It was ‘déjà vu’ all over again!  There was Walter Schaller standing before the stock-holder’s annual meeting of Dayton Country Club – being introduced as DCC’s new Manager!  Quite a few of the ‘older’ members of DCC were remembering, with great pleasure, the days when an attractive, young, Swiss gentleman was chosen as manager. Walter was a bachelor and lived on the second floor apartment of the clubhouse. Today, Walter is known internationally as a top Marathon runner. This year, at age 70, Walter ran the London Marathon, and the Boston Marathon – back-to-back – in a twenty-four period!!!  The Oakwood Register and The New York Times – both ran interviews with Walter – at the time!

Rick Tangeman, DCC President, conducted the meeting.  Golf, finance, and membership were discussed.  Upon adjournment,  most attendees retired to the dining room for dinner – and it was ‘…like old times’ to have Walter Schaller circulating from table to table chatting-up his old friends and new friends.

Do Winkler Wagner, publisher of the Oakwood Register, and Jack Wagner hosted a great Christmas party for the OR staff.  Do’s daughter, Dana Whitney, was pressed into KP duty. “I’ve never seen such stylish kitchen ‘help’!” commented one of the staffers.  Dana wore a long garnet-colored velvet ‘redingote’ fastened with a large sparkling brooch – over black pants and sweater!  “Redingote?”asked another staffer. Well, Webster defines it as a ladies long coat…corruption of the words ‘riding coat’.  See how edified the OR staff can be!

Lance Winkler, editor of the OR, and his wife Lidiya, were ‘hosting’ too. Lidiya received kudos on her hair. Lance and his brother-in-law Rich Whitney did not report any ‘kudos’.

Dee Dee Huffer is a long-time OR staffer in the Advertising Department.  What fun to see Dee Dee’s husband Brian after so many years.  Brian’s mother, Shirley Huffer, and his father, Dr. Brian Huffer, were friends from way-back-when and the reminiscing went on and on.

Do always has a ‘gift exchange’ – which is rarely a gentile affair. The deal is – everyone is given a number and when your number is called your pick out a present and unwrap it. The only person who’s going to get to keep their favorite present is the last one to draw – cause – when your number is called you can snatch someone else’s present rather than pick up an unwrapped one!  Staffers were a bit more refined this year and not too much blood flowed! Dana did not get robbed of her gargantuan ‘pepper/spice’ mill. She and Rich made such a big deal out of their ‘trophy’ that not one hard-hearted-newsy could bear to make a grown-woman-cry!

OHS ’82 alumnus and long-time bachelor Bob Stavnitski, he’s Betsy and George’s son, announced his engagement this past weekend to friends and family. Bob’s fiancé is Irina Karpushyna, who hails from Kiev, Ukraine. He presented her with a shimmering marquis-cut diamond ring on Saturday evening. Irina’s daughter, Alena, is in the sixth grade at Smith School. Congratulations to the happy couple!

“Chateau Howell” was the setting for Kim Howell and Teresa Degenhart’s Wine Tasting Fundraiser to benefit “Team in Training”.  Todd Howell and Rob Degenhart worked the door by accepting donations and selling raffle tickets.  Amazing gifts were donated by Arrow Wine, Boston Stoker, Central Perc, Tudor Day Spa and Ashley’s Pastry’s.  Bob & Cindy Edwards not only donated prizes from their health food store they also worked as Wine Steward and Stewardess for the event.  The big raffle winners were Lori & Mike Mitchell, Karen & Tom Abney, Julie & Jim Beyer to name a few.  The entire Garden Road and Volusia Avenue Neighborhoods turned out for this worthy cause along with other attendees including Mike Johnson, Tracy & Scott Morling, Lisa & Marc Michaels, Mark & Paula Stoecklein, Carl & Darcy Traynor, Miff & Sandy Frank, Paul & Lisa Mullen, Lori & John Barhorst, Ken & Lisa Hoffman, Mike & Melinda Thesing as well as many others.  At the height of the evening it was practically wall to wall people participating in this worthy cause. Kim and Teresa surpassed their goal and can now concentrate on finishing Disney’s Half Marathon in January.

top of page