Maria Monisera
Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Telina and her five children in 1929: Emilio, Rodrigo, Flory (in her mother's lap), Yolanda, and Maria Isabel
The year she was 15, "Marisa", as she was known to her classmates then , was elected queen of her high school, the Institut de Alajuela (1935)
Telina Sala-Gamboa with students from the Alajuela Boys' School (date unknown)
Frank and Maria Monisera, 1945.
Above: Rich Monisera, 120-pound division champion in 1963 (his junior year).
At right: Monisera wrestling for Northwood in 1964.
(Photos from Northwood High School yearbooks, collection of Montgomery History)
Maria (front row, right), Principal of New Hampshire Estates Elementary School, and her faculty, 1974
Above: Some of Maria's staff, with the squares they contributed to her quilt, 1981.
At left: Harry Pitt presents Maria with a basketball to signify the dedication of the Maria Monisera Gym, 1982
Below: Maria and Frank dancing at her retirement party, 1982.
Many of the quotes and photographs used on this page appear in "My Journey," a memoir written by Maria Monisera for her daughter in 2002. This and other materials related to Maria Monisera's life and career are available as part of the Jane Sween Research Library's special collections at Montgomery History. Special thanks to Linda Monisera McKenna for providing additional details about her mother's life and family.