In 1985, I was 17 years old, and a junior at Thomas S. Wootton High School
when I met Nelson Kobren for the first time. As a veteran of at least 8 MSI
seasons as a player and a coach, I decided to complete the circle and apply
to be a soccer referee. It would be the first paying job I would have (not
counting mowing lawns as a kid).

At the initial meeting and the qualification test, Nelson came off as a
gruff, no-nonsense person, but also as very welcoming and genuine. When I
went to his house at 411 Apple Grove to pick up my equipment (on my way to
my first assigned matches), his house seemed like the central brain for the
MWSRA. We had a short conversation about his background, and I was truly
impressed.

I refereed for two seasons, on and off, with MWSRA, with Nelson's weekly
phone calls becoming a welcome part of my routine. I took on as many
assignments as I could, and by the time I finished, I had worked alongside
some of the top referees in the association, from whom I learned a lot.

I eventually went to Chicago for college and law school, and am currently a
lawyer in Chicago. Years later, when I heard that Nelson had passed on, I
felt a loss from 700 miles away, and could only imagine the void felt by the
community.

Best wishes to Nelson's family, colleagues, and the MWSRA.

I.D. Maramba
Wootton High School Class of '86

Ignacio D. Maramba
Attorney at Law

Toussaint & Carlson, Ltd.
2809 Butterfield Road, Suite 140
Oak Brook, Illinois 60523
Phone: (630) 928-0040
Facsimile: (630) 928-0045
Email: idm@idmaramba.com
Website: www.idmaramba.com