Thursday/Friday, February 14-15, 2013. Palm Beach/Delray Beach, FL. Co-chairs/hosts: Rob Walker & Jim Lane
The 1961 gathering
in Florida Feb. 14/15 was attended by twelve classmates, wives, and significant
others. Left to right, bottom row: Barker, Scasserra, Walker. Top row: Tuffnell, Gruen, Atkiss, Prather, Swan, Lane, Krongard, and Geo. Morris. Torell was not in the photo. Although rain was a constant menace and
limited us to inside events, the stalwart group braved the elements with rain
gear, umbrellas, wet shoes and high spirits for both days.
Our initial and highlight event was a visit to the
Palm Beach Zoo where we were royally hosted by the zoo president in a sheltered
pavilion for introductions, cocktailsand comments. Zoo staff members
wandered among us holding a baby alligator, a dwarf hedgehog and a multicolored
parrot. During a short break in the rain, we were escorted to the Tiger
Den (nighttime home) of three Malayan tiger cubs born at this zoo in 2011. Now
almost 2 years old and weighing about 250 lbs., they are magnificent creatures,
especially when viewed up close -- two feet away behind
bars in their cage. We were all impressed by the worldwide preservation efforts
to maintain this endangered species.
After a 30 minute drive south to Delray Beach, this
group of 1961 "endangered " species dried out at Rob/Kathie’s club
on the oceanfront. A nice group of 23 enjoyed renewing friendships, taking
group photos under the 1961 banner and having a delicious meal together.
Friday brought more bad weather so our daytime activities
were limited to indoor events in Palm Beach. Beginning with a lunch
gathering of six couples in the Seafood Bar of the historic Breakers Hotel, we
began to learn more about the gilded age of opulence 100 years ago which Henry
Flagler and his development of Florida's east coast included hotels and a railroad. Our last stop was Flagler’s home (Whitehall) which has been beautifully restored
as a museum and well worth a visit.
Our final evening began at the Walker's townhome in
Delray Beach where cocktails and conversation were mingled with Kathie's famous
hors d'oeuvres. The members of the Palm Beach tour group &ndash the Walkers,
Tuffnells, Gruens, Lanes, Barkers and Don Swan/Brenda plus Krongard reflected
on their time together. The evening ended at a seafood restaurant on Delray’s
"Avenue” -- where the action is. Unfortunately, the rain deterred the 61ers from
taking in the vibrant scene. As we waited for our cars and said our
farewells, we all agreed we should DO IT AGAIN!
Scasserra & Penny Atkiss
Krongard, Tally & Stu Tuffnell
Brenda Harihan, Don Swan, Joni
Lane
Geo. Morris, Rob Walker, and John Torell
George & Anne Barker, Geo. Morris
Tony Atkiss, Molly Morris (Henry Cook’s sister), George
Barker
Lane, Swan & Harahan
Walker's dinner order?
Swan, Krongard, Gruens, Lanes
Stu & Tally Tuffnell, Walker
Stu Tuffnell, Ev & Joe Prather, Joni Lane
Florida’s Palm Beach &ndash the Delray Beach area will be the site of
an extended Valentine's Day class gathering on Thursday, February 14, and Friday, February 15..
A unique feature of the gathering will be a brief lecture
and then a behind-the-scenes tour of the
extraordinary Malayan tiger habitat at the Palm Beach Zoo on Thursday afternoon.
The Malayan tiger is an endangered species and Zoo representatives will tell us
about the exhibit and its residents and what the Zoo is hoping to accomplish.
To get more details about the Zoo and the tiger exhibit, please visit these
websites:
The zoo reception plus the following dinner will be $100 per person; give check payable to Rob Walker on day of event.
1961 Tigers In
Florida--Valentines 2013--February
14-16: Schedule of Events
Thursday
2/14--Arrival in Palm Beach/Delray area by car or plane at Palm Beach Intl or
Fort
Lauderdale. Hotel (Hyatt
Place ) is located in downtown Delray one block off
Atlantic
Ave and 20 minutes from PBI
airport.
4:00 pm gathering at zoo
4:00-6:30 Zoo
presentation - see the Tigers, tour/lecture followed by cocktail
reception
6:30 departure from zoo to Delray's Gulf Stream Bath & Tennis
Club
7:00-
9:30 Dinner on terrace overlooking ocean (fixed menu including
cocktails/wine)
9;30 cruise Atlantic
Avenue -- the happening place in Palm Beach County
Friday
2/15- on your own; for example:
-Palm Beach* tour visiting
Flagler Museum, Norton Art
Center, Breakers
Hotel, Worth Ave
shopping, and lunch at special restaurant
-
Golf or tennis at the Country Club of Florida, Village of Golf (Delray area) and lunch [contact Rob Walker if interested]
-
Shop Delray, beach it, people watching and lunch
Cocktail
gathering at Rob's town house on Intracoastal Waterway--6:30pm
Dinner at
local Atlantic
Ave restaurant--8:00pm
Saturday 2/16
Departure or extend your stay with other classmates or local
friends
Please submit the below form if you are able to join the group (see "Who's Coming" below the form)
Here’s hoping for a great turn-out for a gathering that
should be lots of fun!
Who was there?
Tony & Penny Atkiss
George & Anne Barker
Martin & Blanche Gruen
Cookie Krongard + guest
Jim & Joni Lane
George & Molly Morris
Joe & Ev Prather
Don Swan & Brenda Harihan
Ken Scasserra
John & Anne Torell
Stuart & Talie Tuffnell
Rob & Kathie Walker
*Points of interest in Palm Beach
Flagler Museum.When completed in 1902, Henry Flagler’s Golden Age estate ‘Whitehall’
was proclaimed by the New York Herald to
be "more wonderful than any palace in Europe, grander and more magnificent than
any other private dwelling in the world.”Whitehall is a National Historic Landmark and is open to the public as the
Flagler Museum, featuring guided tours, changing exhibits, and special
programs.One Whitehall Way, Palm
Beach.561/655-2833.www.flaglermuseum.us/
The Breakers Palm Beach.Legendary oceanfront resort features 9
distinctive restaurants and bars for an array of dining and entertainment
options.Close to the Flagler Museum.www.thebreakers.com.
Norton Museum.Exhibition of celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz portrait photos includes
39 of Leibovitz’ works, which will be added to the Norton’s permanent
collection.Iconic portraits include
figures like Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Andy Warhol.
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