Bob’s last night at camp, Tuesday October 20th 2009, was a cold one, minus 5 degrees C (20 F), which caused the water valves to freeze resulting in a longer time to thaw the water lines so he could drain the pipes for the winter. It was not until 1:00pm in the afternoon that he locked the gate, the responsibility of the last person to depart Chikopi, and set off on his 12 days on the road driving to Fort Lauderdale. First stop was to say goodbye to Carl and Joyce in Ahmic Harbour (after receiving some of Joyce’s homemade muffins). Bob’s route included visits to Chikopi campers and alumni as well as some family and friends. He set out for the home of Catherine, Herb and Maid Marion Denny. Catherine is Ak-o-Mak’s resident doctor and a member of the Ak-o-Mak Board of Directors. Herb is the pilot of the airplane we see parked on the Ak-o-Mak beach and Marion is their daughter. Bob was pulling the Chikopi trailer laden with six lawnmowers needing repair by the Tollgate school kids in Brantford, Ontario, the same kids who come to Chikopi in early June to help prepare camp for the season.
The next day was the funeral of the mother of Ak-o-Mak’s executive director Dianne Young, a Chikopi mom going back almost 40 years. Her sons, Dave, Paul and Graham, all attended Chikopi for many years beginning in the 1970’s. We extend our condolences and best wishes to the Young Family, for a mom who represented all the qualities and values we try to instill into each Chikopi person - hard work, discipline, loving, caring, responsibility, loyalty and leadership. Mrs. Young was all of those things and more. She was one of the first female jewelers in a man’s jewelry world, gaining the respect and dignity of everyone in a business where your handshake is your signature. We will all miss her.
Also staying at Catherine and Herb’s home were Ak-o-Mak alums Denise Dickie Isreals, Natalie Nagy and Anne Repath. A reception following the funeral was held at the home of one of Dianne’s long-time friends. As it turned out, no other men attended so it became Bob’s first and only “hen party”. It was one of those times if you ever wanted to be a “fly-on-the-wall” to listen to what all the girls were saying, this was it.
The next stop was London, Ontario, and the home of Bob Barney (B2) and his wife, Ashleigh. B2 had been at Chikopi a few weeks earlier to teach sailing to the University of Western Ontario Kinisiology students. Bob was picking up the annual posters from UWO’s Olympic Studies Program for display at the International Swimming Hall of Fame before B2 departed the next day for Greece and a two-week international studies program. Bob had a chance to help the Barney’s with some outdoor home renovations, just like at Chikopi where B2 has helped with many projects over the years.
The next day it was on to Peter Michienzi’s and a great visit with Pete, Mario and Piero. Bob had a chance to see Peter’s mini wrestling Hall of Fame – his Commonwealth Games medals and Olympic photos most of which were humbly displayed in the basement. They went to an all you can eat Chinese restaurant that made it feel like you were having a meal in Remy’s and Regis’s hometown of Beijing.
Then it was on to the home of Glenn Belfry, wife Shannon and baby Grace. For many years, Glenn was Chikopi’s resident swimming coach, even coaching Robbie when he was a Chikopi camper years ago. Glenn had done a lot of work on his house and the inside second floor was like a tree house with stairs that overlooked a cathedral ceiling above and down to the room below. It was great to see Glenn and his family again. He returns every September to Ak-o-Mak to conduct the UWO’s canoeing camp. The next day, it was off to Mississauga to see Michigan Dave Mac Neil, wife Candace and baby daughter Emily. They all went for a walk in the park, had a delicious dinner and Bob got to read Emily a bedtime story. Check out Dave’s article in this newsletter.
The next morning was an early rise for all as Bob was off to Welland to meet Scott Miller, Ak-o-Mak’s former maintenance worker at whose home Chikopi used to stay in the backyard when attending the War Canoe and Paddling Championships some years ago. Scott had arranged a meeting with the City’s Recreation Director to suggest, with the help of the local YMCA, a citywide water walking or water running event, which could be held in the Welland Canal, the famous link between Great Lakes Erie and Ontario. Can you imagine hundreds of people in the canal as a publicity event to help the Welland community, which has been struggling, with the economy. Our mission is to help where we can. Good job, Scott.
Following the meeting, Bob crossed the border into the U.S., passing through Grand Island, New York, home of Joe Menter as well as Spooky and his dad Phil Ciraolo, Chikopi’s swimming coach from last year. Since leaving camp only a short time earlier, Joe has been substitute teaching while waiting for a full-time position to open. Spooky was doing some physical training in the basement and Phil does all the Chikopi clothing orders. They all live on the island around which the Niagara River flows before it goes over the Falls.
Next stop on the journey was in Bloomsberg, Pennsylvania, home of Stu and Meg Marvin and Meg’s dad, Ted Keller, who hand-makes all the Chikopi awards and specialized magnets. Stu is Head Swim Coach at Bloomsburg College and arranged for Bob and Meg to meet the college president’s wife to see her grandmother’s antique award for being the first woman to swim across San Francisco Bay in 1912. It is a unique and beautifully engraved leather pigskin, which hangs in a prominent place in the President’s home and was first presented back in 1912.
Back on the road again to Bob’s hometown of West Orange, New Jersey, home of Thomas Edison, inventor of the electric light bulb, the first motion picture, the phonograph and lots more. It had been ten years since Bob had been in West Orange to see has Olympic Swimming Champion sister receive the Citizen of the Century Award in 2000. His old house looks just the same as does his cousin who lives on Long Beach Island who Bob had not seen for over 30 years. A stopover with United States Lifesaving Association Chapter President, Bob Dillon, preceded the next visit to Bob’s brother Dick, wife Laura and nephews who were at football and baseball practice with their kids. After two days, it was back behind the “wheel” of the suburban and trailer for the two-day ride from Virginia to Fort Lauderdale, arriving just in time to see Teagan and Colette just before Teagan’s bedtime and hear all about her swimming, soccer and dance practices along with school work.
Now it is time to get things geared up for the summer 2010, beginning right now with this newsletter.
