Another Successful '75 Outing
River Pointe Country Club Still Standing After Latest AHS Invasion
Hobart, Indiana - this year's golf outing and after party was another fun event. A good-looking group showed up at River Pointe and the smiles on everyone's face started in the parking lot and, with the exception of disappearing for a few moments after some less than stellar golf shots, remained there most of the day.
We're still trying to determine a winner in the best dressed contest. A couple of the past winners brought their "A"game. Mike and Pat Reardon were sporting Jackie Gleason style outfits complete with plaid shorts and matching hats and socks. While Daddy Malayter opted to go with more of an Abstract Expressionism outfit: striped shirt, printed shorts and some wild turquoise and neon orange shoes. When he first modeled this year's ensemble for his better half, she gave him another "oh my" followed by "you look festive" so he came to the course feeling pretty confident about bringing home another title.
As far as the golf itself goes, Joe Benjamin and his Wirt Troopers finished 10 under so they took honors again this year and earned the right to talk a little smack to his brother-in-law (Tom Staehle) for another year. The other group that went off at 2 to 1 odds (Kevin Beckham, Tom Staehle, Jamie Doyle and Leon Sanchez) didn't fare as well and finished 1 over. I think the pre outing training regimen is going to have to be re-evaluated! A number of the other foursomes finished 1 or 2 under and our first all-female foursome (Lisa Nacarato, Donna Daugherty, Lynn Buergler and Nancy Sanchez) came in at just 5 over so there was some solid golf being played.
The best trick shot of the day probably came from the McConnell group. Somehow, Tom Cafiero was able to make the ball go 90 degrees to the right off the tee and make it skip right by Mike O'Connor who was standing near the cart. Those types of shots are rare, so we feel fortunate to have witnessed it in person! On a personal note, as expected, I did part ways with a number of balls. Most went for a swim, but a couple decided to play hide and seek in woods and thick grass.
While there are more pictures on this website, there's one everyone needs to see and consider. It may be hard to believe now, but the innocent looking people in this shot were responsible for at least 5 teachers, 2 of which were nuns, to drink heavily while this group was in school. Just kidding, there may have been only one affected nun but, in the words of Charles Barkley, the toll this group took on her was "turrible". She developed symptoms similar to Tourette's and was never right again. Actually, the group was a lot of fun back in the mid 70's and it was great catching up with them this past weekend.
Here are a few more tidbits picked up over the weekend:
Coach Holok and his wife, Pat, welcomed their second great grandchild
Joe and Lynn Buergler just had a grandson and granddaughter get married so I'm sure they'll be challenging the Holok's for the lead in the great grandchild category in the very near future. Joe and Lynn's son, Carl Buergler, was invited to Drew Brees Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Carl played football at Purdue at the same time Drew Brees was there and about 15 members of the Purdue team were invited to the ceremony. Joe and Lynn will celebrate 49 years together on August 6th.
Ron "Poose" Persin - still in Huntsville working in missile defense. He has 38 engineers that report to him. Poose gave Brett Buergler his elephant club at the outing. I believe it's a putter
Mike Verdeyen - still running! He completed the Shamrock Shuffle in Chicago recently.
Ed Schutz - did a great job running the closest to the pin, longest drive, contests again this year. Ed's been retired for almost 6 years.
Tom Stinar and Steve Chalko - played for the second time in the outing and will hopefully continue to do so
Gary Crnkovich - wasn't able to make the outing but was recently in the region to spend time with his Mom who just turned 105 and still lives in her own apartment.
Jamie Doyle - living just outside of Venice Florida and is always hilarious at these events.
Kevin Beckham - retired and running a couple of golf leagues at River Pointe so staying busy and playing good golf.
Leon and Nancy Sanchez - Leon has been a regular in the outing for a number of years, and this was his wife Nancy's first time playing. Her foursome played well so hopefully, she'll become a regular like her hubby.
Tom Giannini and Johnner Wardell - both enjoying retirement and getting beat up by their grandkids. It sounds like the grandkids are wearing them out.
Sandy Gonzalez - has been living in South Carolina for 32 years. After the '76 reunion, she was going to spend a day or two with her daughter who lives in Lincoln Park.
Nannette Moss - living in Little Italy in Chicago and also has a place in Ogden Dunes and still spends time at the beach.
Lisa Nacarato - living in Huntsville Alabama near daughter and grandchild. Lisa was also a ringer in the female foursome this year.
Maggie Chevigny - living in Michigan just north of Benton Harbor and has 6 grandchildren. She had a great line at the reunion. Instead of looking at someone and saying, "I don't remember who the hell you are"; she would say "you look familiar"!
Tom Waite - his birthday was on Saturday the 18th. He also brought his wife Julie with him this trip. My hunch is she didn't believe some of the stories she was hearing about these outings! Mr. Waite's been part of the outing since the beginning. He drives in from Pennsylvania every year.
Amado Arceo - he and his wife are enjoying their new digs near Grand Rapids.
Mark "Daddy" Malayter - when he's not setting fashion trends, he's spending time with the grandkids and teaching them how to get away with stuff.
John "Franko" Frankovich, Mickey Vaughn and Marty Mulloy - as has become custom, this trio got together for dinner the night before the outing and were accompanied by Mrs. Dianne Van Cleef Frankovich and Mrs. Janet Komisarcik Mulloy. They played much better this year so word on the street is the bar bill at the restaurant was a little more reasonable this go around.
Chuck Grubb - spent the winter months in Arizona. Drove in from Omaha for the outing and is continuing to work his magic on the ahs75.com website.
Mike O'Connor - still running Lake County Insurance in Hammond and enjoys spending time with the grandkids.
Mike Reardon - having fun working as seasonal help at the Dunes. He has joined Billy Smith as a park ranger.
Pat Reardon still doing consulting and is our inside source for updates on the Bears possibly moving to Hammond.
Tom Staehle - facing another year of having to listen to his brother-in-law (Joe Benjamin) talk smack about his golf game.
Mike Mulroe - lives in Crown Point and stopped in at Buddy and Pal's and said he might play in our outing next year. Would be fun to have him join us.
John Prusiecki, Dave Jancosek, Larry Billick and Dino Giannini - the Lt. Colonel (Prusiecki) kept the group on point and made sure we got a group photo prior to teeing off. He also won one of the closest to the pins. This year's outing was bittersweet for the group. It was the first year that Jimbo Bodnar hasn't either golfed or been at the course hanging out and yucking it up with everyone.
John "Elvis" Barker - Elvis was in the building! It was great getting to see Mr. Barker. It's been a lot of years. He's still singing. You can probably catch a performance or two on facebook. When the man gets a microphone in his hand a true transformation takes place.
Laura Phipps - had a major role in the class of '76 reunion. Also, she mentioned she had gone to Summerfest this year for the first time in 50 years and that the last time she went, it was with Huerta, Karras, and myself. Talk about time flying by.
Bill and Denise Dorulla - I asked Denise how she liked having the newly retired man around the house. She said it was good but I couldn't tell if she was serious. Actually, she said he was pretty handy and was able to do a variety of things around the house.
Geno Ciesielski - an outing regular who wants the after party to remain at Buddy and Pals for the foreseeable future. He lives extremely close.
Debbie Braman - still working. Her parents continue to live in miller on St. Joseph St. across from Joe Benjamin. Both Debbie and her sister Sherri are doing a great job of cheating father time; they look great.
Scott Senak - still a loyal Bears fan and hopes the move to Hammond comes to fruition so he can use all of his season tickets.
Dave "Bear" Barrick - member of the golf committee and still one of the top realtors in the region.
Tom Orton - a regular at the outing; retired and living in Downers Grove and is a grandpa.
Mike "Wizard" Daugherty - member of the golf committee and liaison with the course. Negotiates rates, reserves the date and time and handles the shotgun start. Speaking of which, we're already set for next year! Wizard has us set up for Friday, July 16th
I think Joe Buergler summed it up best at the end of the night. He looked over and said, "this was a win" (referring to both the golf outing and the after party). It was great seeing everyone and it's always fun to take a day to catch up with some old friends. And I mean that both figuratively and literally.
- recap provided by Jim McConnell
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Andrean High School Class of 1975
