Pocohontas cabin 3, 1968 or '69

Jere Schwait Sirkis was in cabin 3 in Pokey in 1968 or 1969. Cindy Drucker is top row second from the left, and Laura Ettleman is top second from the right.  Jere hself took the photo with her brownie camera.  Its the only photo she has from back then, although perhaps she'll send us CIT and FCC photos from later.

Everett Lake

This is Everett Lake, the legendary long-time Food Service Director ("Cook," we mostly called the position) of the 1970s. The photo was taken by Carolyn Shelburne at the December 1973 celebration of Paula Brown (Halbe's sister) and Tom Holland, at the Castle. (I believe this was the party after their wedding ceremony. I'm not certain of that.)

1973 behind the old dining hall

 

From left: Al Filreis, Peggy Hope, Marie Hess and Doug Tompkins. That summer I was the "third cook" in the Boys' Dining Hall (working for Food Service Director Everett Lake). Peggy was "second cook" and "dessert chef." Doug was the LIT Director (LITs worked in the kitchen for two weeks and spent two weeks living in cabins). Marie Hess worked all summer with Everett in the Boys' Dining Hall (that summer Marie Kremer was head cook in the Girls' Dining Hall) and then in the evenings cooked in and ran the Staff Lounge in Pigeon Lodge. This photos was taken behind the old Boys' Dining Hall in the mid-afternoon - after all the lunch mess was cleared and in the brief lull before it was time to get back to work for dinner. That's Marie's ubiquitous Jeep Wagon. Doug was the original photobomber - never took a serious photo in his life, for sure.

Jim Marion, long-time Environmental Ed & Conference Director, has died

I'm very sad and sorry to be passing along the news that Jim Marion has died. Jim was Frost Valley second Environmental Education Director (after Bill Devlin) and Jim served for many year in that capacity, also at times serving as the Conference Director in addition. In sum, he directed pretty much all the non-summer programs at Frost Valley, hired and supported his staff with tremendous vivacity and kindness and good humor. Hundreds of former FV staffers worked for Jim and loved him. He was extremely hard working and always generous. He had a wicked sense of humor and he loved practical jokes.

Jim and Cheryl have lived in Grahamsville for many years. Cheryl worked at Frost Valley, too - first in the kitchen and then in the office. After Marie Kremer, long-time office manager, retired, Cheryl was our office manage. Jim and Cheryl's daughters, Christina and Renee, came of age at Frost Valley and both worked on the staff for a time. Cheryl's younger brother, Foster Portzline, also worked both summer camp and environmental education/conference.

Below is the obituary for Jim Marion posted today in the Times Herald-Record:

December 5, 1947 - February 22, 2015 -
Grahamsville, NY

James Ivan Marion, 67, of Grahamsville, NY passed away Sunday, February 22, 2015 in the comfort of his home with his family. James was born in Cortland, NY on December 5, 1947 to Ivan and Eleanor Marion. James is survived by his wife of 47 years, Cheryl Portzline Marion; his daughters: Christina Marion (Agustin Martinez) of Hilton Head SC, and Renee Viningre and husband Lejon Viningre of Napanoch, NY; and his grandson and buddy, Nathaniel Viningre whose life he most enjoyed being apart of. James is also survived by his father, Ivan Marion of Bradenton, FL and his sister, Connie Rejman of Venice Center, NY. He was predeceased by his mother, Eleanor Marion. He will be missed and has been a special part in the lives of many nieces, nephews, aunts, and in-laws. James was a graduate of Cornell University and received his Masters in Environmental Education at SUNY Plattsburgh. He worked for the Sullivan County Cooperative Extension as a 4-H agent, and the Frost Valley YMCA as the Director of Environmental Education. James worked for the New York State Department of Corrections as the Natural Resource Director where he designed and established composting and recycling programs as well as managing the farms for all New York State Correctional Facilities. He was an outgoing and personable friend to many. James took pride in his achievements and participation in various organizations. He served on the Sullivan County Cornell Cooperative Extension Board, Tri-Valley Central School Board, NYS Outdoor Education Association, and the John Burroughs Woodchuck Lodge Historical Site. In 1994 James was named the National Recycler of the Year. He will be remembered for his wealth of knowledge, admiration of nature, and his friendly personality as well as being a great dancer. Celebration of his life will be private. Donations may be made to the Islesford Congregational Church, PO Box 111, Islesford, ME 04646 or the charity of one's choice.

"If I were to name the three most precious resources of life, I should say books, friends, and nature.... - John Burroughs

Arrangements were under the direction of Colonial-Bryant Funeral Home and Cremation Service, for further information please call 845-434-7363 or visit www.colonialbryantfuneralhome.com.

***

Rick Cobb, prompted by the mention above of practical jokes, recalls as follows:

During one winter event at Frost Valley, Al and I came up with the idea to sign Jim up with as many military recruiters as possible.  We'd go to supermarkets, pick up magazines by the binder, and shake them to see what postcards fell out; we filled out navy, air force, army, coast guard, and other similar
organizations' postcards asking to send Jim Marion at Frost Valley information on their programs.  Yes, feel free to call!

After a few months, it was time for summer camp!  During orientation, Al and I were standing in the dining hall and just happened to overhear Cheryl Marion telling someone about how Jim was receiving all this information and phone calls from recruiters; we looked at the ceiling as we strained both to hear the story as well as suppress our laughter.  All of a sudden, we caught Cheryl's eye; her eyes narrowed a bit as she studied the two of us.  She then asked with a sense of suspicion in her voice: "Do you two happen to know anything about this?" 

"What?  Us?  Don't know what you're talking about!  Hey, Al, we better get to the pot sink; duty calls!" In a flash, we disappeared!

memorial service for Marie Hess

I just now returned from the beautiful memorial service for Marie Hess. Here are some photos of photos on display at the service - including early photos of Carl and Marie together than I had not seen. In the final photo you see most of the Frost Valley people who were able to come to the service, although not, alas, including John Giannotti and Keara Giannotti who had to leave just before we snapped this group shot. That's of course Bonnie Hess Hirschmann between Frank Rutan and Jenny Brown Bickart.

Marie Hess has passed away

I'm deeply sorry to report this sad Frost Valley news: Marie Hess has passed away. Here is what her daughter Bonnie wrote to me late last night: "Mom passed away gently on 2/9 with many of us around her. She loved life and touched so many people. I know we will miss her terribly." I will post details (about a memorial service, etc.) later today or tomorrow.

Stan Treadway remembers: This is really hard news to bear.  I think we all have extra special memories of Marie.  Her photo should appear in the margin next to the American Heritage Dictionary's definition of 'work ethic'!  When one worked with Marie, you had to 'bring it', bring your best stuff if you expected to work next to her.  And even if you were having an off day and had trouble keeping up, she'd ask what's wrong and come over and give you a hug on the shoulder to make things all better.  I am tearing up as I write because we have lost a rock in the FV foundation that sends a shudder through the 'family' of alums who knew her.  I feel so very fortunate to have been able to observe her in all the various roles she fulfilled during summer camp, environmental ed., conference weekends, and family camp.  In a word the woman was awesome to behold.  What energy to behold, and such spirit for that Valley.

Kathy King Steinwedel: Marie was my boss the first summer I worked at Frost Valley. I spent every summer there with my family, but the summer I was 14 she called our home and asked my mother if I could please come help her in the Laundry. Now, honestly, at 14 I was not too enthused about washing strangers socks and undies. I didn't even want to do it at home.... I am SO glad I went. Marie and Carl promised to watch out for me, and I always knew it. We kept a list of the crazy things we washed. Who knew campers and counselors kept these things in their pants pockets? One day I was leaning into a washer and Marie came up with some freshly washed marbles and she tossed them on the floor. I can still hear her say, "Kathy, you've lost your marbles!" I learned a lot from her that summer. To work hard, always. To be kind and generous. To be a little silly. And, finally, to fold mounds of laundry as fast as possible! I am so very glad That Marie chose to come to my Maryland wedding with Halbe and Jane. As I got older, I looked for her holiday cards each year. Reading her letter always made me smile. My day today was dimmer, sadder, knowing Marie was gone. I feel blessed to have known her.

Wendy Brown on behalf of herself and Jeff Brown: Jeff & I are reminiscing this morning about Hessie's volunteer spirit. She had a heart for mentoring young people and creating a team effort. Her leadership and willingness to give back are part of every memory we have. I have no doubt that she and Jane are catching up right now on all the FV news!

Maureen Heath Kosa: I am certain that Hessie was the rock for so many of us at our "home" away from home. Her strength was an inspiration for me as a shaky adolescent who was trying to become independent. I hear her voice in my head and smile. Prayers to all of you.

Rhonda McNamara: I feel very honored and blessed to have worked with her. I deeply enjoyed hearing all of the history and stories of yester year. She was one the hardest working women I have ever met and role model to us all. Her kind and giving spirit will be missed by us all. I am sure she is already "working" the room in heaven. Till we meet again dear friend.

Jenny Amanna: Aw. God bless. I remember clearly how she would sit just so in front of laundry. My fondest memory of her is when someone in my cabin, I forget which village or year, had lice and camp made our whole cabin wash everything down to my special teddy bear that I HAD to sleep with. I never told her, and I don't know how she knew, but she washed my teddy ahead of the rest and walked it to the dining hall for me so I wouldn't have to sleep a night without it. I remember being SO stressed through the morning, thinking about sleeping without that night, and like magic she appeared with my freshly washed teddy at lunch and I was so thrilled I welled up with tears and had to excuse myself to the bathroom so no one would see me cry about Teddy. She saved me that day, and I will always remember her kindness. After that I always would make sure I got a wave and a wink from her when I passed by through the day. Rest in peace. Love and healing to the family she leaves behind.

John Giannotti: I don't have one particular story, I just have a singular indelible memory of Marie, and the word that best describes it is Acceptance. Let's face it, we weren't part of an ordinary camp. All of us, from campers to those in charge, were part of something very very special. And in order to BE very very special, you have to think WAY out of the box. Many of our ideas for programs, events, activities, interactions, etc, were pretty out there. Some were ridiculously out there. Marie was a structured, disciplined woman. She quite easily could have done without all of the nonsense we manufactured. And yet, she GOT IT! She understood how to bend and change with the times and completely accepted all of us. Now, I'm not saying she accepted EVERYTHING we did or proposed -- she was, above all, sane -- but she knew instinctively how and when to apply her magical and unrelenting support.

Melanie Brown: Dear Marie....hard working, kind, brought out the best (and the best work!) in all of us. I remember one work assignment I received from her, that I didn't really want to do. My thinking was, OK, just get it done, it'll only be this one time. Nooooo, she thought I did such a fine job, I should continue as the regular for this assignment. I think she secretly knew that I was less than enthused Marie and Carl - can't imagine Frost Valley without them.

Dave King: Shirley, Kathy, and I will rejoice in our many fond memories of her. That her passing was peaceful is a blessing. Dave       

Gail Catherine McNeil: "AL!! Counters are for glasses! Not for- AAAAAAhahahahaha!" How we loved her, and how we will always love and remember her. Cheerful and indefatigable, linens, laundry, the kitchen, and perhaps most adorably in the bad ol' pre-Wellness cheeseburger- and root-beer-float days of the staff lounge. Hessie, the one-and-only.

Peggy Hope: Both Hessie and Carl played a big part in my life and everyone else that knew them as is evidenced by all the responses.  How fitting it is for her memorial service to be on Valentine's day as she was everyone's sweet heart. She was the prototype for the energizer bunny but better and irreplaceable though she wouldn't take any credit for what she did.  There was nothing she couldn't do.  I am thrilled that they will be inducted into the hall of fame and I know they will both be there in spirit. As an "older" alumna I am so incredibly grateful to have known and worked with her and Carl and all those great pioneers of Frost Valley who were instrumental in creating a truly unique, nurturing, accepting and educational place where anyone who experiences it knows it is "home". 

Rafik Ghobrial: "Of all the people I have known, she was the best. She looked after everybody everyday of her life."

Olympics 1967

A race during the 1967 Wawayanda Olympics. The "field events" took place in the Big Tree Field. For the "track" a swath of grass was mown short. I remember running some of these races myself as a camper. The Big Tree Field - then even more than now - was full of hillocks and bumps, and it was impossible to run really fast without stumbling or going wobbly in the knees. (Photo by Geoff Hazel.)

Totem Village, 1979

Totem Village, 1979. At far right, back row, is Peter Allen (father of '00s/'10s camper-counselor Robby Allen). Next to Peter is Jurgen Bobrowski, German ICCP counselor that summer. Third from left in the second row is Mike Rubin. With some intense time and work I could pick out names of some of the kids (they are 42 years old now) but I'll save that for another time.

Well, we can identify at least one camper: Stephen Pelosi is in the 2nd row, 5th from the right.

I was the Camp Wawayanda director that summer and I believe the Totem VC was David Allen, but for some reason he's not in this village photo.

archery awards, 1971

Bill Madden dug up his archery awards from the summer of 1971. The archery director that summer was Ko (Jakob) Van Wouwe, as you can see from the "membership" card Bill received. These awards was (time-consumingly) handed out at each session's closing campfire.

Eric Blum - four photos

As we prepare to bury a time capsule in/under the new Blum Center at Frost Valley, I quickly went through some of my old photos of Eric. Here are four of them. One of these I will send to camp now to be among those put into the time capsule. Fifty years from now when our successors at Frost Valley open it up, they will know exactly who these people are. Why? Because Blum and his colleagues did legendary work for kids, unforgettable. For a larger view of any of these photos, just click on the image.

Lake Cole in 1960

1980, the view from Pigeon Lodge

Jurgen ("Bobo") Bobrowski spent a few weeks being the village chief of a special village that resided in Pigeon Lodge. He took this photo from the second-floor west-facing room in the back of the building. He's obviously looking out across Biscuit Creek to the main part of camp. Notice the newly paved parking area in front of Smith Lodge. It was set up for street hockey, which ran pretty much all day every day. It was 1980 and Margetts Lodge was just a few years old at that point. Notice that you can't see a single car parked anywhere!

yakball during Family Camp

"Yakball" squad during Family Camp, in the late 1970s (probably 1977 or 1978). At far right is long-time friend and supporter of Frost Valley—and probably the longest-standing participant in Family Camp who continues to spend that week in the valley each year—Paul Schnauffer.

We invented Yakball, a cross between street hockey and water polo. We floated street hockey goals in rowboats at either end of the water "court." Players got in those little orange plastic kayaks ("playaks" was their official name). They could use their paddles or their hands to move the ball (a volleyball) forward toward the goal.

Yakball for a few years was an Olympic sport during session 2's Olympics, but then, during Family Camp, it got very intense—and quite a rivalry among families was formed. The staff got into it too.

Click on the image for a larger view.

Dave Scherer's video collage of summer 2000

Susquehanna cabin 6, 1965

Top row, middle: Bev Gross, counselor of cabin 6 in Susquehanna Village, 1965. This is the cabin that is now numbered 36.

Bonnie Breithaupt and Lolly Hettler (now Lolly Cutler Ketcham)

Bonnie is at left and Lolly at right. Bonnie was the waterfront director and Lolly worked at Arts & Crafts. They are standing at the Ad Office parking lot, with my red Volkswagen behind them and the White Rat (1951 Chevy stake truck) behind the bug.

Geronimo in 1976

Playing Geronimo inside Margetts Lodge in 1976. The building was new and the floor was perfect. These chairs, by the way, are still around and mostly still used!

time to recycle?

Yes, it's nearly October, and about time I recycled the score sheets from the 2014 Challenge Nights. Couldn't resist the urge, first, to scan a few randomly chosen ones from the very thick clipboard full of them. (Click on any image for a larger view.)

Ed Tomb

Ed Tomb (pronounced "Tom") died in 1995 and was memorialized in a 1996 edition of Frost Valley Life. Here's a copy of that note about Ed. Click on the image for a larger view.

Ira Greifer has died

Ira Greifer passed away on September 17. This is a great loss to all of us in the Frost Valley community—not just those who have been associated with, and supported, the Gottscho Kidney Center at Frost Valley, which Dr. Greifer helped created in the mid-1970s, but any FV'er who cares about how we are open to children with chronic illness.

Please see this entry about Dr. Greifer's induction, this August, into the Frost Valley Hall of Fame. There is a full profile of him there.

Here are some other helpful links:

1. a brief obituary
2. the online condolence book (please add your condolence)
3. a YouTube slide show of photos of Ira Greifer over the years

groundbreaking on the Blum Center

Many of Eric Blum's friends—and family, some coming in from the west coast—converged on Frost Valley this weekend for the groundbreaking ceremony on the Blum Center, which (as anyone who has read this blog knows) will be a beautiful new well-equipped staff lounge. Here are some photos taken yesterday as the shovels went into the dirt where Smith Lodge once stood.

And here, courtesy of Mark Gottdenker, is a photo of the special "Grumpy Old Men Blum Center Groundbreaking." As Mark notes, the only grumpy old man missing from the shot is Eric himself.

summertime at the west end of the lake

German counselor gives me a certificate, 1980

Recently I found this simple "certificate of recognition" given to me on August 21, 1980 (the night before the last day of camp that summer - at closing campfire) by Tom Franzkowiak, an unforgettably good counselor from Germany. Tom was a counselor in Forest for three sessions and then, for two weeks during session 4, he was the VC of a one-time-only village of kids who were there to learn the German language (a collaboration between Frost Valley and the Steuben Society). How about that? I was the Camp Director and told Tom he could invent the name of the village. He chose "Winnetou." Winnetou was the fictional Native American hero of a very famous novel in Germany by Karl May. So it's one of the few Native American names Germans would know. Perfect choice. The village had just one cheer, as I recall: "VINN-a-too, VINN-a-too! Ja, ja, ja!"

That summer we had these home-made cheap-o certificates. We made many copies of the blanks and used them for everything - honor camper certificates, archery awards, etc. Tom grabbed one and used it to thank me, and I've kept to this very day.

By the way, I'm still in touch with Tom. He has been involved with special education students in Germany since his two summers at FV, where he specialized in taking remarkably good care of kids on hemodialysis. He was an heroic counselor of one particular kid, who had all kinds of physical problems but maintained a great good cheer: Richie Perez of the Bronx. I'll never forget Tom's coaxing of Richie up to Banks Hill for an overnight. Amazing.

Lauren Eufemia Italiano's daughter Allee

When Lauren Eufemia Italiano - she herself a former camper and counselor - picked up Allee she realized instantly that something profound had happened. It was amazing, Lauren wrote me later, "to see Allee walk out of the side dining room in tears because she didn't want to leave. I know this happens with many campers, but it's the first time it's happened for her, and I think is a turning point in her feelings about FV. In fact, as you can see in this picture, she made me sign her up on the spot for four weeks next summer...and wanted her beloved counselor to have a matching shirt as well!"

John Giannotti's totem pole

John Giannotti carved and painted this totem pole during a single two-week session (in 1982, I think). He was the Hird Director and his office was in the first floor of Hird Lodge. He had Chuck White haul a tree to the yard just to the east of the lodge. He set it up on huge sawhorses and spent at least several hours per day carving it. VCs and counselors who needed him to talk about camp issues would stop by. I guess you could call these Totem Pole Office Hours. Anyway, he is one of many photos circulating out there of the pole once it had been completed and put in the ground by the main camp entrance. This photo was taken in around 1986.

dialysis in the 80s

Some photos taken by Lew Reisman around 1986. Lew is a pediatric nephrologist. He became affiliated with our dialysis unit in the early 80s and continued helping us for many years. Recently (see earlier entries) he visited FV to help us honor Ira Greifer.

He lent me some photos and here is a selection:

Matt Stephenson, son of the dialysis unit coordinator Tamara Stephenson.

Tamara Stephenson at left, with Eva Gottscho, and (at right) a member of Eva's board.

Photo taken in recent years: Ira Greifer, left, with Lew Reisman.

Eric Blum in his first summer - 1986.

Kate Westerbeck Lewis

Kate Westerbeck (as she and I reminisced on Friday) was for several years an Iscusfa camper (with her friend Molly Rauch) but at some point (or perhaps on and off through the summers) joined the progression of "regular" villages. I remember her as a camper from her first summer; I recall that she was so young in Iscusfa (the rest of the girls were older) that she was a kind of mascot there. Anyway, I also recall her clearly as an extraordinary Windsong camper. That was long ago. Now, as I've mentioned here in this blog, her daughter Olivia joined the FV family - with a session in Susky cabin 47. Here she is on check-out day, with her mom and dad and her counselors Fiona and Mariel.

how can we be better?

I sat down with the young adults of STEP village and Pac on the last full day of camp and listened to their ideas for improving Frost Valley. Below is a list - an ample selection from among all their suggestions (which I carefully wrote down):

1. make the Castle bigger
2. more time with sister villages
3. activities with Tokyo camp
4. better acoustics in the dining hall<1>
5. bumpers in the showers so they don't overflow
6. a gym for campers
7. get rid of the geese
8. a boarding school for campers all year<2>
9. a special program for kids with physical disabilities
10. a diving board at the lake
11. swings inside the lodges
12. basketball nets of metal chain (so they last)
13. a pinball machine in every lodge
14. fireworks every Friday night at the lake
15. make the Castle a hotel<3>
16. golf carts
17. water heaters for the lake<4>
18. bacon
19. all cabins handicapped accessible
20. path from pavilion to the wellness center should be paved
21. more juices
22. softer mattresses<5>
23. bring back the water fountain by the laundry
24. an underground parking garage so we don't see any cars at camp<6>

My random notes:

<1> I'm totally on board with this one!
<2> We've talked about this - some version of this - for years, and it is still an active topic.
<3> It was exactly this, in the 1960s. During holdover weekends several times, my parents reserved a room for us. We stayed there Friday through Sunday, were served lunch and dinner, and could call for room service!
<4> In the '60s and '70s this was an ongoing serious-joke. On the first day of camp each session, when all campers took their "dock tests," we were told at flag raising that the water heaters had been working hard all night and that the lake water was warm. We'd dive in for our tests, feel the frigid water, and believe that it was at least warmer than it might be.
<5> Really? I would think harder mattresses would be in order!
<6> Wish it weren't so expensive a project! When the campers and counselors have to walk through a maze of parked cars by the dining hall as they come to meals, I get very sad.

"send me on my way"

Tehuti arrives late, but he arrives

Traffic kept Tehuti Barrett from arriving to pick up his two daughters on time, but that meant he got to make one of his dramatic entrances. He hit bad traffic and the family dog decided to regurgitate twice on the way. His daughters were delighted to see him in any case! I saw them just as I myself was leaving for NYC, so I turned in, gave my former camper a big hug, and snapped this photo.

final grace

Some of the directors lead the staff in the final grace of the summer, accompanied by a guitar even.

alumnae families

Helen Cornman (fourth from left) and her family with Lillian Rountree Lippincott (third from right) and her CIT son Cooper, along with Pat Keogh (far right), CIT Director.

farewell is hard

Happy-sad Tacoma campers saying goodbye this morning.

David Douglass reunited with his adventure trip leader, Bud Cox

David Douglass was a camper here in the late 60s and early 70s. He went on an adventure trip to the Adirondack Mountains with Bud Cox. David's son - also David - was a CIT here this past month. Dad had no idea Bud Cox was still associated with the camp, but the fact of his having done the adventure trips came up in conversation. And then there was Bud, joining us for breakfast. The two were reunited and spent some time remembering all the details. David said: "Bud Cox! He was an ox. Just an ox. That guy could hike."