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Andres Gaudio, a 21 year old professional from Trenque Lauquen, Buenos Aires, Argentina, was killed on Thursday, June 19, 2008 while riding at Jim Huber’s farm in Hartland, Wisconsin. Gaudio was conditioning a 6 year old mare on the exercise track when a deer jumped in front of them, causing the mare to spook. Gaudio lost his balance to one side and his head struck a tree. He died instantly.
Andy had been riding since the age of 12 where he worked with Martin Zubia. He then worked for Ramiro Guiñazu for five years while in secondary school, and groomed for Victor Vargas Club La Lechuza Caracas in Venezuela.
In March 2008 he came to the United States to work with Jim Huber. The two of them spent 3 months in Aiken, South Carolina working green horses at Dan McCarthy’s Farmer Road Polo Club, and then returned to Milwaukee for the start of the summer season.
He was “family” said Huber. Andy was a truly good horseman—and more importantly, a truly good person. He was hardworking, talented and always cheerful as he worked with the horses he loved so deeply. And he loved his short experience here in the United States and the many friends he made in Aiken and in Milwaukee. “He had everything to live for”, said Huber. There is nothing he enjoyed more than riding and playing polo. He was good at it – and he always went about it with a smile on his face. He will be sorely missed.
Jim Huber and his wife, Joyce, will take Andy back to Argentina on Tuesday or Wednesday, June 24th or 25th. Funeral arrangements are pending. Messages of condolence may be sent to:
Gustavo.o.gaudio@monsanto.com
Andy is survived by his parents, Gustavo and Nair, and a younger brother and sister.
If you have any questions, call Jim Huber at (262) 367-8227 (home) or (262-951-8029 (cell).
To post a message on Andy’s Virtual Memorial Please Click here.
Photo of Andy Guadio.
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Andy Gaudio – September 19, 1986 – June 19, 2008
To: Andy’s Polo Friends
From: Jim Huber
Date: June 24, 2008
Re: Update – Final Arrangements
I can’t thank you enough for your phone calls, cards and e-mails. They have been an enormous comfort to Andy’s dad, sister, Godmother and cousin, who are still here with us, and of course to us.
Because of “red tape”, Andy will not arrive in Argentina until Friday morning, June 27th. His dad, sister, Godmother and cousin will leave Milwaukee today and return to Trenque Lauquen. Joyce and I will leave for Argentina on Thursday and will arrive at the same time as Andy. We will then travel to Trenque Lauquen by car for Andy’s funeral._Funerals in Argentina are somewhat different than in the U.S. Friends and family will gather at a funeral home from Friday afternoon through Saturday morning. They come and go, and many stay the night at the funeral home’s facilities. We have arranged a flower arrangement from the Aiken Polo Group and from the Milwaukee Polo Group. It is not necessary for any of you to do anything further in that regard.
Your e-mails to Andy’s family, with copies to me, have given all of us tremendous support. I plan to put copies of the e-mails or notes that I have received in a book for the family to take to Argentina on Thursday.
If any of you have not had a chance to express your thoughts, and want to be included, please send any notes to the following:
Andy’s family e-mail address:_gustavo.o.gaudio@monsanto.com _Gustavo and Nair Gaudio _Alem 965
Trenque Lauquen (6400) _Buenos Aires, Argentina _SOUTH AMERICA
Copy to my assistants (for enclosure in the book);
sbond@foley.com and kberg@foley.com
Again, thanks so much for your support. I can’t tell you how much it means to all of us – and particularly to Andy’s family.
Jim Huber
Milwaukee Polo Club
(262) 367-8227 (Home) _(262) 951-8029 (Cell)
P.S. We had a brief service for Andy in our home on Sunday, June 22nd, with our family, Andy’s father, sister, Godmother and cousin, and his many Milwaukee friends. It helped everyone.
Pasted below is a copy of my letter to Andy which was read at the service.
_______________________________________________________________
What shall we remember about you, Andy?
What shall we tell them?
In August, 2007, you responded to my internet ad for a polo pro. Several others did likewise. For some reason, and without meeting or talking with you, I knew you were the one I was looking for.
We met in Argentina during the Argentine Open. We agreed you would come to Milwaukee in March. We spent the balance of those four days with Rodrigo, going to polo games and polo horse sales, scrimmaging, meeting your dad and getting to know one another. I knew when I left that you were a gift. You arrived in Milwaukee on March 12, 2008.
And now God has asked that you join him – and help us to understand why – and how to become better people for having known you.
What will I miss the most?
The smile. The cheerfulness. No matter the time of day – no matter the task – no matter the circumstances – you went about everything with enthusiasm – with joy – with a smile. Everything we did was so easy.
And what shall I tell them about you?_I will tell them that you were a truly good person. That is to say everything and to say nothing. But you, Andy, were smart, handsome, hard working, responsible, talented, cheerful, loving, a true gentleman. But most important, you were a man of good character and the highest ethical standards. And you cared more for the needs of others than the needs of your own. That’s why God took you early, Andy. He wanted you to be with him.
Your first week in Milwaukee was filled with new adventures – Getting to know the horses – and my training methods. You were so good – and caught on so quickly. And you loved every minute of it.
And that first week there was the dinner with Mick and Lisa and our friends – and your first view of Lake Michigan from their high rise condominium. It was beautiful. You were impressed.
And of course the Bucks game with Ron and Susie. I’ll never forget the look on your face as we walked to our seats – and rather than walking up the steps we kept walking down – and down – closer and closer to the court – to the first row. You were overwhelmed – and immediately began taking pictures and text messaging your family and friends.
And then it was off to Aiken, South Carolina for three months. Oh, how you loved Aiken – and Aiken loved you.
Our first task was to determine who was to cook – and who was to clean. That was a no-brainer from your standpoint. If you were going to avoid starving, you were going to cook. And you did. And I cleaned.
Whatever you served, it was good. I learned I could live on pasta with all the ingredients (particularly spicy sausages) that you could find. You always cooked twice as much as we needed. But I think that was on purpose – so we could have it for lunch the next day.
And polo in Aiken. You loved it. You couldn’t get enough. We had 16 horses to work daily. Most days we’d load up at 9:00 AM and play the new “green” horses at Macs in the morning. We’d come home for lunch and a brief nap – and then leave again with 12 other horses to play with the “302” Polo Club. You never got tired. I did, but I wouldn’t admit it to you. You would have played another six chukkers in the evening if they were on the schedule.
And everyone in Aiken loved playing with you – and of course getting to know you at the polo matches or the nightly barbeques. I can’t tell you how often people came up to me to tell me how lucky I was to have found you – and what a true jewel you were – both on and off the field. They didn’t have to tell me: I knew. I was always so proud to introduce you to our friends – both in Aiken and in Milwaukee – and they responded with their love, admiration and respect for you.
And remember the barbeques – or asados as you call them. Sometimes, they seemed to be almost every night that we were either hosting a barbeque – or going to one. Friends from all over the U.S., — and the world – Argentina, Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic – and on and on gathered regularly. You loved it – the food – the music – the laughter – the horse and polo talk – and all the dogs that the guests would bring from time to time.
And then it was back to Milwaukee for the summer season. We had to make two trips because we had 16 horses. Over 3000 miles nonstop back and forth in 4 days — with Maggie’s graduation from grade school squeezed in between. You drove half the way. I thought when we arrived home after the second trip you’d probably be heading home to Argentina the next morning. But typically, you loved it all.
Milwaukee brought lots of record setting rain the first week – and historic flooding – but we were able to get in a few scrimmages and prepare for the start of the season. You, Carly and Maggie worked the horses from morning to night. They all looked so good. We were settled into our summer routine.
And Jack, of course, became your best friend. He idolized you, Andy. I loved to watch him follow you as you gave him truly quality time – taking him alone to the field to stick and ball – playing with the foot polo mallets – target practicing (or hunting as Jack would call it) with the bibi gun and pellet gun – working with the play station in your room – and on and on.
And you loved to shop, Andy, for certain items in the US that were much less expensive than in Argentina. I think the only times we were not together were when you go would go to the mall alone – and I would choose to stay home and “chain saw.” You loved the “Gap” and Old Navy stores – and of course the gadget stores where you bought a new camera, an iPod, a play station and more. You were going to get a computer when you went home.
I’ll never forget when you tried on a new pair of Levi’s at Kohls in early June. You had already bought another pair in March, but they no longer fit. In that three month period, your waist size had shrunk considerably. I guess I might have worked you too hard, Andy. I remember you said – “That’s OK – it’s good to be thin!”
The last two weeks were full of activities, in addition to getting the horses ready. You loved basketball, but had not played since age 13. I didn’t know what to expect when we went to the Milwaukee Athletic Club to play. But it was obvious you had not forgotten. While we were shooting around, you did that “hot dog” dribble between your legs. I thought “Oh my gosh”. But you said you were pretty good – and you were.
And then there were more cookouts at home – and at Kathy and Kevin’s. You got to know more of our friends at Tom and Michelle’s going away party – Holly and Neal – Patrick and Shallin – and of course our family. By this time, Andy, you had become “family.”_And finally there was the Brewers’ game the night of June 18 with seats in Dave and Julie’s luxury box. Again, you were overwhelmed and took several pictures and videos to send home. You had long visits that night with Dave and Julie, Bill and Priscilla, Mike and Ann and Joel and Arlene. Arleen took pictures of you for her modeling agency – and we joked that maybe you had found a new career. Those pictures are now our treasures.
Since the accident, the house has been full of friends and family. The phone never stops ringing from those giving their condolences – the emails keep coming. There are so many to thank that I couldn’t name them all. I will never forget those who arrived at the field within one half hour after the accident – Patrick, Neal, Paul, Ted and Tom and of course Kathy and the kids – Everyone has been so helpful to us in trying to get through this. And of course, all of Kathy’s friends, and ours, who cleaned the house – brought in food, and filled the house with love. And of course, Kip and Sue, my personal assistants at the office, who kept everyone informed of the accident.
And finally, the stalwarts in this tragedy – Kathy (our rock), Joyce, Mike, Tom, John, Kevin, Susan, and our beautiful grandkids – Carly, Tori, Maggie and Jack.
Your dad, Gustavo, sister Luccia and godmother Patricia arrived yesterday. Pablo is arriving this morning. It as so important to all of us to be with them to help the healing process. We first went to the funeral home to see you, Andy – then to home. I showed them the scene of the accident – and “Salsa” who you were riding at the time. I also showed them your horse, Pecata. All of this was very difficult – but necessary in order to help bring some closure.
We then went to mass at 5:00 PM where the congregation prayed for you as part of special intentions. But I don’t have to tell this to you, Andy. You were there – only a few feet away. And you were telling us you will always be there for us as we continue our journey.
This afternoon at 3:00 family and friends will gather together to remember you. My son Tom just called and he’s flying in from Baltimore. You and Tom spent time together in Aiken. Father Perez will be here to lead us in prayer. And the Argentine flag will be hanging in the entrance. Since the accident, the flag has been flying half mast at the field. We took Pecata over for a picture. She seemed to know something was missing._And so I close, my friend – with a big hug and thank you.
Thanks for being my friend. _Thanks for being who you are. _Thanks for some of the best days of my life – thanks for loving our family and friends – _Thanks for your own beautiful family – we are one –
And thanks particularly for your friendship with Carly, Tori, Maggie – and for the quality time you spent with Jack.
We love you. We will miss you terribly – but we will be together again.
Love, Jim
(Andy Gaudio – September 19, 1986 – June 19, 2008)
To post a message on Andy’s Virtual Memorial Please Click here.