Friends of Gables High  ·  Est. 2019

Hall of Fame

Recognizing outstanding Gables alumni who have demonstrated excellence in their fields and continuously shown the attributes of a Cavalier. The Hall of Fame also honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the school community.

3

Induction
Ceremonies

25

Alumni
Inducted

9

Educators
Honored

75

Years of Cavalier
Excellence

2023 Ceremony

Hall of Fame Ceremony 2023

This year’s inductees represent an extraordinary group of individuals who have made exceptional contributions in their respective fields. From the brilliant medical mind of Dr. Mitchel Berger to the remarkable legal expertise of Judge Paul C. Huck, and the unwavering dedication of Alberta M. Jones, this diverse group embodies everything a Cavalier can become.

Meet the 2023 Inductees

2021 Ceremony

Hall of Fame Ceremony 2021

In its nearly 75 years, Coral Gables Senior High has produced alumni successful in careers ranging from astronauts to artists, broadcasters to business leaders, champions in sports to politicians and publishers.

On Friday, November 5, 2021, a ceremony was held in the auditorium in which five alumni were inducted into the Gables Hall of Fame. This was the revival of a tradition left dormant for 12 years — brought back by Friends of Gables High.

About the Hall of Fame

Revived. Celebrated. Continuing.

Friends of Gables High resurrected the Hall of Fame after 15 years left dormant due to budget cuts. While it is expensive to host an induction ceremony and reception, we believe it is essential to continue the tradition of honoring exemplary alumni and educators who have risen to the top of their fields and who exemplify the characteristics of a Gables Cavalier.

Consider donating today to help us continue this important tradition.

Donate to Support the HOF

Nominate a Cavalier

Know Someone Who Deserves Recognition?

The Gables Hall of Fame recognizes and honors alumni who have demonstrated excellence in their chosen fields while giving back to their community. It also recognizes individuals who may not be CGHS graduates but have made significant contributions to the school.

Nominations are accepted on a rolling basis and remain evergreen — they will be considered in every successive Hall of Fame induction vote.

Submit a Nomination

Nomination Criteria

✔  CGHS graduate who has excelled in their field
✔  Demonstrated ongoing service to the community
✔  Embodies the characteristics of a Cavalier
✔  Non-graduates who made a major impact at Gables are also eligible
✔  Nominations are evergreen and considered every year

Complete Inductee List

Every Cavalier We’ve Honored

Click each category below to read the full bios of all Hall of Fame inductees.

Hall of Fame Inductees: Alumni
  • Barrow, Henry (Class of 1954 – Inducted in 1993) A staple on the South Florida airwaves since the early 1960s, Mr. Barrow became an integral part of the Dolphins broadcasts for nearly three decades. He pioneered sideline reporting in sports broadcasting, standing on the field while on the air — a practice that is now standard in every radio and television sports broadcast.
  • Berger, Mitchel (Class of 1970 – Inducted in 2023) Dr. Mitchel S. Berger is a nationally recognized expert in treating brain and spinal cord tumors. He developed a technique in the 1980–90s allowing surgeons to safely remove tumors from the brain’s electrical pathways. Former Chair of Neurological Surgery at UCSF; past president of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons; appointed by President Biden to the Presidential Cancer Panel.
  • Blecke, Alberta “Berta” Bachelor (Class of 1968) Dept. of Defense Teacher in Okinawa, Japan. Director of Governor’s Constituency for Children in 1986. Many community organizations and awards.
  • Calderon, Lissette (Class of 1992 – Inducted in 2020) Founder of Neology Life, a visionary development company along the Miami River. Board member of Amigos for Kids and the Sundari Foundation. Wharton School graduate; Senior Class President and Senior of Distinction at Gables.
  • Calzada, Humberto (Class of 1962) Classical Latin American Artist.
  • Carbone, Ralph (Class of 1956 – Inducted in 1996) Retired decorated Miami-Dade County Firefighter. Co-founded the UM Jackson Memorial Burn Center and raised over $6M for it. Named Florida Firefighter of the Year 1985 and received the American Burn Association’s highest award in 1991 — the first non-medical professional to do so.
  • Carlson, Art (Class of 1967 – Inducted in 1992) Seven-time Emmy Award winning reporter and video producer. Reported local news at WPLG in Miami for 17 years.
  • Cepero, Eloy “Bill” (Class of 1964 – Inducted in 2002) Came to the U.S. via Operation Pedro Pan. General partner at Eloy Cepero & Associates in commercial/mortgage banking. Radio and television show host.
  • Clark, Maxine (Class of 1966) Founder of Build-a-Bear Workshop — 600+ stores worldwide. Named to Fortune’s Best Companies to Work For list 10 years in a row. Inducted into the International Toy Hall of Fame in 2025. Author of “The Bear Necessities of Business.”
  • Colson, Bill (Class of 1970) Managing Editor of Sports Illustrated (1996–2002). Under his leadership, the magazine produced landmark sports journalism including the first detailed investigation of domestic violence in athletics.
  • Colson, Dean (Class of 1970) President, Dade County Bar Association. Florida Bar Board of Governors. Mayor of Miami’s Citizen of the Year Award.
  • Colzie, Cornelius “Neil” (Class of 1971 – Inducted in 1996) NFL defensive back for the Oakland Raiders, Miami Dolphins, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. All-American out of Gables; played on the national championship football team.
  • Davids, Keith (Class of 1986 – Inducted in 2023) Rear Admiral and SEAL Officer. Naval Special Warfare Commander. Multiple deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Pacific. Military Aide to President Bush; Director of the White House Military Office. Married to Rear Admiral Yvette Davids — the only dual-Admiral couple in U.S. Navy history.
  • Decker, Gail Edwards (Class of 1966 – Inducted in 2001) Actress best known for ABC’s It’s a Living, NBC’s Blossom, and ABC’s Full House. University of Miami graduate cum laude.
  • Del Greco, Albert Louis “Al” (Class of 1980 – Inducted in 2001) Former NFL placekicker for the Tennessee Titans. Ranked #14 on the NFL’s all-time leading scorers list.
  • Fox, Roberta (Class of 1961 – Inducted in 1994) Florida attorney and politician. Served in the Florida House (1976–1982) and Senate (1982–1986). Focused on women’s and children’s rights; recipient of the 1973 One of Ten Outstanding Young Women of America Award.
  • Glass, Lillian (Class of 1970 – Inducted in 2023) World-renowned communication and body language expert, best-selling author, and award-winning filmmaker. Books include “Toxic People” and “The Body Language of Liars.” Expert witness in behavioral analysis for state and federal cases.
  • Grossman, Stuart (Class of 1964 – Inducted in 2020) Co-founder of Grossman, Roth, Yaffa, Cohen in Coral Gables. Recognized as one of America’s pre-eminent trial lawyers. Chairman of Margaux’s Miracle, funding pediatric cancer research.
  • Huck, Paul C. (Class of 1958 – Inducted in 2023) Appointed to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida in 2000. Has sat by designation on the 11th and 9th Circuit Courts of Appeals for 20+ years. Has taught Litigation Skills at the University of Miami since 1981. Recipient of the Florida Bar’s William M. Hoevler Judicial Professionalism Award.
  • Kerdyk, Tracy L. (Class of 1984) American professional golfer on the LPGA Tour. 1988 NCAA Collegiate Player of the Year. Two-time All-American at the University of Miami.
  • Labbie, Dr. Andrew S. (Class of 1976 – Inducted in 1996) Board-certified in pediatric urology and urological surgery. Medical degree from Northwestern University Medical School. Affiliated with Baptist Hospital and Jackson Memorial Hospital.
  • Lenoir, Benjamin William “Bill” (Class of 1957) NASA astronaut; electrical engineer. Backup science pilot for Skylab 3 and 4. Flew as Mission Specialist on STS-5 (1982), the first Space Shuttle flight to deploy commercial satellites. Logged over 122 hours in space.
  • Leopold, Ted (Class of 1976 – Inducted in 2023) “Best Lawyers in America.” Obtained a $131 million jury verdict against Ford Motor Company in 2010 — 9th-largest verdict against an automaker in U.S. history. Made the National Law Journal’s 2018 Energy and Environmental Trailblazers list. Partner at Cohen Milstein.
  • Lowell, Mike (Class of 1992 – Inducted in 2002) 4.0 GPA, Dade County Student-Athlete of the Year. Four-time MLB All-Star, two-time World Series champion, 2007 World Series MVP. Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Award winner. Cancer survivor and founder of the Mike Lowell Foundation.
  • Martin, Dr. Randolph (Class of 1961 – Inducted in 2004) Fellow of the American College of Cardiology. Medical correspondent for WSB-TV Atlanta since 1994. Three Emmy nominations. Past president of the American Society of Echocardiography. Over 145 publications in peer-reviewed journals.
  • Mayer, Bob (Class of 1965 – Inducted in 2004) Record-setting 40+ years reporting and anchoring at WTVJ NBC6 in South Florida. Recipient of the Silver Circle Award.
  • McCabe, Robert (Ponce High, Class of 1948 – Inducted in 1988) Miami Dade College President 1980–1995. Grew MDC into the nation’s largest two-year college. Pioneered reforms that transformed a largely white institution into an 80% minority institution serving immigrants, multigenerational poor families, and middle-class graduates.
  • Mercado-Valdes, Frank (Class of 1980 – Inducted in 2002) Founder of the African Heritage Network television syndication. Florida Golden Glove boxing champion. U.S. Marine Corps veteran. University of Miami political science graduate. Inspiring speaker who has shared his story with Gables students.
  • Ortega, Ralph (Class of 1971 – Inducted in 1992) NFL linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins. All-American at the University of Florida. Played on the Gables national championship football team.
  • Oster, Jeff (Class of 1975 – Inducted in 2023) GRAMMY® nominated musician; performed at Carnegie Hall; guest artist on 60+ recordings from GRAMMY® winning artists. Genres: New Age, Ambient, Funk, and Jazz. Credits his Gables Band of Distinction experience as the foundation of his career.
  • Pilafian, Sam (Class of 1967 – Inducted in 2001) World-class tuba player. Performed with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Leonard Bernstein at the Kennedy Center opening, NY Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, and Boston Pops Orchestra.
  • Reno, Janet (Class of 1956 – Inducted in 1988) First female U.S. Attorney General (1993–2001). Second longest-serving AG in history after William Wirt. Nominated by President Clinton. Captain of the Gables debate team.
  • Rodrigues, Beverly Counts (Class of 1971) News anchor/reporter for WFOR CBS 4. One of Gables’ first Black graduates. Public Information Officer for the Florida Dept. of Children and Families. Community Relations Manager for The Miami Herald; initiated the Herald’s Black History Month Special Section.
  • Sadowski, William (Class of 1962 – Inducted in 1988) Managing Director and Head of Municipal Underwriting Syndicate Desk for Loop Capital. Previously a senior manager at PaineWebber, Cowen and Reinoso & Co., and John Nuveen and Company.
  • Scott, Winston E. (Class of 1968) NASA astronaut. Two Space Shuttle missions: Endeavour (STS-72, 1996) and Columbia (STS-87, 1997). Three spacewalks totaling 19+ hours. Retired U.S. Navy Captain. Former Executive Director of the Florida Space Authority.
  • Sekoff, Roy (Class of 1977 – Inducted in 2020) Founding Editor of the Huffington Post and President/co-creator of HuffPost Live. Writer for Michael Moore’s Emmy-winning TV Nation. President of Thespians Drama Club and Silver Knight nominee at Gables.
  • Steinhardt, Paul (Class of 1970 – Inducted in 2023) Albert Einstein Professor in Science at Princeton University. Co-developer of quasicrystal theory; led the expedition that discovered the first natural quasicrystals in meteorites from the early solar system. Books: Endless Universe and The Second Kind of Impossible.
  • Silva, Verneka S. First Black female Assistant Principal, CGHS. Who’s Who of American Women. Many service awards. Presented in 1993.
  • Silver, Jeffrey (Class of 1973 – Inducted in 2004) Produced 30+ feature films including The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Tron: Legacy, Training Day, and The Santa Clause (all Disney/Warners). Emmy winner as producer of The Wonder Years.
  • Stokes, Roberta Boyce (Class of 1957) Orange Bowl committee member. Professor Emeritus and former Associate Dean and Athletic Director at Miami-Dade College. Member of the Baptist Health Board of Trustees and Doctors Hospital Board of Directors.
  • Studeman, William “Bill” (Class of 1958 – Inducted in 2023) Retired 4-star Admiral. Former Deputy Director of the CIA and Director of the NSA. Served under Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. Had leadership role in Operation Desert Storm. Member of the Iraq Intelligence Commission and Defense Science Board.
  • Sutton, Rear Admiral Robert “Bobby” (Class of 1959 – Inducted in 2004) Surface Warfare Officer for 34 years; commanded two ships. Bronze Star with Combat “V” for service in Vietnam. Commands included USS MITSCHER, USS PREBLE, USS THOMAS S. GATES, and Naval Forces Central Command.
  • Tinker, Gerald (Class of 1969 – Inducted in 1984) Olympic gold medal sprinter — 4×100m relay, 1972 Munich Olympics. Drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2nd round of the 1974 NFL Draft. Played for the Falcons and Green Bay Packers.
  • Thorington, Dianne Edwards (Class of 1966) Taught at Gables, UM, University of Montana, and Cypress College. Associate TV Producer at Paramount Studios (Family Ties, American Dreamer). Performed at the Coconut Grove Playhouse and Miami Beach Theatre of Performing Arts.
  • Ventulett II, Thomas (Class of 1953 – Inducted in 2004) Co-founding principal of Thompson, Ventulett Stainback & Associates. Over 200 design awards including National AIA Honor Awards for McCormick Place in Chicago and the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.
  • Winston, George (Class of 1967) Solo acoustic pianist with 15 million albums sold worldwide. Albums include Autumn, December, Summer, and Forest. One of the foremost instrumental composers of his generation.
  • Wolin, John (Class of 1965 – Inducted in 2001) Reporter and editor at the Miami Herald for 21 years. Born with achondroplasia dwarfism, he chronicled his life with clarity and humor. A scholarship was created in his memory for aspiring journalists.
  • Woodward, William “Woody” (Class of 1960 – Inducted in 1988) Retired MLB player and general manager. Played for the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds. Appeared in 880 games; hit .236 with 517 hits.
  • Yacoub, Ron (Class of 1992 – Inducted in 2020) Founder of Pinecrest Physical Therapy, expanded throughout South Florida and into the Dominican Republic. Masters in Physical Therapy and B.S. in Biology from the University of Miami. Gables Senior of Distinction and varsity football athlete. Generous ongoing supporter of Gables High and Gables athletes.
  • Zinner, Michael (Class of 1963 – Inducted in 2023) Founding CEO and Executive Medical Director of Miami Cancer Institute (2017). Johns Hopkins trained cancer surgeon. Former Chairman of Surgery at UCLA and Brigham and Women’s Hospital (Harvard). Clinical Director of the Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center for 22 years.
  • Zweig, Martin E. (Class of 1960 – Inducted in 2001) American stock investor and financial analyst. Renowned by Forbes for his investing methodology combining fundamental analysis and market timing. Predicted the 1987 stock market crash the Friday before it happened.
  • Zwilich, Ellen Taaffe (Class of 1956 – Inducted in 1984) American composer; first female to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music. Recipients of 4 Grammy nominations, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and the Alfred I. Dupont Award. Member of the Florida Artists Hall of Fame.
Hall of Fame Inductees: Gables Educators
  • Finora, Dan (Inducted in 2023) Spent 60+ years at 450 Bird Road — more than any other human on the planet. Beloved by generations of Cavaliers for his decades of dedicated service to the school.
  • Jones, Alberta M. (Inducted in 2023) Began at CGHS in December 1969 and retired in June 2003. Co-Department Chair of Language Arts, Gables Teacher of the Year, and Editor for Amsco Publishers. Called teaching at Gables “interacting with members of One Big Family.”
  • Kotys, Nick (Inducted in 1984) Built one of the most dominant programs in Florida history. FHSAA state titles in 1963, 1964, 1967, and 1968. Four mythical national titles. Career record of 160–33–9 over 20 seasons. The 1967 squad was declared the greatest team in Florida history by the FHSAA.
  • Ledue, William “Bill” (Inducted in 1992) Beloved Band Director of the CGHS Band of Distinction. Led generations of students in the pursuit of musical excellence. His bands marched in the Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl, and St. Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC. ASCAP Music in Sports Award; inducted into multiple music educators halls of fame.
  • Moore Jr., Ralph (Inducted in 2004) Principal of Coral Gables High School from 1977 to 1993 — 16 years of steady leadership.
  • Olkes, Alan T. (Inducted in 1996) Principal at CGHS from 1972–1977. 50+ year career in education. Co-founded Chancellor Academies in 1999. Executive Vice President, Imagine Schools.
  • Rath, Harry (Inducted in 1984) First Principal of Gables High (1950–1962). Created the school’s logo. Named one of the 5 best principals in the United States in 1958. Led the school to a top-10 national ranking.
  • Silva, Vernica (Inducted in 1993) First Black Assistant Principal at CGHS. Who’s Who of American Women. Many service awards.
  • Simpson, Jim (Inducted in 2020) Beloved Gables High Activities Director from 1962–1995. Former Head JV Football Coach and Assistant Varsity Coach. Inspired athletes and student leaders alike through his devotion to academics, leadership, and sportsmanship.
  • Wilson, Kathie P. (Kathe) (Inducted in 2001) Teacher at Gables High for 19 years. Founder of the National German Honor Society. Earned the Cross of Merit from West Germany in 1976.

Help Us Keep This Tradition Alive.

The Hall of Fame is funded entirely by Friends of Gables High. Your donation helps us continue honoring the Cavaliers who make us all proud.

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