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Ilion's 1966 Foreign Exchange Student - Karun 'Oby' Obyam
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Karun 'Oby' Obyam, IHS '66 passed away after a long illness on October 5, 2013 in Pathumthani,Thailand. Oby was an American Field Service Foreign Exchange Student in Ilion during the 1965-66 school year. He lived with the Menard family while in Ilion. Oby was active in many school activities including the Gymnastics team and Student Council and enjoyed the variety of social and sports events at IHS. He returned to Thailand to attend college and received a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering. He came to the United States again in 1983 with his wife, Aparat, to attend the University of West Virginia where he received a Master's Degree in 1984. He visited Ilion during that time, stayed with the Menard Family for several days and renewed acquaintances with his many Ilion friends. Oby will always be remembered as a kind and outgoing person who was an excellent student. He greatly enjoyed interacting with teachers and fellow students. He is survived by his wife, Aparat, and two sons, Thanat and Tanan. Messages of sympathy may be sent to the Obyam family at: 125 Sivleel Village Rangsit-Nakhonnay Road, Prachatiput Thayaburi, Pathumthani, 1230 Thailand.(October 12, 2013) |
1966 Yearbook Story Featuring Karun 'Oby' Obyam
Oby studying |
Our Student Council, the local AFS chapter, and the student body made it possible for another corner of the world to visit Ilion this year. In August, just before our Senior year began, Karun Obyam came to IHS from Bangkok, Thailand where his parents, a younger brother, and three sisters live.
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During the year, Oby, as he was quickly nicknamed, fared quite well at school. He took American history, English literature, English composition, speech, advanced algebra, solid geometry and physics and did better than many others taking these same courses. Oby also participated in extracurricular activities. He wrote a column for the Quill in which he told of life in Thailand and gave his opinions of life in America. He was also a member of Student Council and an agile member of the gymnastics team.
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In his spare time, Oby devoted much of his time to hobbies, included stamp collecting, listening to music, and attending every athletic event he possibly could. He also found American dances fascinating and quickly learned to do them himself. |
 1966 Oby in the cafeteria
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 1966 'Oby' wrestling | Although Oby was with us only a year, he was certainly a welcome addition to our class and to the community. His warm smile and his cheerful manner will long be remembered by all who were lucky enough to be his friends.
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 1966 'Oby' Obyam in Grants Store
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Modified October 31, 2014
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