Freddie Salas

Danny and I knew each other since kindergarten and we always stayed in touch over the years. He became a missionary in Ecuador and later became a Chiropractor. While in Ecuador, he translated the New Testament into an ancient Inca dialect, Quechua, still spoken by the local people. After a successful chiropractic career in downtown L.A., Danny sold everything and moved to the Cook Islands to escape the "rat race" and become a pearl farmer. He died in a hurricane that was said to be the worst in their history. He was on a boat checking on his pearl farm when the storm hit. He and his boat were never found. 35 other people from his Island died that same day. He was a consummate surfer. He and I were planning a surfing trip to Baja just before he died. He died around 1996 or 97 I think. His sister Mary had me do his Eulogy at his church in Pasadena. Danny was a really good man of God.

Bruce Eskander

Some information I found that relates to the passing of our classmate, Dan Emery:

The 15 volcanic islands and coral atolls of the Cook Islands are scattered over 770,000 square miles of the South Pacific, between American Samoa to the west and French Polynesia to the east.

"1997 Hurricane Martin devastates Manihiki"

The Cook Islands are prone to tropical storms; Hurricane Martin devastated the northern islands in 1997 causing substantial losses for the black pearl industry.

On the first day of the hurricane season of November 1997, cyclone Martin smashed huge waves through the villages and lagoon of Manihiki. Twenty people died. Some evidence of that day still remains - pieces of boats, tyres, trees and even fridges lie on the bottom of the lagoon.