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Just looked at the 9 minute video Leonard Pittler posted on YouTube. (years 1953-55). Yes, it was posted 2 years ago. My computer runs really slow! Great memories: the tank, the whale, and the tug of war, and all of us when we were so very young! Check it out if you haven't already. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZH_GUm-GPgQ
See all of you at The Ambler Inn in September.
Some more older kounsellors who celebrated Christmas: Nick Trunzo, Ken Williams, George Bunnel, Bill Karshner, Art Nuss, Jay Keller, Don Varga, Jim Simpson, Al Michaels, Fats Robson, Ben Weeks, Clyde Klinger, Marty Eshelman, Horace Hutchinson, Jeff Snayder, Joe Walsh...and lots more. A couple of these go back to early '40s; most in late '40's & early '50's.
A Johnny Ludd story: he was in the US Army in WWII and captured and imprisoned by the Nazis during combat. But at Christmas time, some of the German soldiers took him and a few other Americans to their homes to celebrate the holidays. What a guy he was!
I know this board was created to share our best KK memories. The very recent postings, however, reminded me of my saddest day at kamp--the day John Ludwikowski (Ludd) died at kamp of a massive heart attack. He was among the best of Keewanians. It was said about him that "he had a MacTruck look with a heart of gold." I knew him at kamp, but also as a customer of my father's store. He was as well respected "in the Valley" (Wyoming Valley/Wilkes-Barre) as he was in La Plume.
A few memories of the counselors:Ed Ciampi taught me not to cherry-pick during basketball games and how to be a good junior counselor. Dennis Gelli proudly told me about his Florentine ancestry and how his ancestors came over before Italy was unified. Bonnie Sabatini who taught wrestling and cut hair even when the cutee was not happy having short hair. Jim Loftus who held a tight rein over his mess hall waiters, especially when it came to the coffee that had to be prepared the way he liked it. Joe Ludgate who took me to Palumbo's on Friday night where he advanced the clock several hours so he could eat hamburgers instead of fish. John Ludd who had a million dollar personality and who played the villain in the unforgettable "Oklahoma" when everyone would sing "Poor Ludd is dead, a candle lights his head" Dave Sechrist who was a real stand up guy who taught me a million things as my tent counselor. Or Harry Z who taught me lots of tips about baseball. Great memories!
Bernie Richards was a pitcher as was Ed Kazakavich--one was a LOT taller than the other
Speaking of the local kounselors, does anyone remember a one hit wonder named Bernie Richards? He was our kounselor in tent 14 in 1960. Do you remember his claim to fame?
Gold Star to BS Cohen. To me, those "local" counselors were utterly wonderful. John Ludwikowski ("Ludd") gave my 12-yr old self a place in life's batting order. His brother/cousin/friend, Ted Pawlowski, taught me how to use woodworking tools I use today. Going to Poland (my wife's family home) always reminds me of them. Some of the Italian-ancestry guys were Sicilian (Jimmy Trapani); others were mainlanders (Dennis Gelli, Bob Perugini) & I'm always happy to be reminded of them when I look at maps of Italy. Even in 2015 they help to expand my world.
Joe LUDGATE! I knew it would come to me. (see below)
Sandy Jo
May 3, 2015 20:57:19 (EDT) |
Gordon, who has a player for those old vinyl records?
Every now and then my mind runs over all the senior counselors I admired that were NOT former campers, much less Jews, but who were strange and wonderful in my eyes. I'm thinking of Boni Sabbatini, Eddie Chiampi, Harry Zavacky, Jim Loftus, Jack Rawlins, Leo Pelton, Dave Sechrist, Dennis Gelli, Johnny Ludd, Bob Hartman, the one-eyed Frank Twing, funny-funny Skinny Ennis, and Joe ..... - the pitcher and eventual Head Counsellor whose last name I can't for the moment remember. Plus my (and Lee Kalcheim's) first counsellor, the still young Neil O'Boyle who hit a homer in his first at bat in his first counselor game in 1947, and I'm sure of dozens of others, whose names I've now forgotten. It was a long, long time ago, and while most if not all of them are all gone by now, I will never forget these surrogate fathers, and the "fathers" of all of them, Jimmy A. and Frank Dolbear the Haychel - not to mention Alice A and Mrs. A. As far as I'm concerned, they will all be at the Amber Inn - listening in somewhere in the rafters - when we sing "Kamp Kewanee, We're all for you!"
Hope to see you all in September, BS
WFIL
May 1, 2015 20:13:59 (EDT) |
Mike Lowenstein '66 is putting together a Kewanee Day at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on June 13. [What a great idea!]Click here for details.
Kamp Kewanee Day at PNC Park
Saturday, June 13, 2015
Pirates vs. Phillies at 4:05 p.m.
Dinner after the game at Location TBD
(families welcome and encouraged)
Please contact Mike Lowenstein for details or to RSVP
412-288-4242 or mlowenstein@reedsmith.com
Sheryl and I spent two hours in San Francisco with my cousin Phil Siegle recently. Phil and I had not seen each other since Kamp. So enjoyable. All is well in Toy Land. Here is an up-date on some new product we are launching in 2015.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cG_jH2PIHY
WFIL
April 8, 2015 21:06:18 (EDT) |
Anyone who wants to listen to the old Marionette show recordings, they are here on the website.
I have no problem with people who are younger that me coming. As Kewanee goes, however, there just aren't that many born after 1956.
Attention old (very old!) kampers. We are moving and clearing out old stuff. I'm about to throw out the following old vinyl records of the following marionette show songs unless someone wants them. They are: 1953 Once Upon a Legend; 1956 No Head - No Tale; 1957 Rip Van Winkle; 1958 Varieties of '58 and an undated record with the show Magic in the Stars and Dave Sechrist and Joe Ludgate singing Neath the Lonely Pines. Call me at 215-654-7853 or e-mail me if you want them. Otherwise,they are trash in a week or so. KKW!Gordon
WFIL
April 7, 2015 17:57:42 (EDT) |
Hey Tiger! Steve Klein (69-71) is not me. There were at least two other Kewaneean Steve Kleins besides me. In fact, one year Doc put two of us in the same tent just to be funny. Good thing I had a unique nickname by then. But now that you mention it, he's right - the old geezers sure do have a lot of kamp spirit!Great response to the reunion plans so far - should be a good one.
Just back from Gay Paree, in time to be insulted by WFIL's ageist post. Will still give him a hug at the reunion. Got our hotel room at Ambler Inn & will make mini-vacation of reunion trek--some things that Karen & I wanna see in PA & also stopping in DC to see daughter's "new" house in Falls Church (there goes your property value, Bugsy).KKW, Tiger
Would love to hear about anyone born 1958-1961ish who's planning on attending the reunion. Most of the chatter here seems to be from an earlier generation.
Sandy Jo,We stayed once in Kennebunkport and once on Drake's Beach in Wells. Loved them both. Worth visiting Drake's Beach for a day if you're in the area. There's public parking a couple of blocks from the beach.
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