June 7, 2010

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Biddie/Geezer Gazette Spring 2010,

The other night I had this strange dream (true story). In the dream, we have an outdoor 50 meter pool with stadium seating. We are getting ready for practice and the team is putting in lane markers and I look down into the water and there is Nathan French. The next morning I mention to Moira that Kansas lost in basketball to Northern Iowa and that Matt Hanson must be real upset when the phone rings (true story) and it's Dan Berzansky calling for our mailing address. He says he is engaged (and Matt is married) - neither are verifiable let alone possible. I get to the office and I get a call from Kirill Alekseyev who says that he is in med school in Aruba. The question is, am I awake yet?

For my 60th birthday this year, Moira took me to N.Y.C. to see Madelaine Albright's pin collection from when she was Secretary of State (this is not part of the dream). It was raining and we were working our way up Broadway stopping at every $5 scarf vendor looking for the right color, I am trying to keep up while keeping both of us dry and some dashing young urbanite says to me "Hey pops, watch the umbrella!". I follow this up with dozens of Facebook notations from "friends" on the advanced state of my demise.

In order to get even with as many people as possible I will now fund raise (call me Pop, I dare you). I've started to do a little swimming myself recently. A very little swimming. I swim at Suffolk County Community College and one Sunday I get my old man bathing suit on and start to head through the shower to the pool.

As I do Carlington Simms turns the corner, takes one look at me and falls on the floor laughing (turns out he is an assistant coach there). Once I got him up off the floor he tells me he is married (my invitation must have gotten lost in the mail).

Paul Slick Fick and Andrea have two (Caileigh 5 and Christopher 2). Mark Palagiano has one of each and Pete O'Connor has three (one girl, two boys) - I voted these guys 'least likely to ever find anybody who would marry' them back in the day.

Yoyo Littee and Dani Delosh are tying the knot soon, Dani is doing triathalons and YoYo is swimming masters. Both showed up for America East Championships in Boston. We swam at Bingo this year and I spotted a red tee-shirt in the sea of green. It was Jen Serven. She and Greg are getting married in June.

Theresa DonDiego Prizzi and Miriam Rios went down to New Orleans to see Julie Gee. Theresa welcomed Vito Anthony into the clan on Aug. 16th

Lynne Ames Barnett was selling strawberry shortcakes at the Church fair last time I saw her. Two kids in college will do that to you. Jess Cervelli and Jason Ferrara are teaching in Charleston, South Carolina. Jim Payne got his Masters in Secondary Ed. (sciences).

Roy Flores, J.P. Latkovic and Mike Chang organized a Senior Citizen Day to correspond with our Senior Day. They assured me that this was not in reference to my age. Some of the old-timers brought suits. Among those in attendance were: Dr. Joann Sunshine Collins who did the Orlando Marathon and won the "Key of Excellence Award" from the Homeless Conference,

Dr. and Mrs. Igor Voloshin (2 daughters now 1 & 3), Patrick Flores, Frank and Jack Schursky (Hofstra/ Art), Lucy Liu, Ray Sato, Mike MacDonald, soon to be Dr. Jess Gleason, Christine Guelleme Vitucci and her son ( living in Massapequa), Liz Dannenbaum (living north of Boston), Sue Slepetz, Patty Prehm (Best Nursing Team 2009 award winner) , Shirlee Manoogian (CW Post grad program/ Mathematics education). Jon Eldor has his own cadaver at Buffalo Medical School (coaches with Jackie Lohrer), Pat Dolan showed up (Hofstra Law/ immigration). I think Alex Kissel told me he was selling stock. Matt Descovich back to school for Physical therapy. Omer Ozcan grad school for Secondary Ed. Dan Piastuck back from Wales. Starlyn Rupinski grad school/ secondary ed. Chemistry. Krista Klicpera grad school/ secondary ed Biology. Igor says that Gene Rubtsov is trying to match his record (1 daughter) and that Jasmin Antezana has a little girl too. Of course I'll be 78 by the time they get here. Lona Lynn Antonucci brought all three of her men to the meet to help balance out the girl thing. She and hubby are doing triathalons and Cross Bay Swims. Lona is a NICU nurse.

The team trained in West Palm Beach this January (43 degrees with 20 mph winds) but we did get to celebrate with Shelby Mirabelli who graduated in December. We trained at the pool where Ken Nemet and Gloria Mooney Nemet run their Masters team. Deidre Reilly Hamblen claims that her daughter could not possibly be in college because she (Deidre) is not that old. Well then, neither am I. She too is a beekeeper.

Bill and Heather Martin have 2 now (Erin and Molly). One of our former swimmers (Ian Francis) transferred to Denver, walks into his first class and has Heather as his Professor. Rumor has it that Ted Freeborn and Jamie Bevilacqua got married and that Kate Zabler got married twice. All three invitations must have been lost in the mail. One wedding that we did get to go to was Gail Hackett's (now Mrs. David Clarke). Three days of celebrations, kilts, bagpipes (not mine), lobster and Linda McGovern Walters in Kennebunkport, Maine. Everything was perfect and neither Gail nor Linda has grown up yet.

Brenda and Carl Kessler are grandparents (Madeline Cecelia Kessler). Nancy Perry Colletti is writing her doctoral dissertation in Ohio and competing in 5 mile "waddles". Theresa Trainor is working in Manhattan ( wonder if she got to see Madeline Albright's pin collection?). I think I saw a Facebook picture of Nancy Winkler blowing bubbles with the twins. Does anybody else remember how serious she used to be? Chris Pai is working Mutual funds in NY and swimming again. Dan Tesone walked right past me in the bank in Smithtown (he was probably putting money in for his PAWS check). Judi Liotta's crew are teenagers and it's payback time.

Alexei Smirnov wants me to invest in whatever it is he is researching. Way over my head! Jen Elvers Yellin showed up at the UMass meet with Quinn (3) and Hailey (7). Mom's carpooling for acting classes. Jeff Chu went to China and wore his Che Chu shirt totally befudling some guy with a Che Che shirt on. Raymond Stensholt is swimming masters in California. Under the category of "What were they thinking?" Roger Pugh is coaching in Colorado

Dr. Debbie Dobbs DeBoer has signed both boys up for swimming. Nyisha Green Washington wants to head back south for grad school and is coaching the Cornwall Sea Dragons. Pete Scala is coaching for the Long Island Express. Sarah Doret Tricano stopped by. She is teaching graphic design/coaching in Florida Boys and girls high school. Now understands what I am up against. Kristi Lee Schubert is coaching High School diving. Mom and Dad fled to Mississippi so as not to have to go to any more swim meets.

Tim Larkin moved to the west coast and is coaching. Pauline O'Connor Griffen has 4 now as does Eileen Walsh. Jen Morritt Schneider and Dave have three. Larry Ahlgren is doing the Escape from Alcatraz swim (or did it already, Pops can't remember).

Sad note; Bill Meehan called and let me know that Paul Smiertka passed away at the end of August. Paul swam from 1975 - 77 and was known as "Psycho" by his teammates. The tributes I have read all portray Paul as a great swimmer, family man and teammate. Some of us are not getting any younger so take some time and touch base with old friends and teammates.

Oh, by the way, I need money. I've decided that 100 is old (not 60) and that in honor of my new goal of coaching until I am old that '100' would be a suitable number of PAWS contributions from you guys (sounds fair to me). So far we have 10. This means there is plenty of room left for you. All the money goes directly to the swim team so help out and send in your contribution today. On the Men's side we are exploring a new team room with alumni sponsorship of individual lockers. UMass did this a few years back and it is a great tribute to former swimmers. It's a great recruiting tool and a positive upgrade for our present team. If you are interested in getting involved send me an email. No promises we'll get this off the ground but your interest will help us to jump-start the idea! I am on Facebook (sculpture by Denise Logan Heuser's Darcy)...so, stay in touch!

Stony Brook Seawolves Women's Swimming

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