with Cathy Finnegan

Club celebrates anniversary luncheon

Tornado warnings didn’t keep the ladies of the Women’s Research Club of Ocean City from enjoying their 86th anniversary luncheon at the Greate Bay Country Club. Betty DeWees, who chaired the luncheon and Phoebe Lindacher, had the guests’ burgundy and gold bookmark name tags ready for pickup while Edna Cellucci and new member Jane Friel stood near the door of the Pub Room to welcome guests. I joked with Nancy and Jim Thorpe, Jo Capizzi, Rae Louise and Rowland Porch and Elaine Deviney about being displaced from the Pub Room for their weekly bridge games as they headed upstairs to play. Eleanor Burk looked great in an orange suede jacket and matching silk blouse. Flora Baker is leaving Dec. 10 to spend the winter in Hawaii. Peggy Lloyd showed off this year’s Charity League Christmas pin when she arrived at the luncheon. Peggy was looking forward to attending the Ocean City High School Leadership Club’s dinner in the cafeteria Thursday night. Janet Knapp and Mary Zuccarini just finished reading Cokie Roberts new book to review at Colony Club’s literature luncheon.
Matriarchs of the Research Club, Maxine Haneman and Emily Kaiser, strolled in looking quite fashionable, Maxine in a turquoise suit and Emily in red. At 99, Maxine uses her husband’s cane she had cut off to fit her size while Emily, also 99, uses a walker and both ladies are sharp as a tack. I enjoyed meeting Dolly Rudloff. Peggy McKee sported a new hairstyle she wasn’t quite used to, but I told her it was very becoming. Marie Williams is the new publicity person for the Research Club who is doing a great job promoting this popular women’s club. World traveler Ellen Mayer is looking forward to another trip to South Africa while Bert DeVries just returned from a trip to Brazil with her husband. Christine Crist is heading for Mexico to attend a wedding. Tyra Payant will be enjoying a river cruise on the Rhine with her daughter during the holidays.
I quickly took my seat when president Barbara Slattery welcomed everyone to the party then Joe Tarvis and Linda Osler served the delicious luncheon to all the ladies. Joe did a little dance when he had to quickly sidestep Janet Perotti when she rushed by. I enjoyed lunch chatting with Eleanor Burk, Barbara Parsons, Karen Scanlan, Mary Ann Gabel, Millie Milne and Leslie Skibo. Barbara reports she was recently named to serve on the Ocean City Pops board. Karen, who is a retired social worker, is delighted to be living in Ocean City. Millie sported a pretty necklace her daughter picked out for her. The beautiful fall mums in wicker baskets, compliments of Mark Videtto at the Spinning Wheel, served as centerpieces on all the tables and it was only fitting that Leslie got the one at our table as she was celebrating her birthday the next day and her mom tried her best to let us know how old Leslie was.
Ginny Scheetz received congratulations as she and husband Carl recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Helen Miller, Merry Wagner, Christine Crist and Jane Freischmidt enjoy getting together to knit and are looking forward to seeing what Jane makes with all the squares she’s made. Carol Lamb enjoys helping out at the Atlantic City Rescue Mission. I returned to my table to enjoy the decadent chocolate cake with rich fudge icing and strawberries which was sure to put on a few pounds to the waistline. After lunch, Annette Jackson introduced guest speaker Carol Romano, whose column “Notable Neighbors,” focusing on non-profit organizations and individual volunteers, is a favorite in the Current newspapers. Carol has worked for the Chicago Tribune and New York Post. In 1967, Carol entered the field of education and retired from the Somers Point school system in 2001. While a freshman, working on the school newspaper at college, Carol was thrilled when she met President John F. Kennedy and asked him if he had a nice vacation. Carol also met Walter Pigeon, Vincent Price and Gypsy Rose Lee who brought some of her famous chocolate chip cookies and gave Carol the recipe.
Among the ladies at the anniversary luncheon were Audrey Kerr, Rachel Sauls, Mary Zuccarini, Shirley Deming, Eleanor Raymond, Mary Eggly, Dorothy DiMarcangelo and Mae Ohman.
It was like a monsoon as ladies arrived for the Colony Club tea hosted by president Gini Trotman at her lovely home overlooking the meadows. Marion McCaughey and I left our umbrellas at the door with the others then checked our raincoats inside. I enjoyed chatting with new members Denise Potter and Barbara Keen. Denise sported her federation past president’s pin having served as president of the Washington Township Volunteer Women’s Club in 1995 prior to moving to Ocean City. After summering in Ocean City for 27 years, Barbara retired from teaching and she and her husband love living here year round. Peg Hagerty poured tea while Gerri Cusato, Cathy Guinosso, Mary Zuccarini and Elaine Perino served tea sandwiches and desserts. Carla Heist received wave reviews on her delicious pumpkin dip. Donna Hughes reports husband Walter is back at the North Pole at the Hamilton Mall again this year. Donna Hink kept us entertained with tales of son Andrew’s college roommates housekeeping or lack thereof. Melinda Mayne and Eileen Adams had a good laugh when this columnist tried out a vintage hobby horse and Peggy Doyle snapped a picture for the president’s scrapbook. Barbara Russell had to leave early as she had a house full of company waiting for her to cook dinner.

Jane Friel, Edna Cellucci, Phoebe Lindacher and Betty DeWees welcome guests to the Women’s Research Club anniversary luncheon.

Janet Knapp, Eleanor Burk, Peggy Lloyd and Flora Baker
relax at the Research Club luncheon.

Peggy McKee, Dorothy DiMarcangelo, Cathy Finnegan and Margaret Schock smile for the camera at the Research Club luncheon.

Guest speaker Carol Romano (center) is welcomed to Research Club’s luncheon by Marie Williams, Leslie Skibo, Millie Milne, Mary Ann Gabel and Dolly Rudloff.