GROSSE POINTE YACHT CLUB Established 1914 GROSSE POINTER The MARCH - MAY 2022 IN REVIEW G P C Y Published July 2022
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BOSTON | 617.266.1710 MARTHA’S VINEYARD | 508.939.9312 PATRICKAHEARN.COM
2 Editor Heather hshock@gpyc.orgSchock Publisher Towar Productions 19803 Mack Avenue Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236 www.towar.com313.882.0702 Advertising Director Kim kim@towar.comTowar Art Director Stephanie stephanie@towar.comLortt Writers Past Commodore James Ramsey Dr. Larry Stephenson Heather Shock Photographers John F. Martin Photography, Inc. Grosse Pointe Yacht Club Established 1914788 Lake Shore Road Grosse Pointe Shores, MI 48236 (313) 884-2500 FAX: (313) www.gpyc.org884-7956 The Grosse Pointer (USPS 576-940) is published four times a year under contract with the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club. Subscriptions are $75 per year to members. Periodical postage paid at Detroit, Michigan. Postmaster, send address changes to: The Grosse Pointer, 788 Lake Shore Road, Grosse Pointe Shores, MI 48236. Grosse Pointe Yacht Club ©2022—all rights reserved. This publication is the property of the GPYC, for member use only. No unauthorized use, sale or dissemination of information herein shall be made for commercial, personal or other purposes, without the written permission of the GPYC. G P C Y CoverPhotobyThomasKilber Table of Contents G P C Y Welcome Aboard New Members 4 Main Dining Room Renovation 5-7 Harbor Renovation 8-9 Person of Interest 10-13 Art of the Club 14-16 Honoring Graduates 18-19 2022 GPYNEF Scholarship Recipients 20-21 Coastal Living Fashion Show 22 Shamrocks and Shenanigans 23 Cornhole Tournament 24 Easter Egg Hunt 25 Italian Wine Dinner 26 Easter Brunch 28-29 Back to the Club 30 Kentucky Derby Party 31 Mother’s Day Brunch 32 Jeans & Wine 33 Libraries are Important to Distinguished Yacht Clubs 34 Daddy Daughter Dance 36-37 Cars & Coffee at the Club 38 Whiskey, Bourbon & Cigar Night 39 Memorial Day Weekend 40-43 Snaps 44-46 Looking Aft 48
4 WELCOME ABOARD NEW MEMBERS
Gina and Lowell Ahee
May Not Pictured
MayApril
Jean Azar Julia Sniezek Edward and Jane Gaffney Kimberly and Bradley Dicks Juergen and Cynthia Rochert Sydney Murray Weston Stanford
Stop by the MDR and experience the Intangible Quality it has brought to our Club. Remember, the Club is on OpenTable for reservations. While reservations are not required, we always recommend them. See you soon!
GPYC FEATURE Main Dining Renovation
In this historical photo you will notice the perimeter light fixtures. In today’s renovation, the Architect was able to locate fixtures that are almost identical to those originals.
The Gathering Place In the Club world, there is one rating system that all clubs strive to achieve. The Distinguished Clubs Designation is given to the clubs that best exhibit the following categories: Service Quality, Governance Quality, Facility Quality, Product Quality, and Intangible Quality. Can you guess which category carries the most weight? While all are important to the success of the club, Intangible Quality is by far the most significant. IQ is the community aspect of the club. Do the staff know your name when you come in? Do they know what type of drink you like? Do the members exhibit a positive and welcoming atmosphere? Are the traditions strong and important to the club? These are all factors that would contribute to a positive IQ Rating. In the last 5 years, the Club has accomplished many projects that have contributed to its receiving the Iconic Distinguished Clubs Designation. The Iconic designation is only awarded to about a half dozen clubs each year and the GPYC has received it each of the past three years. I don’t think there is any project that you could credit the IQ to more than the MDR Renovation. The Club finally had a “real” bar that could accommodate large numbers and it created a member community we had never seen before. In fact, the members love it so much that the Club didn’t have to shut down in the winter for the first time. The traffic in the MDR was so great that it warranted the Club to stay open and not only that, the place was packed! The renovation was quite simple, yet dramatic at the same time. A large octagon-shaped bar was added to the center of the room with 24 bar stools. The Bar features TVs that display the feature games that day and there is even a decorative tap beer system that rotates seasonal craft beers. The room received a brighter paint scheme and uncovered the windows revealing an “outside-inside” feel. Handsome wood-varnished tables with GPYC burgees and dining chairs that match the barstools are arriving in July to complete the more casual theme. Executive Chef Eric Voigt has curated content in the MDR including a menu that members ages 2-102 can enjoy! The MDR is open year-round and in the summer has become known as “the indoor Gazebo Bar” once the sun goes down or if it is a chilly day!
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Casual fun atmosphere of the MDR has created a renewed sense of community and connection among our members
7 GPYC FEATURE Kelly and Jay Kline
The MDR was darker in color and ambiance previously and served as a banquet room primarily
By: David Schaden Secretary
The Board of Directors established Vision 2026 which included aspirational goals including renovation of our harbor. In November of 2020, Commodore Gary Marowske, asked that we revisit the harbor renovation plans that were started almost 10 years ago and bring a proposal to the board for consideration. A small group consisting of David Schaden, Pete Beauregard, Chris Izzi, Todd Andrus, Joe Schaden & Graham Korneffel proceeded with the objective to create a phased approach to renovate the harbor based on safety, end of life priority, member satisfaction, secure detailed costs and target a net zero impact to overall slip count. In the spring of 2021 after several months of collecting quotes and finalizing harbor design concepts the Board was presented initial financial costs for a phased Commodoreapproach.
Immediately following, a new Strategic Harbor Committee (SHC) was established with the purpose to ensure a newly renovated harbor is ready for the 2022 boating season. The SHC comprised of Director David Schaden, Director Pete Beauregard, Harbor Chair Chris Izzi, Past Commodore Blaise Klenow, Treasurer Bob Weiland, Finance Chairman Mike Soboleski, Harbormaster Alex Turner, and Graham and Curt Korneffel from EC Korneffel
This committee established a bi-monthly meeting cadence to monitor every detail including project design, timing, cost and meeting minutes for effective communication to the Board. This harbor renovation is one the largest single projects to take on in the history of the club which started with demolition in November of 2021 to our grand opening ceremony in June of 2022. This project could not have been done without the commitment of everyone involved including our partnership with EC Korneffel Company and their key vendors delivering a fabulous new harbor in time for our boating season.
Marowske then asked Director Bruce Knapp and Director Rick Lueders to lead the effort in coordination with the finance committee to investigate strategic funding scenario’s for the clubs overall debt and potential harbor renovation costs. Throughout the summer, both teams working in parallel continued to refine their respective tasks. There was a sense of increased optimism building that this Vision 2026 item may become a reality. After careful consideration the board voted to proceed with the Harbor Renovation. The scope of the renovation includes 113 new slips impacting T-dock, Guest Wall, Shoreline, Moby, Gas, Hickory & newly formed Gazebo dock. This renovation included incorporating floating docks, a new swing bridge, fuel dock and in well pump out systems.
8 GPYC FEATURE Harbor Renovation
9 GPYC FEATUREPERSON OF INTEREST
By Past Commodore James L. Ramsey In the pre-dawn dark, at an hour when most of us are blissfully cocooned in our beds, a lone figure could often be found walking the shoreline of the lake, his feet intuitively probing the invisible ground, guiding him to a position only he knew was correct. Once there, he would plant his tripod in the darkness, attach his camera and wait patiently for the magic to happen. That was his word for it: “The Magic.” Because that’s what the experience was for him. Always special, and never quite the same each time. And then it would happen. As the glow began to emerge over the horizon, he would make a few expert adjustments to his equipment and get ready. His artist’s eye would tell him when the moment was right. And then it was. As the intensity of the dawn grew, images began to emerge: first the sky, then the lake, then shrubs and trees, and finally hard objects like the clubhouse and boats in the harbor. All bathed in the first light of day and captured indelibly with the click of his shutter. Tom Kliber never held an official membership at the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club. But he was a welcome presence here just the same -- a quiet, humble man with a camera never too far from his grasp. He was the son of Past Commodore Ralph and Alice Kliber, and he loved being here with them, spending quality time aboard Balance Sheet, their Chris Craft Roamer, watching the birds and waving to the boaters. His affection for the Club was found in his prolific photographs of the place, which adorned the covers of Grosse Pointer magazine on innumerable occasions, including this one. His framed work also enhances the walls of the Club Fitness Center. His devotion was such that many thought of him as our official Club photographer. But he wasn’t. There was much more to Tom Kliber than many of us realized. We didn’t know, for example, that he was an attorney who practiced civil law alongside his father in the family firm. Tom earned his degree in jurisprudence from the University of Detroit after graduating from Villanova University. His high school years were spent at Austin Prep HealthSchool.problems, particularly asthma, inhibited much of Tom’s life. As a result, he was unable to follow the robust career of a photo journalist, and he lived most of his life at his parents’ home in Grosse Pointe Woods until he passed away there in February of this year. Tom’s adversities made him a better man. They taught him patience – an essential mandate for a photographer.
Armed with only a camera, Tom Kliber braved electrocution and freezing temperatures to capture some of the most striking images of this club ever recorded.
Tom with his trusty Nikon, bundled up and ready for a winter shoot at sunset.
10 PERSON OF INTEREST
Perhaps Tom’s finest quality was his devotion to his parents. Ralph and Alice Kliber were loved and respected GPYC members for many years, and as age took over and their health began to decline, Tom stepped up to care for them. As sister Beth puts it, “It meant taking a pause in his life for a while, but he was happy to do it, even if it meant pushing a wheelchair. He said it was an honor to care for them, and they enjoyed each other’s company a great deal; Tom Kliber at Cape Cod with famed U.S. Coast Guard vessel #CG36500 that helped save the lives of 32 sailors from a sinking oil tanker. It was featured in the book, The Final Hours. The clubhouse and harbor captured by Tom against an angry storm over the lake.
PERSON OF INTEREST
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A second negative event taught Tom another trademark of dedicated photographers: courage. As a young boy, he experienced the terror of a lightning bolt that blasted through the Kliber house, just missing him and his mother and setting the house next door on fire. But rather than live in fear of electrical storms, Tom studied the phenomenon, conquered his trepidation and came to see lightning as the awesome, beautiful thing that it is. After that, whenever the weather forecast predicted an electrical show in the heavens, Tom would grab his camera and fearlessly head for the action. Some of his most dramatic work, in fact, captures incredible arcs of electricity over the GPYC clubhouse. Quite a feat for someone who was almost electrocuted by a high-voltage firebolt.
Tom’s artistry wasn’t confined to Grosse Pointe, either. His work as a nature photographer also won him coveted awards and the respect of his fellow artists around the region. He traveled widely to photograph whatever captured his interest, be it a brilliant field of poppies in Northern Michigan, the misty seascapes of Cape Cod or the crystal-blue glaciers of Iceland. Wherever he went with his camera, Tom was always his usual humble self: “God creates the beauty,” he said. “I just put a box around it.”
They also made him scholarly, reflective and spiritual – all commendable human attributes, as affirmed by his sister, member Elizabeth “Beth” Kliber.
Tom Kliber continued
Tom’s artistic eye was not confined to architecture. Here he finds a cardinal who may have arrived a bit ahead of spring.
The Nauset Lighthouse (Eastham, Mass.) stands proudly in one of Tom’s photographs, sending a powerful beam to push back the darkness.
The next time you see a flash of lightning in the sky or watch a sunrise over Lake St. Clair, think of Tom Kliber. You know his spirit is out there somewhere, waiting for the magic to happen -- and when it does, he will put a box around it, forever.
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there was a lot of laughter and gin rummy games. He made it possible for them to spend time at the Club with their friends and to be by the water. Because of him, my mother was blessed to live to 100.”
Shards of blue glacial ice on Iceland’s south coast. Tom traveled all the way to Iceland to realize this moment.
The Fort Gratiot Lighthouse in Port Huron, silhouetted against a bolt of lightning.
There are three paintings on display in the Venetian Room; and by far the most impressive of these is the large oil hanging on the west wall. Despite local research that has been done over several years, the artist remains unknown. But scholars who have studied the painting at the Club agree it was very likely painted in the late 17th to early 18th century with a high probability that it is a copy of a painting from the 15th or 16th century. Considering the physical appearance and clothing of the people in the courtyard, along with their surroundings and the style of painting itself, it was probably copied from the work of a Dutch or Flemish artist, or perhaps one or more of their students. We also do not know when this painting was acquired, as there are no records of it being either purchased or gifted. The latest attempt to identify its origin was done in 2015 by two members of the GPYC Archives Committee with no success. The only documented fact we have concerning this painting is that it is hanging today exactly where it was in 1953, when it appears in the background of a photo in The Grosse Pointer from that year. The remaining two paintings in the Venetian Room flank the doorway to the Ballroom. The painting on the right is entitled “Old Dredge on the Rouge River,” depicting an old wooden dredge tied to a tree with sailboats on the river in the background. Detroit artist Robert Hopkin completed this painting in 1908, just one year before his death in 1909. The painting is on loan from the Detroit Historical Society collection.
14 LOOKING AFTART OF THE CLUB
The Venetian Room, Lakeshore Room, and Connecting Hallways
By: Larry Stephenson, M.D.
The other painting with the Past Commodores plaque hangs on the right side of the west wall, painted by Rudolph Guba (1884-1950), depicting three single-masted sailboats on a hazy day. (Image to the left)
The Lakeshore Room contains four impressive oils, two of which sport brass plaques reading “Presented to the GPYC by Past Commodores July 1965”. One of the two hangs on the south wall; (image above) it is a seascape with coastal cliffs and rolling waves. The artist is unknown.
The painting to the left is an untitled rendering of a Clipper Ship signed by artist S. Kerland, about whom nothing is known.
15 ART OF THE CLUB
Just outside the Lakeshore Room door, on the south wall in this same hallway, is a print of a triple-cockpit Chris Craft runabout underway on the north branch of the St. Clair River, being passed by the race boat Miss America One, driven by speedboat champion Gar Wood. The old Chris Craft manufacturing plant in Algonac is featured in the background by artist Homer C. La Cassey, Jr., who was a well-known design artist in the automotive industry.
16 LOOKING AFTART OF THE CLUB
The hallway running north-south leading to the elevator contains six prints, three on each side. Since the Club owns a number of interesting nautical prints, the Heritage Committee plans to rotate them periodically within this area.
The first print presently hanging on the east wall of this hallway is “The Great Lakes Freighter Victory Cliffs,” owned by the Cleveland Cliffs Steamship Line and rendered by well-known local maritime artist Jim Clary.
The second print here is by Jim Clary entitled “On a Summer Cruise.” It features the Noronic, a passenger ferry of the Canadian Steamship line, leaving the dock.
The third print, by prominent Michigan artist Robert McCreevy, features the Pewabic, a steam-powered passenger and cargo freighter built in 1863. With a top speed of 12 knots, it was the fastest freighter on the lakes until it sank in Lake Huron in 1869 with significant loss of life. North to south on the west wall, the first print is “Detroit, Michigan, the City of the Straits” featuring the well-known Boblo passenger ferry Columbia downbound on its way to the popular island amusement park, by prominent Detroit artist William Moss.
The final painting in the Lakeshore Room, hanging on the east wall, is a rendering of the three-masted schooner, Michigan. This 225-foot cargo ship was built in 1874 at the Detroit Drydock Company. It is believed that artist E. Walker has depicted her sailing in Lake Erie near the Detroit River. The painting is on loan from the Detroit Historical Society collection. The painting on the left side of the west wall was done circa 1976 by American artist Frank Caldwell (1912-2002). The stern of a ship is shown on the horizon in a blending of the colors of sea and sky. A bronze plaque on this painting notes that it was gifted to the GPYC by Commodore J. Earl Fraser in 1976.
Second is another print of a Jim Clary painting, “Tashmoo Park”, in the St. Clair River flats, with the side wheeler steamboat Tashmoo shown downbound on the river.
The third print is also by Jim Clary, entitled “American Republic, Cuyahoga Workhorse”. The American Republic was built by Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay, Wi., and launched in 1980. She was a “workhorse” for America Steel Corp., delivering iron ore to a steel plant on the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland.
The remainder of the display consists of GPYC-owned prints. It was decided not to publish photography of these. In the east-west hallway connecting the Venetian and Lakeshore Rooms, just across from the Ladies’ Lounge, hangs a print entitled “Two Decker Off Gibraltar.”The original of this Royal Navy Man-o-War was painted by William John Haggins (1781-1845), who was appointed Marine Painter to King William IV in 1830. (William had been the first English king to be appointed High Admiral of the British Navy in 1827.) This donated print was purchased by a GPYC member at the Royal British Navy Museum in Portsmouth, England.
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Honoring 2022 Graduates
Photo credit to JohnMartinPhotography Nicholas Borrego Class of 2022 graduate of University Liggett School. She will move on to begin her undergraduate studies in the Honors College at the University of Michigan. Hannah is a proud member and 2021 CoCaptain of the GPYC Sailfish swim team. She is excited for her final MICSA season during the summer of 2022. Go Sailfish and Go Blue!
Graduate from Grosse Pointe South, Class 2022, and will be attending Wayne State University in the fall to study Pre-Med.
Hannah Wheatley Graduating with high honors from Grosse Pointe South, Class 2022. In the fall, she is attending Michigan State University, Lyman Briggs Honors College, Pre-Med with a minor in Art. Isabella Hanika
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Graduating from University Liggett with a 4.1
“We look forward to your college adventure as you pursue a bachelor of science degree in Environmental and Ecological Science focusing on wildlife and forestry. We are very proud of your many high school accomplishments (particularly under pandemic circumstances which included a required year of virtual learning).”
All-Catholic Lacrosse team and named captain of the team her senior year. Recipient of the George Thanasas Scholar-Athlete.
Female athlete of the year as a junior.
Evan Nathaniel Zeiger
Graduate of American Heritage School in Plantation, Florida. She plans on attending Elon University in North Carolina, where she will be pursuing a bachelor of science degree in Environmental and Ecological Science.
Rosie Clare Zeiger
Graduated this spring from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan with a Masters in Management. In 2021, Abbey earned her Bachelor of Arts from U of M. She double-majored in Psychology and Film, Television, and Media, with a minor in Crime & Justice.
GPA. While at Liggett, she was part of the field hockey, ice hockey, lacrosse, and swim teams. Tory has had many accomplishments both academically and athletically during her four years at ULS, such as: “One league and one state championship on the field hockey team.
Ice hockey Back-to-back league and state Leaguechampionshipschampionship on the lacrosse team.
Abbey Schuetze
Tory Roth
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This fall Tory will be attending Xavier University Honors College as the recipient of the Xavier Presidential Scholarship. She plans to major in biomedical sciences/premed with a math minor. Tory will also be playing hockey this fall. Good luck Tory! We love you!!!
Graduate of Boston University and has a B.S. in Film & Television - College of Communication; and a B.A. in History - College of Arts & Sciences. “We look forward to your post-graduate adventure as you pursue careers in the film and television industry and the field of history. We are very proud of your many college accomplishments, including obtaining two degrees in four years (particularly under pandemic circumstances which included required periods of virtual learning and a gap semester).”
She is currently a Project Manager at MRM in Birmingham, MI.
Finalist for the CHSL all-league Scholar-Athlete Leader All-StateawardAcademic”
Attending: Michigan State University Scholarship: Commodore Gary and Christine Gonzalez Graduated: Grosse Pointe South High School Attending: Indiana University Scholarship: Commodore James and Patricia Anderson
Graduated: Grosse Pointe South High School
Douglas Cowan Elizabeth Groustra Graduated: Walled Lake Central High School Attending: University of Detroit Mercy Scholarship: Manuel J. and Nora Moroun
20 MEMBER SCENE 2022 GPYNEF Scholarship Recipients In 2022, eleven Grosse Pointe Youth Nautical Education Foundation (GPYNEF) applicants were awarded a $2,000 college scholarship. Since its inception in 2012, there has been a total of 111 GPYNEF scholarships awarded. Twelve of those scholarships have been funded in perpetuity. College scholarships are awarded based on a summary of sailing experience in the Detroit Regional Yacht-racing Association Club Junior Programs, high school or college freshman sailing programs and academic credentials. The 2022 Scholarship recipients were awarded during a special brunch at the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club in May 15. Pictured below are those who were awarded scholarships. 2023 GPYNEF Scholarship Application can be found at gpynef.org/scholarships Application Deadline: Grosse Pointe Yacht Club by April 2, 2023.
Attending: Michigan State University Scholarship: Benno Steinborn Graduated: Brother Rice High School Attending: Jacksonville University Scholarship: Edwin and Felicia Shaw
Owen Bannasch
Abby Allen Charles Baliatico
Graduated: Grosse Pointe South High School
Attending: University of Michigan Scholarship: Commodore Tymon C. and Sheri Totte
Graduated: University of Detroit Jesuit High School
Graduated: Grosse Pointe North High School
Attending: Tulane University Scholarship: Commodore John and Marlene Boll
Attending: University of Kentucky Scholarship: Commodore Sean and Kristen Schotthoefer
Graduated: Grosse Pointe South High School
Attending: Rollins College Scholarship: Commodore Ilja and Kelley Vreeken
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Charles Logan Nicholas Myneni Clare Ramsdell
Attending: Michigan Technological University Scholarship: Glenn Sheets and Patricia O’Kelly
Graduated: Grosse Pointe North High School
Attending: Northern Michigan Central College Scholarship: Zack Rockwell Scholarship
Graduated: University of Detroit Jesuit High School
Helena Haney Will Hillborn Maxwell Klaasen
Graduated: Grosse Pointe South High School
Sometimes things are so monumentally wonderful they become indescribable. Such is the case during the evening’s “Girls’ Night Out” at the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club. The headline could read “Over the top” because all elements met that definition: fun, food, fashions, friendships. All noteworthy and fabulous! And where did this amazing group of women originate? From the Rolodex of the phenomenal Beline! We had two doctors, a financial advisor, a surgeon’s wife, the president of a women’s charitable group, a wealth manager, the Publisher of a nonprofit news organization from San Francisco, California, an executive administrative assistant, and an onlooker who is an admirer of all of them.
There were plenty of ohs and ahs to go around and many cheers from the magnificent attendees!
Bella Hanika Shannon Andrus and Deb
ElizabethChampionLaRiviere
The boutiques were filled with a plethora of goodies that were fun to peruse, and the crowds were Coastal Living Fashion Show March 9, 2022 By: Lady Melissa Bodmer pursuing them thoughtfully and carefully. The Coastal Living theme was what we needed after having been cooped up for what seemed like an interminable amount of time due to you-knowwhat! We all felt the get-away spirit vicariously—the tapas food added to the seashore atmosphere. The watermelon gazpacho was delectable; the addition of the burrata cheese was brilliant and oh-so-tasty! Everything that followed was an extraordinary departure from the usual de rigueur menu. The finish of three flavors of sorbet provided a sweet and cool ending. The fashion show was more fun than expected and took us from some lovely daytime fashion to a truly beachy feel and finally to elegant evening wear.
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Shamrocks and
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On St. Patrick’s Day, the Tower Pub was turned into an “Irish Pub” as Commodore Grobbel and Lady Melissa hosted the celebratory event. A lively Irish good time was had as members, friends, and family packed the space. Executive Chef Eric deliciously prepared Grobbel’s Corned Beef in such delicious appetizers as Reuben Egg Rolls, Corned Beef Sliders, and the oh-so-yummy Hot Reuben Dip served with homemade pita chips and veggies. There was a continuous flow from the kitchen as everyone enjoyed the amazing food and camaraderie. The usual suspects of Guinness, Jameson Irish Whiskey, and Bailey’s were on hand for guests to enjoy, along with Shamrock shooters. Bartender Peyton did a fabulous job with Bartender Tom in keeping up with the crowd. Shenanigans 2022
Justin Grobbel, Commodore Grobbel and Samantha Grobbel Johnston Lady Melissa, Commodore Grobbel and Joe Haney Jeff Johnston, Samantha Grobbel Johnston, Lynn Maksym, Roy Maksym and Justin Grobbel
Kevin Killebrew and Lady Melissa
Grobbel’s Irish Pub
March 17,
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Cornhole Tournament April 9, 2022
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Organized by Bruce & Chris Knapp, along with David & Amy Schaden the tournament was a huge success. Brad Danna, Joe Haney, Matt & Tricia Schaden, Ellen & Derek Starks, Rich & Sarah Rozewicz.
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Laughter and friendly banter could be heard from the ballroom on as members participated in a fun and competitive cornhole tournament. To support the 40-player turnout, GPYC members brought their own boards from home to the Club. In the championship bracket, in an exciting finish, Matt & Tricia Schaden defeated Joe Haney & Brad Danna, and Derek & Ellen Starks defeated Rich & Sarah Rozewicz in the consolation round.
The annual Easter Egg hunt was filled with lots of candy and excitement. Even though it was a chilly, rainy day the rain did not stop the children from hunting for Easter eggs on the Club grounds. The F’oscle was transformed into a petting zoo for the children to meet the farm animals. To top off the excitement our Pastry Chef Christina made the day special with The Korneffel Family There were plenty of smiles collecting Easter eggs.
25 MEMBER SCENE Easter Egg Hunt April 9, 2022
Italian Wine Dinner April 13, 2022
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The Italian Wine Dinner was the first fullscale dinner and wine created between the GPYC Wine Committee and Chef Eric. We chose great Italian wines, hand-selected and not over the top in cost. The wines varied from a Rose bubbly to white wines and red wines. Italian wines are so diverse and introduce us to grapes that are delicious and not on the usual radar for many Americans. The dinner was sold out and even a little oversold. Our membership really enjoys special dinners and when the food and wine are as beautifully chosen and paired as these were, the experience was amazing. Members also received a discount on the sampled wines so they could enjoy them at home with friends. Let’s cheer, raise our glasses and enjoy more wine dinners to come! By: Kevin O’Brien
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Easter Brunch
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Commodore Jason Grobbel and Lady Melissa
A fun visit with the Easter Bunny
29 MEMBER SCENE The beautiful GPYC Easter Brunch is a tradition our members look forward to each year. Our culinary team served a delicious traditional brunch in the Main Dining Room for the entire family. In addition, the Easter bunny made an appearance for a fun visit for all the children. April 17, 2022 The Sherding Family
30 MEMBER SCENE April 22, 2022
Back To The Club
This year members were welcomed back to the club through an evening that took place in an enchanted forest. The beautiful lights and decor created an ambiance that set the tone for a fun-filled night. The ballroom was transformed into a whimsical forest that made the entire night magical. Lively music made sure that the dance floor was a popular spot. From all the laughing, camaraderie, and smiling faces, it was clear that this event was just the first of many more energetic and memorable club events! Thanks to Chef Eric and his culinary team, delicious food in the shape of mushrooms, butterflies, and more created an incredible display for members to enjoy.
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Ladies
16 pin Clubincrease.High Average:
10 pin increase and Scott
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Men’s Club
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Team Club Champions:
Lady Melissa and Commodore Jason Grobbel
– John
This year the Kentucky Derby and Bowling Banquet came together for a fun-inspired Derby-themed banquet and buffet. The F’ocsle was busy serving up the official drinks of the Kentucky Derby, Mint Julips, and Brown Derby’s. As part of the experience, members wore their best Kentucky Derby-themed outfits and “Southern Belle” inspired hats. The buffet was full of delicious fried chicken, Derby Hot Brown sandwiches, cornbread, and Derby-themed banquet was a great way to end the season, celebrating the accomplishments of the bowling members. Congratulations to Julie Storen for being chosen for “Bowler of the Year” Dianna Smith Turnbull Julie Granger 163 Charles Molnar 230 (a club record) Champion: Scott Turnbull Club Champion: Barbara Turnbull Vali Izzi –Marilyn Stephenson – Joe Schmitt – Ellen Starks Seago
Wayne Wegner, Gordy Woods and Scott Turnbull beautiful group of ladies and their Derby
Themore!Kentucky
Marilyn Stephenson, Valentina Izzi , Dr. John Seago & Wayne Wegner
and
Most2022. improved bowlers:
Kentucky Derby Party & Bowling Banquet May 7, 2022
Mother’s Day Brunch
May 8, 2022 Parnell Family Faddoul Family Wiczorek Family
The GPYC Mother’s Day Brunch on May 8, 2022, was hugely successful. Mothers and grandmothers were treated like royalty on this special day. Two beautiful buffets, one in the Binnacle and one in the Main Dining Room, portrayed an array of different salads, including a delicious octopus summer salad that was a hit. In addition, a tasty seafood display of oysters, seared tuna, and shrimp was pleasing to the eye and taste buds. A complimentary Mimosa was a beautiful touch to make all the mothers feel special. Laughter filled the GPYC with lots of family coming together and enjoying the day celebrating mom!
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Jeans & Wine
The Club’s Jeans and Wine event on Friday evening, May 13 was the first in a series of events featuring wines of varying regions, including those that are perceived as expensive, yet where we can buy great wines at affordable prices. It is designed to learn a little about wines from the area being explored and to taste affordable, but hand-selected bottles with some information and details about the producer and the region are briefly presented. The “Jeans” part is to let members know that wine is great for every kind of gathering, and it doesn’t have to be fancy. We wanted to explore casual, interactive events that encourage participation and discussion among those attending. To promote the casual feeling, we held the event in The Tower Pub which was a great venue. Our first event explored Bordeaux, as it is often perceived as ultra-expensive, and difficult to understand. Yet, in truth, it is usually far less expensive to buy Bordeaux wines than those from California or Washington, or Oregon. The wines presented were delicious and represented several areas and types of wine topped off with a beautiful dessert wine. One special wine was added, a 2016 Classified growth Chateau Pedesclaux (a personal favorite), so that everyone could enjoy one renowned wine from the Left Bank of the Bordeaux. We want to reach out to folks who don’t ordinarily drink wine so that they are introduced to the many varieties of wines and wine regions. Chef Eric will specifically taste the wines and prepare complementary dishes. Finally, it is yet another event to gather with fellow members in a low-key situation and enjoy their company. By: Kevin O’Brien Paula Fishman, Renee Ciaramitaro and Diane Gallagher
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May 13, 2022
Dr. Larry Stephenson. Upon approval, books will be cataloged and a bookplate with the donor’s name will be affixed. Books become sole property of the OfGPYC.course, monetary donations will also be gratefully accepted. Gifts will be used to purchase certain books, enhance storage, and improve the ambiance of the library room itself. To donate, please contact any member of the Heritage Committee or Club Manager, Aaron Wagner.
Joe PastLarrySchmittStephensonCommodore Bill Vogel Susan Vogel Sue Vogel, the wife of Past Commodore Bill Vogel, has extensive experience in Library Science and graciously volunteered to serve as a librarian. She has already put in numerous hours cataloging and creating a reference system for the present collection. Books on the shelves have all been identified by title, subject, and call number and are readily available for reading only within the confines of the Library and/or Tower Pub. Books in the locked bookcase can be accessed only by signing for the key through the Front Desk. Donations of books are welcome and encouraged. Guidelines for book donations are as follows: Anything Local/GreatnauticalLakes area history Non-fiction only No magazines or periodicals Book donations will be subject to approval by Library Sub-committee members Sue Vogel and
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Past Commodore Kevin Granger Linda Schaden
Libraries Are Important To Distinguished Yacht Clubs
By Larry Stephenson, M.D. Back around 2013, when extensive research was being done for the GPYC 100-year anniversary book, this author had the opportunity to visit several prominent yacht clubs and was rather surprised to find that, without exception, they all had libraries. The library of the New York Yacht Club was particularly extensive; it has functioned as one of the premiere nautical reference libraries in the country since 1901. When the Chair of the Library Committee inquired as to the nature of our GPYC facility, the only possible answer was, “Well, it’s hard to explain.” And it was since the small number of books, past publications, and papers in our collection were housed in a locked backroom closet.
Heritage Committee Joe Schaden, Chair Past Commodore James Ramsey
On Sunday, May 12, 2022, that all changed when the GPYC Library, located in the porch area of the Tower Pub, was officially opened to the membership. The Heritage Committee, which has been working on the project for the past two years, hosted the event, with committee members on hand to explain to attendees how much work had already been done and what is being planned for future expansion. At this point, the room sports a Clubowned, glass-fronted, lockable bookcase containing several valuable books, along with two custom-built bookcases that were donated by a member. To date, over 100 nautical-related books have been donated as well, and four comfortable chairs are provided for quiet reading. The question was raised as to whether or not this would also be a book-swapping opportunity and the answer is no; with a nod to the New York Yacht Club, this is strictly a reference library focusing solely on nautical themes and related subjects.
35 MEMBER SCENE
Sophia and Jay Kline
Fathers and daughters enjoyed an incredible night dancing in our club’s beautiful ballroom.
36 MEMBER SCENE Daddy Daughter Dance May 18,2022
The girls wore their best dresses and sang along to their favorite songs while spending a memorable time with their dads. Fun photos were snapped at the princess-themed selfie station, and glittering diamonds decorated the tables. Chef Christina graced the dancing duos with the presence of cupcakes fit for royalty that tasted as good as they looked. The princess-shaped desserts were a hit among all! A very special night for all the dad’s and daughter’s.
37 MEMBER SCENE Emily Tompkins, Sophia Kilgus and Tory Tompkins Matt Schaden and Julia Schaden Daddy Daughter Dance shenanigans Kensington and dad are all smiles on this special night.
Car shows always create great camaraderie amongst our car loving members Cars & Coffee at the Club May 21, 2022
MEMBER SCENE Cars and Coffee Presented by Genesis Automotive Group One of the Clubs within our Club that has grown immensely in popularity over the past couple of years is the GPYC Car Club. This group plans events and activities related to cars, including car shows and even race track events where members can take their cars and test their abilities! This year the group partnered with GPYC Member and local automotive dealer Rob Gagliano to create a series of Cars and Coffee Events for members to enjoy. The Gagliano family owns and operates Genesis Cadillac in St. Clair Shores, GPYC Member and Owner of Genesis Automotive Group Rob Gagliano and Family
Exotic cars of all kinds loaded into the GPYC Parking Lot for the show
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Genesis Alfa Romeo Fiat in Macomb, and Genesis Chevrolet in Eastpointe. They are also the proud title sponsors of the Great Lakes Boating Festival at the GPYC each Spring. The first two Cars and Coffee events were very successful on May 21 and June 25. Each event featured about 80 exotic cars displayed, a food truck, live music, and outdoor activities for the entire family to enjoy. Mark your calendars for the following two dates: Saturday, July 30, and Saturday, August 27, both running 9-11 a.m. If you have an exotic car that you would like to display, please click the link in the Weekly Buzz to register it. I would like to once again acknowledge and thank our sponsors at Genesis Automotive Group and the GPYC Car Club for their support in keeping these car-related activities going.
Jason Chambers, Carlos Padilla and Michael Ransom Dennis Corrigan, Gary Witkowski and Dominic Nuemann
It was cool and breezy day for the GPYC Whiskey, Bourbon, and Cigar night event. A perfect night of relaxing on the Gazebo with a vast selection of Bourbon, Scotches, and Whiskey for members to sample. There was a great variety to choose from, such as Woodinville, I.W Harper Cabernet Cask Bourbon, Copper Dog Scotch, Glenmorangie Signet, Ardbeg 19 year, and more.
Whiskey, Bourbon & Cigar Night
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MEMBER SCENE May 24, 2022
The evening consisted of a “Penicillin” welcome cocktail for each guest and swag items for giveaways. In addition, a cigar roller from Miami, Fernando Moreles, offered Cigar Rolling Demonstrations with various Premium and extra Premium Cigars, Amaretto Flavored Cigars, and Cigar Bands. The Coastal-inspired food was full of flavor. Members enjoyed Cajun shrimp and cheddar grits, fried Mahi with whiskey remoulade, pulled pork sliders with bourbon BBQ sauce, and an oyster display with scotch mignonette. Let’s not forget GPYC Pastry Chef Christina’s boozy banana pudding and pecan pie desserts were a crowdpleaser. The evening’s atmosphere was complete with a Guitarist that played Spanish-style music for entertainment throughout the evening.
MEMBER SCENE
Saylor Frase and Iris Frnak with their family Miles and Isla Sherding
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Memorial Day Weekend – Mixed Emotions May 30, 2022 In much of the Midwest and northern states, Memorial Day signifies the start of summer. The kids are getting out of school and the parks and pools are opening for summer fun. The grass is green, the flowers are blooming, and the sun is warming up. At the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, Memorial Day means back to boating as well. Our members can be seen prepping their boats in the Harbor for the season and the grounds are very busy with our seasonal staff. Did you know, that the GPYC Staff grows about 30% each spring with the addition of its seasonal teams? It is an amazing transformation and one that has been happening for many years. All the excitement is great, but we also take time for traditions and remembering the true meaning of Memorial Day. This year,
Memorial Day Weekend Commodore Totte, Commodore Smith and Commodore Boll
41 MEMBER SCENE the weather was fantastic, and all the scheduled activities were able to proceed beginning with pool games for the children and games at the Family Recreation Center. Whether they were toddlers or teenagers, the Club featured activities for everyone to enjoy. For the “grown-up kids,” the Club hosted its annual Bocce Tournament at the FRC. It was a large group and featured a bar and snacks along with lots of camaraderies and some really good Bocce play. Special thanks to Commodore and Mrs. Granger for planning such a successful tournament. In the late afternoon, the annual Memorial Day Ceremony took center stage at the Flagpole. If you have not attended this event in the past, plan to do so next year as it is one of the Clubs greatest traditions. It begins with a welcome and acknowledgment to all in attendance including some very special guests, our Board of Directors, Fleet Officers, Past Commodores, Grosse Pointe Power Squadron Commander, and Grosse Pointe Shores Council Members. Our honored member veteran this year was Mr. Charles Molnar, who served the better part of a decade in the military where he saw deployments in Iraq and finished his career with the rank of Captain. Mr. Molnar was honored by Commodore Brian Fish who is also a veteran of the military. The official wreath was presented to the Flagpole as a salute to all those who lost their lives serving our country. We would be remiss not to acknowledge and thank another veteran who has become the GPYC’s official vocalist at this event and many others, Wayne Wegner. Commodore Grobbel discussed the significance of the Memorial Day Holiday and called on Fleet Chaplain Walter Schmidt to bless the fleet before giving a toast to all new boaters in our Harbor this year. Harbor Master Alex Turner and his staff managed the canons and had to battle very blustery winds in order to raise and lower the flags. Harbor Master Turner said, “in over 30 years of doing this event I have never seen winds this strong. This is the first time I have ever had to adjust our process in order to maintain safety while maneuvering the flags.” Turner opted to simply move the flags up and down a marginal distance rather than take them up and down the entire way for fear of someone getting struck by the flags whipping so viscously in the air. Everything ended well and the members made their way over to the barbecue on the East Lawn where Executive Chef Eric Voigt served up a master class buffet. Everyone had a great time over the weekend, but also took time to remember the true meaning of the holiday and respect the past that paved the possibility of today. Commodore Boll and JT Mestdagh JasonCommodoreGrobbel
On Sunday, May 30, 2022, the club hosted its first three holidays Bocce Tournaments with a robust and competitive group of 24 players on a gorgeous afternoon! Members and friends enjoyed pizza and drinks while enjoying the fun and camaraderie at the Family Recreation bocce courts. Dale Hohlfeldt and the Miller family were victorious over a strong runner-up team of Grant and Kim Krasemann and their two friends, Jordan Riley, and Ryan Roscia. Day Bocce
42 MEMBER SCENE Annual Fishing Rodeo
Memorial
Tournament A fun and competitive Memorial Day Bocce Ball tournament. Benjamin Anderson May 28, 2022
The annual fishing Rodeo was the perfect way to kick off the summer and get people together. Twenty-nine kids participated on the beautiful Saturday morning, competing for several prizes. Slow at first, the fish started waking up and biting non-stop during the last half of the competition. The biggest fish caught was a massive 17-inch bass. To end the Fishing Rodeo, all the kids’ names were drawn from a raffle to claim the prize of their choosing.
43 MEMBER SCENE Pool Games We had games for all ages! In the baby pool, 2-5 yr olds did a water balloon relay, a seahorse grab (pick up submerged seahorses), and a coin toss. 5-8 yr olds had raft relay, seahorse grab, water balloon relay, and coin toss in the training pool. All ages (able to swim the length of the pool- big pool) participated in raft relay races, coin toss, belly flop contest off the diving board, and a water balloon toss. All had lots of candy,chips and a great time!
2022
May
Pool time fun on Memorial Day Molly Van Natter Ronan Zvirbulis 30,
First Boat in the Harbor! Snaps
Congratulations to Joe Schaden for being the first to arrive in the GPYC for the 2022 boating season! The Black Dog came in on April 4, 2022. Joe, accompanied by his brothers Dave and Matt received a bottle of champagne from Harbor Master Alex Turner.
Brady Shanle is 17 and a junior at Grosse Pointe South. Since his freshman year, he has rowed for the Detroit Boat Club. Brady is an avid reader of all things involving military history. This spring season, he and his doubles partner (Henry Skupien) placed third in the Midwest Regionals in Ohio. Their Boat qualified for the US Junior Rowing Nationals in Sarasota, Florida, the second week of June. Last month, their Boat also won the Indianapolis Junior Sprints and placed 2nd at the Laddie Cup at Orchard Lake.
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The GPYC Fitness Committee, led by member Anthony Ventimiglia and Fitness Director Peter Wendzinski, organized the Inaugural Spa Day in the Tower Pub. The committee brought in Tiffany’s Restorative Massage to offer members massages, manicures and pedicures overlooking Lake St. Clair. Attendees received robes, small spa gifts, mimosas and wine. Members enjoyed themselves and are looking forward to the next Spa Day!
Inaugural GPYC Spa Day a Success Brady Shanle & Henry Skupien
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The eighth CMM event will be held at Andiamo Showroom in Warren on Friday, September 30. For sponsor and/or ticket information, please get in touch with Mary at marylamparter@gmail.com.
ART OF THE CLUB
Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs has been GPYC member Mary Lamparter’s passion for the past eight years. She is their Regional Coordinator in Michigan, where she makes presentations to groups and organizations to raise funds and bring awareness to the value of service dogs. She also started the Ambassadors program within the organization, which aims to train volunteers to assist in spreading the word andGuardianfundraising.Angels raise and train service dogs for veterans and first responders suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, seizures, diabetic alerts, and mobility issues. It costs $25,000 to raise and train a dog for up to two years before it is ready to be paired with its recipient. Each dog is donated at no cost to that recipient, so fundraising is vital to continue this amazing work. In the 11 years, Guardian Angels have been in business, almost 400 recipients have been paired with service dogs.Seven years ago, Mary and her husband, Ron, held the first Celebrate Michigan’s Military fundraiser for Guardian Angels. Since then, over $600,000 has been raised through the CMM events enabling many dogs to be trained and paired for those men and women who have given so much to their country and communities.
Diane Dossin was honored to be inducted into the Clayton Missouri School District Alumni Hall of Fame. Diane demonstrated excellence in the law profession and significant contributions to the community through volunteering and charitable Incontributions.thewordsof the school district, “The Clayton Alumni Hall of Fame was established to recognize and honor the accomplishments of Clayton graduates who inspire the School District of Clayton, the community, and society.”
Member Hosts Fundraiser forGuardian Angels Medical Service Dogs
May 7 was a day of celebration and festivity at the Club. Members enjoyed a Derby Watch Party in the Main Dining Room while Bowlers held their annual end-of-season Derby Party. A very special occasion was also celebrated as part of the bowling party.
LOOKING AFTART OF THE CLUB
Gene has had a regular presence at the club for many years. She could always be found having a meal in one of the dining rooms and at club-wide events. Each year she attended the Club Holiday Decorating event and could be found checking in volunteers and giving them their assignments. But of special note is her years-long participation in the club’s bowling program. Bowling Director Gordy Woods recalls Gene being an avid bowler well before he arrived at the Club in 1995. He said she bowled on the Wednesday Night Mixed League and Thursday Morning Ladies League as well as Interclub Tournaments. Gene earned the title of GPYC Women’s Individual Bowling Champion in 2008. Gordy noted she rarely missed bowling and was a beloved presence on Wednesday nights and at tournaments until she retired from the game in 2020.
As a young girl, Gene lived in Pennsylvania. After graduating from high school in 1941 she followed other members of her family and moved to Detroit. She moved to the Grosse Pointes in the early 1950s where she and her husband, Joseph, raised their son and two daughters. Gene and her husband joined the Club in 1979. It has been her home away from home ever since.
That occasion was Mrs. Gene Di Sante’s 99th birthday.
Gene celebrated her April 12 birthday with family members. They insisted on being with her to celebrate at the stroke of midnight. It was special and she was moved by their desire to honor her. Later in the month club member Cathy Champion coaxed Gene to attend the bowling Derby Party to see her friends. Gene finally conceded and, to her surprise, was greeted by her yacht club “family” who had gathered to celebrate. Gene said she “did not expect the celebration and appreciated it very much”. She also noted it was great to be back among her friends and thanked everyone for the gorgeous (and delicious) cake. While the Club has changed since Gene’s early years of membership, her surprise 99th birthday celebration is a reminder that the lifelong friendships and support members share with each other has remained the same. The Board of Directors honored Gene’s years of membership at the Club when they named her Member of the Year in 2015.
Snaps 46
Gene’s 99th Birthday Celebration!
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Mr. Marsh was a successful Detroit business owner who commuted from his home in the Tuller Hotel on Grand Circus Park to Grosse Pointe Shores, where he owned a series of powerboats, sailboats and iceboats. Boating being the affectation it is, he attracted like-minded friends and enthusiasts who soon littered his lakefront property with their idle hulls. The Marsh summer home was not extravagant, but it was accommodating, with forgiving oak floors, casual furniture that invited informality and pictures of boats of every shape and intent peppering the walls. Marsh was a welcoming host, and his friends gathered there often for their excursions on the lake. Older and wealthier than most of his cohorts, George Marsh was a role model and leader. It was only natural, then, that when he proposed a gathering to talk a little business, more than two dozen of his cronies turned out. The date was December 3, 1913; the subject was the creation of an organization dedicated to boating in all its many forms on Lake St. Clair. It would be called the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club. That first meeting was held in the living room of the Marsh home, with George presiding. The group met once again in 1913, adjourned for the holidays, then reconvened in 1914 to officially confirm itself. George Marsh was welcomed as the Club’s first commodore, an office he held from 1914 to 1918 and again in 1925. It would be another 15 years before the fledgling club would have its own clubhouse, so the group met often at the Marsh home, making it their unofficial headquarters. The house where our club was born has had just three owners. Architect Robert Roney purchased it from the Marsh estate in 1961, and in 2014 graciously hosted a cocktail party for GPYC members in honor of the Club’s centennial year. After Mr. Roney’s death in 2021, the property was acquired by member Joe Haney who envisioned something new in its place. As you read this, the old Marsh house no longer stands; it was recently razed to make way for a new dwelling.
For more information, see Chapter One of the GPYC Centennial History Book.
48 LOOKING AFT Interesting people, places and events from our past.
The House Where We Were Born
On April 27 of this year, the Heritage Committee made one last visit to the house to pay their respects. The old building was already undergoing demolition, but its historic essence was still there. It wasn’t hard to envision Marsh and his pals gathered around the living room talking boats and planning the future. The next time you’re north of the Club, slow a bit as you pass 840 Lake Shore. It’s sacred ground. The place where it all began.
By Past Commodore James L. Ramsey
The house was square in shape, two stories tall with abundant windows and balconies, built in 1907 or ‘08. It stood two blocks north of the Club and was said to have contained timbers from the original St. Paul Church (built in 1825) that once stood nearby. It was not an imposing dwelling, not the kind of setting where one would expect epochal history to be made -- but it was. The property, 840 Lake Shore, was the summer home of George R. Marsh, boating enthusiast extraordinaire.
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