Fall 2004
How the summer had flown by so quickly! The fall season is now here and we will be seeing more leaves falling. This newsletter now tells you that there will be another general meeting for us and it will be on Saturday, October 16th at 1 p.m.We had a successful FAAD tournament last July. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to everyone, especially my hard-working committee, who made this tournament possible and LACD members for their everlasting support. Special thanks are extended to our sponsors: Sprint, MCI and GLAD.
Players and fans enjoyed themselves throughout the whole tournament despite the hot weather, and what's more, the fields were surrounded by gigantic mountains! John Maucere gave a magnificent show and made a great Jay Leno impersonator! The room was filled with roaring laugher and blasting music!
Once again, the LACD women's softball team continued their winning streak and snatched the championship title. All-Star team consisted of five LACD players: Tami Jo Foronda, Nancy Moore (Most Valuable Player), Traci Price, Debby Sampson (Golden Glove recipient) and Suzanne Stecker. As for the men's, they were placed 5th, but Malcolm Freeland, Mike Feigenbaum and Michael Ruiz were chosen to be on the second All-Star team.
Our mighty softball ladies played at the National Softball Tournament for the Deaf (NSAD) tournament in Reno last August. Mary Greenstone, Lois Johnson and Gardy Rogers also went there as their loyal fans! The heat wave seemed to follow them there, but they played well and won first place again, becoming back-to-back champions! Thanks to Traci Price's strength in pitching against the gusty winds on both days! Maryland Timberfest came in 2nd with Rochester behind.
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FRONT ROW: Christina Jimenez, Lynn Moran, Melissa Kinney, Rosela Gallagher, Christina Morgan, Melissa Moor, & Sandra DeDios. BACK ROW: Carlos Valencia (Ass't Manager), Etta Stecker (Team Mom), Carmen Jimenez, Mary Louise Romero, Kris Gray, Suzanne Stecker, Traci Price, Tamijo Foronda, Debby Sampson, Janel Birrenkott, Nancy Moore, & Ken Watson (Manager). |
Speaking of which, there were several booths at the NSAD tournament, and most of them are technology-related such as Sorenson, Sprint and HOVRS where many of us signed up for free videoconferencing devices. It is truly amazing to see how wonderful technology has evolved over the past few years, and nothing beats the fact that we are able to converse with each other via television or computers!
We all went on different trips around the world throughout the summer! Perren Castaline, son of Marilyn & Bernard, planned an Alaskan cruise for a group of deaf people such as Sam & Cholly Kadin, Billy & Susan Klein, Elaine Akins, Richard Cato, Abe & Rita Winzelberg, Norm & Sue Green, Bob Bergan, Judy DeSalvio, Esther Aheroni, Joan Gleicher, Kathy Seymour, Judy Fromberg, Eddie Bachus, Hedy Udkovich, Eul Kim, Rusty and myself. We went to Vancover, B.C. for two days before loading ourselves onto the big ship. After we cruised for one week, some of us went on a road tour for four more days. What an adventurous experience-we want to go back there again!
Speaking of Alaskan cruises, there was another group that also had the exact same kind of trip to Alaska but at a later date. That group also consisted of some LACD members such as Carol Trachtenberg, Shelly Goul, Bobbi Maucere, and Doug & Gayle Ellis. Prior to her Alaskan cruise, Shelley was on a 4-day Mexican cruise with her husband, John, to celebrate his parents' wedding anniversary.
Lenny and Paula Meyer, along with Lenny's three children and their families including a granddaughter and a great granddaughter, enjoyed an 11-day cruise around Hawaiian Islands and the Fanning Island which is one thousand miles south of Hawaii. The Meyers reported they had a fabulous time snorkeling, sightseeing and being with their children. Not only that, but Lenny also bumped into one of his former students and a friend there.
What a summer for Jackie Brown. She had her first knee replacement surgery last March but the knee became infectious which forced her to receive another surgery the following month. Unfortunately, it was not successful. A third surgery on the same knee took place last month, and the infection has finally dissolved ever since. Jackie is now resting back home and she can hardly wait to go back to woodcrafting.
While we are on the same topic, O.K. Sandager visited hospital four times where they had to "vaccum" the infection from his wounded left leg in order to save it. As of now, O.K. is very thankful that his wound is healing nicely. Since his leg has been saved, he is able to drive his new 2004 Ford Explorer that he bought recently!
Ellen Davidson visited her relatives and friends in Michigan while attending Michigan School for the Deaf's 150th reunion from October 8th through 10th. The baby stork must have pleased its supervisor for working so fast. Marleen Dubin's "two more grandchildren," as mentioned in previous issue, have arrived and they are doing well! Sebby & Barbara Garro are beaming with pride after learning that their eleven-year-old deaf granddaughter, Nicole, and her best friend won the Orange Coast Junior National Karate Tournament in the White Belt Sparing Division. The girls took their shiny trophies home-it was a big thrill for both families!
On a sad note, Betty Lenz passed away on August 18th, only one day shy of her 93rd birthday. Virl Massey also died a couple of weeks ago. He is survived by his wife of many years, Kathy and their daughter, Donna. Both Betty and Virl were long time LACD members.
GLAD prepares for its 35th anniversary banquet which will take place on Saturday, October 23rd. Performance by TOYS, magic show and Moon Walk where kids can bounce around will be provided at no charge! GLAD staff will sell food and drinks there. Gala, a big fundraising event, will occur on that evening, and check their website at www.gladinc.org for more information. Patty Hughes, their CEO, plans to hire an architect to draw up blue prints for the annex building. We are anxious to see the drawings rather soon.
In light of Don Millwee's resignation, Bob Bergan has become our new treasurer. Numbers mean the world to Bob since he teaches math at a high school. Let’s congratulate him at our meeting on October 16th!
We will have another Card tournament on Sunday, November 14th from 9:30 am to 4 pm. Continental breakfast and Thanksgiving dinner will be served (see the flyer). Same thing for our annual Holiday Brunch, it will be on Saturday, December 16th from 11 am to 4 pm at Castaway Restaurant.
Keep in mind, it will still be on a first-come, first-served basis, so be sure to buy your tickets from John Goul soon! Door prizes will be given away at both events: Holiday Brunch and Bank Night at GLAD. We have three Bank Night winners during the months of June, July and September. Marilyn Castaline won last June, Richard Downing in July and Cecelia Salcedo for September.
See you all at our upcoming events!
Etta