GV man’s relatives travel from Argentina for 80th birthday

When Roger Ermili’s sister, who lives in Patagonia in southernmost Argentina, called this summer to say she wanted to visit for his 80th birthday in October, what was going to be a simple celebration with close friends took a whole new direction.

Sister Elva’s decision immediately got the ball rolling because when Ermili’s two brothers, who live in Buenos Aires, Argentina heard Elva was going to Roger’s 80th birthday, they called and said, “We’re coming, too.”

Collectively, the five will fly about 60,000 miles roundtrip for the occasion.

Arriving on Oct. 13, this was the first time the four siblings have been together since 1996 when their father died.

With the arrival of Elva and brothers Nestor and Arnaldo and their wives from such a distance, special plans had to be made. Finding accommodations for the five was easy because as residents of La Posada, Ermili and his wife Nelly were able to secure guest apartments. Elva’s husband was unable to make the trip.

And planning for a special birthday dinner, plus activities for the visiting family got under way, too. Roger said that with the gracious help of the chef and culinary staff at La Posada, the main event was a birthday dinner the evening of Oct. 16.

“We had the birthday dinner in one of the private rooms here at La Posada,” Roger said. “The chef prepared my recipe of filet of sole with shrimp and mushrooms. It’s prepared with heavy cream and soy sauce.”

Ermili said that in the 1980s, he won first prize for this recipe in a cooking contest with French chef Jacques Pepin. In addition to the filet of sole, there were two other dinner choices for the group of 15 that included local friends and Nelly’s sister, who lives in Tucson.

Once everyone recovered from the long flights, Roger and Nelly were busy showing off local landmarks and attractions. Asked where he was going to take his family, Roger’s first comment was his desire to show off La Posada and all that it encompasses.

Although Roger has been separated by distance from Nestor, Arnaldo and Elva, they have remained very close ever since the Ermilis emigrated to the U.S. in the 1950s.

Once in the U.S., Roger earned a Master’s in music from Baylor University. He began painting with oils in 1990 and then moved onto watercolors. The apartment is filled with his art in a variety of mediums and a baby grand piano.

Roger said Elva had hoped to see the Grand Canyon on this visit. Once his brothers and their wives left on Oct. 20, he, Nelly and Elva began a Gray Line tour — in a sense having their cake and eating it, too.

Initially not having any unusual plans for this special birthday, with the arrival of his family, Roger received a present that couldn’t be made, bought in a store or gift-wrapped.

Nelly and Roger have known each other since they were 10 years old. “Having the family here has been priceless,” she said.

Ellen Sussman is a freelance writer in Green Valley. Contact her at ellen2414@cox.net.