Our Iran & TAS Experiences Are Fondly Remembered…

“I love the Iranian people, culture, food, family value system. Served as a U.S. Marine at the American Embassy in Tehran, Coach, Psychologist. Published many articles in support of the Iranian people after the revolution in 1979. Persians are wonderful people!”

— Dr. Ray Ernst, 1966-68 American Embassy, 1973-78 TAS Counselor

“When I got to Tehran it was definitely cultural shock to the nth degree. The smells, the sounds, the weather, the people, all foreign to me. “Nowhere was there warmth to be found” like the song Eight Miles High said. Now what? TAS made me feel at home while CHS made me feel as part of the International Community. When I departed in 1974, I truly understood that a symbiotic relationship between me and TAS mixed extremely well.”

— Brian Donaldson, Early 1970’s

“50 years ago I graduated from TAS! What happy memories of Iran and so sad about the subsequent history. Was ordained by Archbishop of Isfahan in 1979 and was impressed when revisiting Iran in 2014”

— Christopher Basden, 1967-1971

Living in Tehran gave me a perspective on the world I could never have gotten any other way. TAS was amazing. It felt like a closer community than any other school I ever attended. I have kept in touch with one friend continuously ever since then, and I have had the great pleasure of reconnecting with old friends and making new ones thanks to the TAS communities now online!

— Paul Stevenson, 1976-1978

“My time in Tehran (‘66-‘67 and summer ‘68) were the best and most influential times in my life. I have nothing but extraordinary memories, unlike any others. I felt somewhat privileged to have a Persian boyfriend which afforded me some unique and amazing experiences. The most rewarding and enduring asset is that my best friends then are still my best friends…and I wouldn’t trade that for the world! Tehran and TAS enriched my life in many ways, for which I am extremely grateful.”

— Ann Starker Spencer, 1966-67, Summer 1968

“I believe that TAS is the ONLY high school in the WORLD that was inclusive. Cliques were very rare and there is a genuine bond amongst students, whether you knew them back in the day or not, that transcends the time we spend apart as well as the miles from our second home!”

— Christina Boyhan, Mid 1970’s

“Few of us can claim our title as…
“Tehramericans”
We are privileged in having shared in a very significant window in history…
Our experiences profoundly shaped who we have become…
They have impacted our worldviews…
Provided lasting relationships…
Created opportunity… They make us unique…
Embellishing on a favorite Mark Twain quotation…
Travel from one’s native country is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness…
And many of our people need it sorely on these accounts… Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime…”

— Steve Boyd, Mid 1970’s

I met my best friend Lorene Isaacks in 1973 we were together until I graduated in 1975. We stayed in touch. She married my oldest brother John Doyle in 1978. I was living in Dubai, U A E. so I was not her maid of honor but, she was mine in 1985!!!!! I am truly blessed!!! I LOVED Tehran it was the most modern place I had EVER LIVED!!! I enjoyed the night life, the restaurants, the CRC, the malls just EVERYTHING!!!! It was such a beautiful country!!!!

— Sandy LaBelle, 1970’s

I was only 2 when we moved to Iran but it was the first country I remember living in and I became fluent in Farsi. My mom taught special education at TAS during that time! My family has gone on to live in several other countries, but Iran has left the biggest impression on me. We left just after I turned 5 and I always state it was an amazing experience!!

— Kate Petze Ford

” I met my husband in Tehran. Married In the Catholic Church there. 46 years now. I will always remember the diesal smells of the city too.”

— Nara Lou

“I met my best friend there and we are still friends today 51 years later. Even though we live far apart she is always there when I need her most. Also living there made me understand the people. I am so glad I got to experience life there.”

— Candace Beard

“I loved my time in Tehran. So many wonderful people that I met. American, Iranian and Armenian. One of my favorite memories was math class with, I believe it was, Mr. Rowe. Solving cryptograms mathematically and learning to use a slide rule. Don’t recall ever loving math before that. LOL! Loved all the teachers, especially Mrs. Allahyari.”

— Cecilia Diane Jones

The hibachi corn sold on the streets. Nothing fancy about it, but it sure was good! Then there was dodging the snow shoveled down towards us by the barfieh guys as we engaged them in “friendly conversation”. Then watching the local kids grab bumpers of cars to drag them across the ice on the roads after a snow.”

— Scott Hunt, 1970’s

“Loved living in Tehran. I had never lived in a big city before. So exotic, camels, barfiehs, Noruz celebrations, not to mention skiing too. What a fantastic high school experience.”

— Nancy Pumphrey

One of my fondest memories, living in Tehran Iran was when mother and I did volunteer work at the orphanage. Another was meeting the Secretary of the Saudi Arabian Prime Minister.

— Linda Shefchik DiPanfilo Lesini