historians with building the foundation of his work. “I have it much easier than they did, figuring out who these relatives were and what happened to them, with the internet and the availability of so many on-line resources.” Ron has written articles which have been published in leading journals of American Jewish history (https://independent.academia.edu/RonGomesCasseres) about the governance of his Jewish community during more than three centuries and what can be learned from grave site inscriptions. He has authored publications about the synagogue, its spiritual leaders and traditions of the Jewish community in Curaçao. And since early 2021 he has also presented numerous Zoom talks on these subjects (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjmL-1djVgQ). The historic Mikvé Israel-Emmanuel community was founded in 1651 and the congregation’s synagogue, built in 1732, is the oldest synagogue in continuous use in the Americas. Through the centuries, Curaçao’s Mikvé Israel supported the very first synagogues in the US, among these synagogues in New York City, Newport RI, and Philadelphia.

Ron and Jane enjoy their retirement and their life in the Esplanade. They have traveled a lot— “we have been to all the continents and love to see other places in the world.” And they enjoy spending time with their family. They enjoy the Esplanade neighborhood and Ron, although he says he should walk more, likes going over the Longfellow Bridge and walking down Charles Street to the Boston Garden. He also enjoys exploring Kendall Square and the Canal. He appreciates the efforts to build more of a community at the Esplanade and hopes that will continue. He’d like the BOT and “In the Know” meetings to be in person—it would help the community spirit grow as we get to know each other better and stay together after the formal meetings are over. He also feels that, to keep up with the competition of other high-end condominiums, we “should explore what other condominiums do and have that we don’t. How competitive will we be in 10-20 years if we don’t keep up?” He observes that the EV installation had to happen as did the smart TV in the Tye Room. But more social events and face-to-face meetings are needed to increase the social value and sense of community.  

Ron and Jane are wonderful Esplanade neighbors and have much to contribute so when you see them, say “Hi’!

---Jane Hilburt-Davis