THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 12, 1994 TAG: 9406100235
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 13 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY XIAOHONG ZHANG SWAIN, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: 940612 LENGTH: Medium
The eldest, Danny, 22, initiated the family tradition when he became president of the Class of 1989. Three years later, Greg, 19, represented the Class of 1992. Next came Andy, 17, head of the June 16 graduating class, and Paul, 16, president-elect for the next senior class.
{REST} The benefits of the job are obvious: they get a chance to represent others and exercise a certain amount of authority.
``The best part was graduation,'' Greg said. ``They got to speak, to lead the turning of the tassel. I got to say goodbye to my classmates. That's the highlight.''
But playing politician can also be disheartening, the brothers learned.
Danny, for example, got an earful from his fellow seniors during a debate over the color of graduation gowns.
``A small minority grilled me,'' he said. ``They started yelling at me in front of the whole class. I was angry at one point, thinking, `It's enough. There will be no life for me in politics.' ''
The graduation turned out to be a success, and Danny regained a good feeling about his presidency.
Bill Welch, senior class sponsor, has known and worked with the brothers. He said they worked well with their classmates.
``All four of them are likable people,'' Welch said. ``They've all been popular. They grew up right in the neighborhood. Everybody knows them.''
Welch said many students often were invited to the Montero home to party and play sports. He believes that Danny's good start as the president also made students want to elect his brothers.
The brothers said their parents, Juan and Mary Montero, played a large role in their successes.
``My father is inspirational,'' Greg said. ``He believes anything can happen, anything is possible. My mother shows us you need to work hard to achieve things. They taught us to get involved with the community.''
Their father, who's originally from the Philippines, is a surgeon in Chesapeake. His wife manages his office and is a volunteer for the Emergency Medical Service.
Juan Montaro said he instilled discipline in his sons by coaching them in baseball and basketball. The team sports also helped his sons interact well with other people, he said.
But his strictness hasn't prevented him from being a loving parent.
``We're all friends,'' he said. ``We often give high fives and hugs to each other.''
Montero also emphasized education.
``I told them there's no substitution for education,'' he said. ``I said each one of them will have eight years in college, and I will do everything to support them.''
His son, Danny, is a graduate of the University of Virginia and is now studying medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School. Greg, meantime, is studying philosophy and government at U.Va. and plans to go to law school.
As for Paul, he'll also be heading to Charlottesville and plans a career in medicine.
Unlike his older brothers, Andy says he has decided to attend Old Dominion University, majoring in business. At the same time, he is honing his culinary skills at Court House Cafe and the Sheraton Hotel, Oceanfront looking forward to the day he opens his own American cuisine restaurant.
At the end of June, Paul will visit the Philippines, as each of his brothers has done.
``I show my sons the worst situation there,'' Juan Montero said. ``I want them to see where I come from, so they can appreciate what they have here better.''
{KEYWORDS} CLASS OF 1994 GRADUATION
by CNB