Book of Presidents

The Retired Men’s Association Greenwich, Connecticut

Volume Three 1998 - 2016

61 Years Serving Greenwich The Book of Presidents Volume Three

Retired Men’s Association of Greenwich, Inc.

1954 – 2016

FORWARD

The RMA started when thirteen individuals, from such diverse backgrounds as sea captain, mason, engineer, funeral director, Vice President of US Steel, ship builder, taxi driver, executive, waiter, and a Chamber of Commerce Director, met weekly at the local YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association). Alfred Lorenz, a staff member of the YMCA, assembled this group of retired men on March 10, 1954 and organized the “Coffee Hour Club”. Their original Statement of Purpose was to provide a means for the friendly association of men who have retired from their regular professions, businesses or trades.

The club was renamed and formally organized on October 13, 1954, as the “Retired Men’s Association”, and appointed Louis Coe as its first President. As the years went by, a fraternal sense of responsibility toward the community developed, which is illustrated in our banner - Fellowship, Service and Volunteerism. Today’s RMA contributes annually tens of thousands of hours of volunteer work benefitting Greenwich and the surrounding communities.

These pages will introduce you to the presidents who have led our organization from decade to decade, and continue its mission of assisting with the needs of our community. They are responsible for what the RMA is today, and we duly recognize them for their dedication and guidance.

This Volume 3 contains the Presidents of the Greenwich “Retired Men’s Association”, whose leadership is recorded from 1998 through our 60th Anniversary Year of 2014 and into the future.

The Men Who Served 1997 - Present CONTENTS

Forward I Contents II Presidents 1954-1997 III Prologue IV Outstanding Service Award V

Presidents Year Served Page Leon S. Freeman, Jr. 1997 – 1998 1 Charles (Chuck) Standard 1998 – 1999 3 Eugene S. Waggaman, Jr. 1999 – 2000 5 W. Keith (Hap) Heyman 2000 – 2001 7 Joseph J. Robinson 2001 – 2002 9 William W. Lehren 2002 – 2003 11 Linn I. Grim 2003 – 2004 13 Robert F. Church 2004 – 2005 15 Brian D. Forrow 2005 – 2006 17 Samuel J. Marasso 2006 – 2007 19 Richard B. Limbacher 2007 – 2008 21 Michael A. Ryan 2008 – 2009 23 John P. Craine 2009 – 2010 25 Thomas J. Healy 2010 – 2011 27 Richard H. Bartholomew 2011 – 2012 29 George W. Shaddock 2012 – 2013 31 Michael R. Smith 2013 – 2014 33 Robert O. Phillips 2014 – 2015 35 Ralph Viggiano 2015 – 2016 To Acknowledge The Men Who Served From The Start

Alfred Lorenz In the beginning was the “Coffee Hour Club”

Past Presidents Found in Volumes One and Two

1954 Louis Coe 1979 A. J. (Jack) Adams 1955 Robert Everett 1980 Frederick E. Sullaway 1956 Joseph Dey 1981 Hugh F. Hinckley 1957 Captain Charles Bang 1982 Dr. John S. Labate 1958 Mercer G. Farrer 1983 Lindsay A. Lovejoy 1960 John A. Simpson 1984 John A. Galt 1962 Herman C. Armbruster 1985 Russell V. Vernet 1963 Prentiss Hathaway 1986 H. Ford Dickie 1964 Walter C. Bush 1987 Calvin S. Cronin 1965 Shelby Timerlake 1988 Howard H. Hennington 1967 Karl S. Twitchell 1989 Howard H. Conley 1968 Jules G. Evans 1990 Karl M. Davies 1970 Allen L. Whitman 1991 Albert H. Stevenson 1972 Leslie C. Bruce 1992 William J. Burke 1973 Edward S. Yocum 1993 Theodore Fuller 1974 Frank D. Waterman 1994 Thomas W. Schwartz 1975 Wilmer C. Anderson 1995 Robert Kenny 1976 Waldo W. Pennels 1996 John B. Littleﬁeld 1977 Henry E. Crampton 1996 Dominick J. Cogliandro 1978 William W. Snyder 1997 Leon S. Freeman, Jr.

III

PROLOGUE

The original Volume Three has been incorporated into this newer version in celebration of the RMA’s 60th Anniversary Year. To better understand the presidents who have met the challenges of uniting men from a vast assortment of backgrounds to the common goal of service to the community, browse through these pages and read their stories as each of them would like to be remembered.

Each president who served from 1997 to the present time was requested to submit a picture, along with a story portraying their RMA activities, their life, their ideas and any final statements or thoughts that they may wish to express.

I would like to extend my appreciation to Bernard Schneider and Peter Uhry for their encouragement and especially to my wife, Kathleen, for her assistance and enthusiastic support in bringing this project to fruition.

Ralph Viggiano First Vice-President

Note: Volume 3 is being added to each year to keep it current.

Volume One was anticipated to be compiled from old records in our archives, some of which were stored at the Greenwich Historical Society. Unfortunately, those records were not of sufficient quality to create an attractive or truly informative Volume One. Thus, Volume One was never completed and Volume Two represents the "first" of these volumes titled "The Presidents Book." RMA’s Outstanding Service Award

The Outstanding Service Award was established on September 1, 1984 in recognition of members or non-members who have made outstanding contributions to the well-being of the RMA.

Recipients Year Alfred Lorenz 1985 Waldo Pennels Bill Van Brunt 1986 John Cain 1987 Robert Taylor 1989 Fred Sullaway 1990 Howard Conley 1992 George Manning H. Ford Dickie 1993 Anthony Bologna Henry Jacobson 1995 John T. Connolly 1998 Dom Cogliandro Bob Button 1999 John Mills 2001 Charles Livingston Charles Standard 2002 Warren Dennison Leon Freeman 2003 W. Keith Heyman William W. Lehren 2004 Joseph J. Robinson Gene Waggaman 2005 Sal DeAngelo 2006 John Seel Douglas Francefort 2007 Robert Bishop George Chelwick John Osterberg 2008 Michael Parise Donald Sargeant 2008 Bill Dynan Leon Freeman Douglas Taylor 2010 John deCsepel Peter McSpadden Rich Limbacher 2011 Tom Healy George W. Shaddock 2012 George W. Shaddock 2013 Tad Larrabee Bernard Schneider Horst Tebbe 2014 Ralph M. Viggiano 2014

This award is not necessarily conferred on an annual basis and was originally called the “Honor Citation”.

V Leon S. Freeman, Jr. President 1997 - 1998

RMA Activities

Leon joined the RMA on October 7, 1987. His sponsors were David Meiklejohn and Arthur Wrotnowski. He held the following elected posts before becoming President on May 1, 1997, Third Vice-President 1995-1996 and First Vice-President 1996-1997, Recording Secretary 1993-1994 and 1994-1995. He was Chairman of the “Golf Committee” from 1991-1995. His presence on the Golf Committee saw the initiation of a schedule of monthly tournaments, starting with a scramble in April and ending up with another one in September. With the help of Harold Nelson and Frank Henderson, he started holding “outings” at other courses in our area. Leon was Chairman of the “Visiting Committee” 1988 - 1990. He invented the procedure of reporting on the progress of members who were recuperating from their illnesses while at home.

Outside Activities

Co-chairman, American Red Cross Motor Service starting 1997 and was a driver for ten years. Ex-President and Treasurer, Ledge Road Tax District. Member of Committee for Golf, which was instrumental in improving playability of Bruce Golf Course and obtaining the decision to have Bruce be on a “stand alone” ﬁnancial basis. He was an original member of a group that started the Little League in Mexico, also the initiated expansion to Torreon, Saltillo, Durango and San Luis Potasi in Mexico, held ofﬁces in the Liga Pequena Industrial in Monterrey, Mexico including President in 1959 when they won their second Little League world championship at McKeesport, PA. Board member Arthritis Foundation of New Jersey 1964-1967. Co-chairman Golf Tournament to raise funds for Newington’s Children’s Hospital 1993-1995.

Hobbies / Recreation

Leon is an avid ﬂy ﬁsherman. He also plays golf and had the lowest RMA handicap from 1988 - present and a past winner of the RMA championship. Leon can also be found on the tennis courts where he has won our championship title in eight of the last ten years. This was against serious competition.

1 Personal History

Born September 18, 1927 in Morristown, NJ. His father, Leon S. Freeman, was founder and senior partner of Freeman & Co., an investment ﬁrm specializing in railroad equipment bonds. His mother was a highly regarded anthropologist and ethologist who worked with the Museum of Natural History in New York City.

School and Military Service

Leon attended Peck School, Morristown, N. J., St. Paul’s School, Concord, N.H. and Admiral Farragut Academy, Tom’s River, N. J., where he graduated with a Science major. He won varsity letters in both wrestling and track. He served two enlistments in the Army. First, 1946-1948 reached Sergeant, served in Army of Occupation - Japan. Second, he served in the Korean Conﬂict, achieved Lieutenant status while stationed in Goose Bay, Labrador. Between hitches, he attended the University of Virginia receiving his B.S. in Geology, class of 1952.

Marriage

He met June Lynn in 1975 and married her in 1977. She was most supportive of his activities in the RMA.

Employment

Leon was employed by AMAX and its subsidiaries from 1954 until retirement in 1986, a total of 32 years. He began as an L.C. industrial engineer at their Carteret, N.J. plant (Copper Smelter) and in 1985 transferred to Metallurgica Mexicana Penoles in Monterey, Mexico, where he managed the Ore and Trafﬁc Departments. Upon the sale of Penoles to Mexico Nationals, he was transferred to Climax of Molybdenum Division in New York City. In N.Y., he held various staff positions including Director, Capital Projects. In 1984, he was promoted to a similar position with the newly formed Metals Group until his retirement took place in 1986.

Editors Comments

Leon Freeman has proven himself to be one of our more active and versatile Presidents and innovative as well. His conduct of our meetings has been on a high level. He is a participant in our sporting programs, excelling in tennis, as well as golf. He came to us as a proven leader, dating back to his days as one of the founders of the Little League in Mexico. During his tenure as President, he has advanced our recreational activities to a level not heretofore attained in our history, leading the way as it were. He will be a worthy successor to his immediate predecessor, Dom Cogliandro, as Chairman of the Nominating Committee. We are looking forward to working with you in that area as well. Leon, a sincere thanks for a most memorable year!

2 Charles E. Standard President 1998 - 1999

Charles E. [Chuck] Standard, our 40th President, was one of the most enthusiastic and ebullient leaders this organization has ever had. He was inducted into the RMA on March 13, 1985, and served as Golf Chairman, Corresponding Secretary, Program Chairman and First Vice President before being elected President. While doing this, Chuck sang with the Melody Men and also introduced and sponsored more candidates than the next ten or so members combined. He will long be remembered for his inspirational “Thought of the Day”, delivered before the closing bell of every meeting he presided over.

Chuck was born on July 26, l9l9 in East St. Louis, MO. His family soon moved to Bensenville, IL. where Chuck grew up. While in high school, a loyal Purdue alumnus and Phi Kappa Sigma member urged him to go to Purdue and also to revitalize the PKS chapter there. Chuck agreed and started out by developing a good freshman pledge class. He was Pledge Chairman the next three years. He also ran a successful advertising business which paid his way through college and still found time to become Senior Basketball Manager.

The Draft Board called his number between his junior and senior years. Chuck wanted to be a Navy pilot, not an Army draftee; to be senior basketball manager and to graduate. He persuaded the President of Purdue, who was on the War Manpower Board, to allow him to do his Navy pre-ﬂight training at Purdue during his senior year, which allowed him to manage basketball and to graduate.

He went through flight training in Illinois following graduation, was commissioned an Ensign and qualified as a carrier dive bomber pilot. He was assigned to the USS Yorktown [The Fighting Lady], operating in the Pacific. In addition to campaign ribbons and the Air Medal, Chuck was awarded the Navy’s top combat award for heroism - the Navy Cross.

Chuck spent his working career in advertising sales, mainly TV time, notably with NBC Network TV. He started in Chicago, where he met and married his charming wife Nancy.

The Standards moved to Riverside in l949, where they both quickly became movers and shakers in the community, members of Rocky Point Club and Riverside Yacht Club. They have cruised extensively along the East Coast and in the Caribbean.

Chuck bought an RV after retiring and extended his cruising range to the highways and byways of the United States, including at least one transcontinental trip.

Last, but not least, Chuck is a golfer with two lifetime holes-in-one, the latest made while playing with the RMA at the Griff Harris Memorial Course.

Truly, A Man for All Seasons. 3 Chuck Standard has had a philosophy throughout his life that has given him a positive attitude and also made him emotionally strong. Whenever something goes wrong, he would say, “It happened for the best.”; or, if he REALLY couldn’t say that, he would say, “It could be worse.”. He has had many situations in his life where he applied them - changing the situation from a curse into a blessing.

He considers himself a very lucky person who has had many and unusually interesting experiences in his life. He became financially independent at the age of nine. Chuck bought his bicycle, golf clubs and everything - even his first pair of long pants. He never asked his parents for even a dime from that day forward - even through college, when his expenses were high. He earned his first dollar caddying (which he still has). When he was fifteen, he won the caddy golf championship 10 up and 8 to go. He was the only high school cheerleader for 4 years because they all quit when the crowd yelled for him. Chuck played a trombone in high school when his band won the State contest 3 times and did well in the Nationals too. Graduated when he was l6. He had a successful 4 years at the University of Purdue, where he made the honor roll. He was elected to be senior basketball manager and was also elected a member of PAC, Gimlet Honorary Club and P Man’s Club. He had a very successful advertising business, which enabled him to MORE than pay ALL his expenses for all four years. He graduated May 3, l942 and two weeks later he was in uniform at Glenview Naval Air Station as a Naval Cadet. Chuck became a Navy Officer and got his wings on January 3, l943. He joined Air Group 1 - Bombing Squadron 1, and trained with the Air Group on the West Coast and in Hawaii for a few months prior to being assigned to the USS Yorktown CV 10 the early part of l944. While fighting in the Pacific, he was awarded the Navy Cross for hitting a Japanese heavy cruiser and the Air Medal for a photographic mission when the other photo plane was shot down. He was lucky throughout the war and was never hit by flack - only by small ammunition. At one time, a shell knocked out his hydraulic system and he had to land on the carrier with no landing flaps, his bombay doors open, unsure that his wheels were locked and no brakes. During his leave in the States, he married Nancy Drake on January 21, l945 in Wilmette, Illinois. He was asked to become an LSO (Landing Signal Officer). Chuck trained in Florida and was qualified in a few months. He was on his way to go overseas again when the war ended and because he had a Navy Cross, he was released immediately. He stayed in the Navy for a few years as a “Week End Warrior”, serving as a squadron leader until pressures from work became too hectic. Chuck has two daughters - Debbie (3/6/49) and Patti (12/9/52). He was a successful salesman with NBC, Adweek, and a National Sales Manager with the Meeker Company.

Chuck enjoys playing golf and shot his age several times. He also made 2 holes-in-one. He did a lot of skiing and skied until he was 88. He was an average tennis player, and did a lot of sailboat racing where he won a few awards. He and his wife loved to travel. They went to Bermuda, Mexico and toured throughout seven European countries. They enjoyed River Cruises in Russia, France and one from Amsterdam to Venice. They had three RVs and travelled throughout the country, visiting all 48 states and with trips to Hawaii and Alaska (they were in all 50).

At almost 95, Chuck still says he’s a very lucky guy and a “MOST HAPPY FELLA”!!!!!

4 Eugene S. Waggaman, Jr. President 1999 - 2000

Dapper Gene Waggaman took the president’s bell from Chuck Standard for the ﬁrst meeting in May 1999. Like the Southern gentleman he is, spoke softly, but left no doubt as to whom was in charge. Gene was inducted into the RMA on April 29, l992. In the seven years before being elected President, he was chairman of the Membership Committee and an editor of the Cigar Box Bulletin; as well as serving progressively as Third, Second and First Vice President. Clearly, not a man to let grass grow under his feet.

Gene was born in New Orleans, LA on November 5, l9l6. His family moved North when Gene was 10 years old and he grew up in White Plains, N.Y. Continuing the northern drift, he went to Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH; graduating with honors in l938, and later being selected to deliver the class address at his 50th reunion. Gene is currently vice-president of the class.

Gene joined an advertising agency in New York upon graduation; but, in September l941, he entered the Navy’s V-7 program and was commissioned an Ensign in the Naval Reserve. He served aboard ﬂeet oilers and transports for the next four years in all major theaters of operations, and is now a Lieutenant Commander, USNR (Ret.).

Gene worked for MacFadden Publications after returning to New York, managed the marketing arm of the Magazine Publishers Association of America, was General Manager of Motor Boating and Sailing, and Associate Director, marketing/creative services for Newsweek. Co-author of Business Management of General Consumer Magazines. Gene also edited The Horolovar 400 Day Clock Repair Guide. He wrote a monthly column for Motor Boating and Sailing, as well as numerous articles for scholarly and trade journals. He is currently a regular feature writer for Greenwich Time, as well as an Associate Editor for the Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich.

Gene and his wife, Nancy, moved to Old Greenwich in l954. They have three sons, three daughters and ten grandchildren. A long- time member of The Connecticut Playmakers, Gene has appeared in many of their productions. He is also a member of the Rocky Point Club and the New York Yacht Club.

Gene’s volunteer activities include service on the Advisory Council of Greenwich Continuing Education, and as a Red Baron of the Greenwich Hospital Auxiliary. Now that he doesn’t have the RMA presidency to occupy his time, he is in the process of becoming a driver for the American Red Cross Motor Service. Gene is also returning as an editor of the Cigar Box Bulletin.

5 W. Keith Heyman President 2000 - 2001

Keith Heyman - a classic leader, volunteer and overachiever - is a classic example of the qualities inherent in all Presidents of the RMA. Keith started life in Utah, graduating from the University of Utah. A key part of his college experience was membership in the Beta Theta Pi fraternity, and he has maintained a lifelong relationship with and support to this organization. Keith immediately went on to Harvard University upon graduation, earning his MBA. This experience provided the base for his initial career with Arthur Andersen & Co. (before their Enron involvement) in both New York and San Francisco. Then, to display his ﬂexibility, Keith spent the next 11 years in the retail industry - from Caldor to Electrolux. Finishing his work career ( certainly NOT his volunteerism career ), Keith spent 11 years as a consultant to the Cuisenart Corp.

In terms of Keith’s local volunteerism and service, the list is very lengthy. It includes ( but is not limited to ): The National Executive Service Corps, Nathaniel Witherell Auxiliary ( including Treasurer ), Greenwich Hospital Auxiliary ( including Treasurer ), Greenwich Chapter of American Red Cross, Council for Continuing Education ( including Secretary ). Year-in and year-out, Keith is always in the top 10 RMA volunteers, in terms of total hours given to outside agencies.

His service to the RMA is equally impressive. Special Events Committee, Memorials Chairman, Treasurer, Audit Chairman, the ranks of 3rd then 2nd and then 1st Vice President, with their associated responsibilities, and ﬁnally as President. Subsequently, he has chaired both the Outstanding Award and Nominating Committees. Keith will always be remembered for sharing thought- provoking nuggets with the membership.

Thank you Keith for all that you have done and continue to do for the RMA.

7 Joseph J. Robinson President 2001 - 2002

Joseph Robinson. All RMA members during Joe’s term as President will always remember him with both affection and a smile. But, it was a long and fascinating path for Joe, prior to joining the RMA. He started life in Lynn, Massachusetts as the youngest of 11 children (9 boys, 2 girls) of immigrant parents. You have to be strong to survive in that scene! Joe was in the Annapolis Prep School in San Diego at the start of the Korean War, and was promptly assigned to the National Security Agency’s Naval Intelligence (NOT an oxymoron) School. Graduating first in his class (of course), he was sent to Japan. There he played semi- pro football for the Navy Seahawks, married his charming and lovely wife, Shirley, and joined the Masons. Returning to the University of Minnesota, Joe got his degree in International Relations and Japanese. Recruited by the CIA, he received training in clandestine operations in Washington, D.C. and returned to Japan as a Far East Field Case Officer (fluent in Japanese). After several spooky years, Joe was recruited by International Paper Co. as V.P. Far East, retiring 25 years later as V.P. of Marketing and International Business. Not satisfied with retirement, Joe became Sr. V.P. of Joy Technologies, retiring again in l995 when Joy was sold.

Never one to laze about, in addition to his RMA activities, Joe has been elected to the Greenwich RTM and the Republican Town Committee. Joe has been extremely active with the Masons Acacia Lodge in Greenwich (including Master). Most recently, he has been appointed as District Director of Masonic District 1-A.

The RMA was a natural ﬁt for Joe. He joined the Membership Committee and the Program Committee (2 terms as Chairman) after joining in l995. It didn’t take long for Joe’s talent to be recognized by the RMA, becoming 3rd Vice President in l998, culminating as President in 2001. This was followed by being Nominating Council Chairman in 2002. Joe leaves an indelible legacy to the RMA. He lead in the use of E- mail to distribute the Cigar Box Bulletin, thus saving the RMA very substantial $$$ in postage. He moved the annual RMA dinner to the Greenwich Country Club, with far superior ambiance, as well as food. He constantly urged us to greater volunteerism and reporting of same. His meetings were not only informal and humorous, but very well organized. Although he tried very hard to not let it show, the agenda and meetings were supremely well disciplined. But, most of all, we know and appreciate Joe for his supreme sense of humor and his devotion to his many, many friends.

9 William W. Lehren President 2002 - 2003 Bill Lehren was born in Yonkers, N.Y. and his family moved to Greenwich when he was a young boy. He attended Riverside School, Greenwich High School and graduated from Cheshire Academy. He then went on to St. Lawrence University where he graduated in l949 with a B.S. Degree in Mathematics! He served in the U.S. Army in Counter- Intelligence during the Korean War and was stationed in Austria, where he met his wife-to-be, Hilde. They were married in Montreal in l953. His business career was with Wolverine Toy Manufacturing where he was a salesman, sales manager and vice president. In addition to sales, he was deeply involved in product development and production planning. Bill worked out of the New York ofﬁce when the factory was in Pittsburgh; but, when the factory moved to Arkansas, Bill soon followed for eight years in Clinton country. (Bill claims he voted against Clinton six times, but does not say if that was in one election or several.)

An eagle scout as a teenager, he became an assistant scoutmaster during his early business years, and was responsible for starting an explorer post. However, heavy travel forced him to give up scouting. When he retired, he felt it was necessary to stay active and involved, and he certainly has. Bill has always been very active in the Greenwich Baptist Church, holding various positions as Deacon and Trustee, and on renovation committees for the Youth Building, Sanctuary renovation and elevator installation which he chaired. During these arduous projects, Bill was involved in a series of other volunteer activities.

Bill has been a member of the Red Barons at the Greenwich Hospital for six years and has served as Chairman of Escorts for two years. He was driver for Call-A-Ride for about six years, where he made many happy friendships with the appreciative riders. In addition, Bill has been a ten-year volunteer for the Tax Counseling for the Elderly Program, where he has been preparing tax returns for many people year after year. Bill gave over l00 pints as a regular blood donor for the Red Cross.

Another long-time involvement is “The Angel Tree”, which provides Christmas gifts in answer to needy children’s requests. In addition to volunteering hours at the tree where requests are selected, Bill has been in charge of distribution of all the gifts to the happy children for the ten years of the project’s existence. Bill has also volunteered as Treasurer for the Salvation Army and rung the bell for collections at the Christmas season. An admitted duffer, Bill puts his golﬁng interest to good use by volunteering at charitable gold events - such as, the Kidney Foundation golf outing.

Bill joined the Retired Men’s Association on December 8, l993, and served on the Membership Committee from l994, until he became president. Bill has been an RMA piano player from l994 to the present, except for his year as president and was a director of the organization prior to entering the vice president-to-president cycle.

With all his contributions, Bill feels well rewarded by the satisfaction he receives from knowing he has made a difference in so many ways.

11 Linn I. Grim President 2003 - 2004

Linn Grim was born on July 7, 1928 in Lyons, Pennsylvania. He attended Penn State University and graduated with a B.S. in Chemistry. He then moved to Connecticut in l950 and worked for American Cyanamid. Shortly after, he married his wife Lee and there followed two children, Jeffrey and Carol. He currently has 3 grandchildren.

He served in the US Army during the Korean conﬂict, as part of the faculty at Fort Dix where, among other things, he performed research on smokeless gunpowder at the Piscatiny Arsenal. After his Armed Forces service, he ﬁnished law school, became a member of the Connecticut Bar, and started work as a patent attorney at Union Carbide. During his career he also served as a patent expert for Mobile Oil-Celanese for 21 years. Then he went to work for Kraft General Foods in White Plains, NY and eventually become its Senior Patent Attorney. Following the merger of General Foods with Phillip Morris, Inc. in 1985, he then served in the same capacity for the Legal Department of that company from which he retired in 1994.

Linn was an active parishioner of Christ Church Greenwich, serving on the Vestry from l978-1981 as well as on many committees. During his years in the RMA, he has been a member of Memorial Committee and a member and chairman of the RMA Bowling Group. He served as member and chairman of the Membership Committee, then became the 3rd Vice President, 2nd Vice President, Vice President, served as interim Head of Special Events Committee and sang with the Melody Men.

Linn died on April 1, 2012. A memorial service was held April 12, at Christ Church Greenwich.

13 Robert F. Church President 2004 - 2005

Bob grew up in the shadow of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland in the 30’s and 40’s during the big war. Competition was ﬁerce for dates in high school - the midshipmen (nicknamed bellhops) were perceived as much more glamorous than common townies, even though the age difference between high school freshman girls and “bellhops” was yawning.

After graduating from Amherst College in l951, Bob took a full-time job in the sales division of American Cyanamid Company. That lasted two years, until Uncle Sam crooked his finger and said, “I Want You.” for the Korean conflict. Fortunately, Bob just missed the fighting, but had a taste of what duty in a war zone was like. A transfer to the chemical laboratory in Japan was a welcome relief after nine months in Korea, and lasted through the rest of Bob’s tour of duty in the Far East. Just before the Korean stint, Bob married Betsy. Children started arriving after Bob’s return from Japan -- Peter, l956; Jonathan, l959; Alison, l963.

Four years at the University of Michigan afforded a PHD in chemistry, which Bob used to good effect in 30 more years at Lederle Labs, synthesizing pharmaceutical chemicals, a most rewarding job!

Bob’s interests included about ten years with the Boy Scouts - there were four years as scoutmaster of Troop 3 and cub-master for Pack 23. Bob served in the RTM for six years during the 70’s. However, the big distraction appeared in the 60’s when Bob discovered local theater. That interest persists to this day -- mainly in lighting productions for several local theatrical groups -- Connecticut Playmakers, St. Catherine’s Players,Diamond Hill Chancel Players, Darien Players, The Acting Company of Greenwich, among others. Occasionally, Bob has appeared on the stage in front of the lights, taking on several fanciful roles. Probably, his favorite was Erronius in, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. That role seems particularly apt.

Another important interest has been hiking and mountain climbing in all 50 states and beyond. Real effort has been expended on trying to stand on the high point of each state. Unfortunately, Alaska and Wyoming has eluded Bob, not for lack of trying. It’s amazing how “high-pointing” has taken Bob to out-of-the-way places that would otherwise not even appear on an itinerary.

The l980’s brought some upheaval. Bob was divorced and remarried (very happily I might add), and he also lost a son in a private plane accident. Life’s curve balls tend to throw one off balance, to say the least.

Bob’s interests still include community theater and volunteer work. Bob and Mary continue to travel all over. The RMA occupies a lot of time and probably will for the foreseeable future, God willing and the creek don’t rise.

15 Brian D. Forrow President 2005 - 2006

RMA Activities Brian Forrow joined the RMA on August 23, l995. His sponsors were Alex Gillespie and Dick McClung. He has been a member of the Program Committee since he joined. He was Second Vice President 2003-2004 and First Vice President 2004-2005. He hosted our 50th Anniversary Dinner in November 2005. First Selectman, Jim Lash, was our dinner guest of honor and presented us with a Proclamation proclaiming November 10, 2004 as Retired Men’s Association of Greenwich Day in the State of Connecticut, in honor of our commitment to Connecticut. We later received a citation from the President of the United States in honor of our ﬁfty years of volunteer service to our communities.

Outside Activities Brian Forrow has been a member of the Representative Town Meeting (District 10) since l993, and has served on various RTM committees; most recently, as a member of the Claims Committee and Vice Chair of the Public Works Committee. He is former Vice President and member of the Board of The Round Hill Association. He has also served as President and member of the Board of Directors of The Horseneck Club. He is a former member of St. Barnabas Church, Greenwich, and served as the ﬁrst Senior Warden, member of the Vestry and Diocesan Representative.

Personal History Born February 6, l927 on Staten Island, New York, son of Frederick George and Doris Forrow, who came to this country from the UK in l926. He attended public grammar school on Long Island and later The Stony Brook School, where he earned varsity letters in football, wrestling and tennis. He is a graduate of Princeton (1947) and The Harvard Law School (1950). He served in the Korean War as an Air Force JAG ofﬁcer from 1951-1953. He married Eleanor Frances Reid on March 8, l952. They moved to Greenwich in l962. They have four children; Lisa, Lachlan, Katie and Derek and four grandchildren, Melissa, Aden, Avery and Lauren.

Professional Experience Member of the New York and Connecticut Bars and the bars of various federal courts, including the Supreme Count of the United States where he has been counsel of record in several cases. He was an associate and then partner of the Wall Street Law firm Cahill Gordon Sonnett Reindel and Ohl from l950-l968. He served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Allied Signal Inc., and predecessor firms l968 to l992; and, for sixteen years, was a member of the Board of Directors. He is a member of The American Law Institute. He is also a member of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York where he served as Chair of the Committee on Corporate Law Departments. He is a member of the Association of General Counsel and a former member of the Committee on Corporate Law Departments of the American Bar Association. He is a former president of The Corporate Bar, an association of corporate lawyers in Fairfield and Westchester Counties.

Recreation Sailing on Long Island Sound and from Greenwich to Maine and back on Fiddler III, a Bermuda 40 yawl; and more recently on Fiddler IV, a Hinckley Picnic Boat. Duplicate bridge. Concertgoer: Greenwich Symphony, Purchase and Tanglewood. Grandchildren and our dog, Skipper. 17 Samuel J. Marasso, JR. President 2006 - 2007

RMA ACTIVITIES Sam was inducted into the RMA in October 2001 supported by his sponsors Leon Freeman and Doug Taylor. His previous elective ofﬁces were: First Vice-President 2005 - 2006 Second Vice-President 2004 - 2005 Third Vice-President 2003 - 2004 Sam is on the Program Committee and was Chairman from 2002 thru 2004. He is a volunteer in the Tax Counseling for the elderly ( TCE ) since 2001. He has enjoyed all the programs of the RMA and lends support to any areas requiring additional assistance.

PERSONAL HISTORY Sam was born in Chicago in 1939, the oldest of nine children and attended a Catholic primary school and educated by the nuns on the Sacred Heart Order.

EDUCATION M.A. School of International Service American University, Washington, D.C. 1969. B.A. Roosevelt University, Chicago, Illinois. Major: Economics and Business 1963.

MILITARY SERVICE Sam was inducted into the Army in 1963, served one year in Louisiana and was assigned to a diplomatic mission in New Delhi, India where he was a member of an assistance program to the Indian Government. He met his future wife Louise, who was attached to the American Embassy, and assisted in the Tibetan Refugee Program. Sam and Louise were married in India in 1966 after a one year courtship and celebrated their wedding day by riding on an elephant to the wedding reception.

EMPLOYMENT Sam worked in the Information Technology service area providing consultancy assistance to Banks and Insurance companies. He worked in Washington, D.C. on several projects with the Department of Agriculture. Many assignments were completed overseas including 4 years in Milan and Rome, Italy. He learned Italian and provided information technology assignments computerizing the banking accounts of the National Bank of Kuwait.

SPORTS ACTIVITIES Sam participates in the RMA tennis league and weekly golf at the Griff Golf Course.

LANGUAGES Hindi Dabbled in the Hindi Language and Sanskrit script while living in India. Italian Learned conversational Italian while working in Milan and Rome. French Hobby in reading French news.

RECREATION Sam enjoys: Theatre, Opera and Classical Music with an emphasis on piano repertoire.

19 Richard B. Limbacher President 2007 - 2008

Family and Education History Born June 20, 1929 in Bronxville, N.Y., Richard was the third son of Carl H. Limbacher Sr. and Beatrice Muller Limbacher. In time, the family welcomed another son and daughter, and lived in a white Cape Cod in Eastchester, N.Y. While his mother stayed at home raising the children, Richard’s father owned a house paint manufacturing facility in the Bronx. Like many children growing up in the thirties, Richard developed a strong work ethic, mostly because large families like his couldn’t afford allowances to each child. He was a born entrepreneur, selling magazines door-to-door, eggs from the family’s chickens and other sundries, to make money for himself. During the summer of l942, Richard did what he could for America’s war effort by joining the Victory Cadet Corps, a New York State program initiated to help farms cope with wartime labor shortages. After that, Richard became a familiar face in Scarsdale’s workforce, ﬁrst as a printer’s helper, then as a stock boy at the local grocery favorite, Gristedes. Richard attended Cooper Elementary School and entered the 7th grade at Eastchester H.S., graduating in l947. He was the class president his sophomore, junior and senior years at Eastchester. Richard attended the University if Bridgeport through his junior year; his studies ended abruptly because his father died of a heart attack, and his brothers needed his help in the business and at home. With his education sadly put on hold in early l950, Richard joined his brothers in restructuring the company. He never forgot what needed to be ﬁnished, and 42 years later, Richard returned to Bridgeport's night school. With his wife, Marion, four children and grandchildren by his side, Richard received a Bachelor’s Degree in Elective Studies, with the added distinction of being the oldest graduate in the Class of l996.

Military Service Richard’s tenure at the paint company was short lived in l950 with the onset of the Korean Conﬂict. Instead of waiting to be drafted, he enlisted in the Air Force and immediately was on his way to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. For 2 of his 3 years’ of service, Richard served in the 52nd Air/Sea Rescue Squadron at Ernest Harmon Air Force Base in Newfoundland, Canada. The country is best described as nine months of winter and three months of damn poor skiing, Richard says! Meanwhile, because his father died, and his two older brothers were newly married, Richard had to assume responsibility of his mother and two younger siblings. While serving his country, this 21 year-old son and brother established a monthly ﬁnancial allotment supporting his family. He reached the rank of Staff Sergeant prior to his honorable discharge in October l953, and promptly returned to Limbacher Paint and Color Works.

Marriage Richard married Marion Craven in June l954. They were classmates at Eastchester High School, but it wasn’t until his return from the service that they had a chance meeting through a revolving door at New York University. They married within a year in Tuckahoe, N.Y. 21 Their honeymoon night was spent at the Pickwick Arms Hotel, across the street from the YMCA. It was decided, together, that someday they would have a home in Greenwich. They ﬁrst settled in Scarsdale, and 10 years later made true their promise to each other, moving to the Glenville section of Greenwich.

Richard and Marion had 3 daughters and 1 son. The children were very active in the Greenwich High School Drama Department, regional theater and sports. Their eldest, Nancy, was a staple in the high school drama scene before attending Middlebury College and Fairﬁeld University (graduate school). She now lives in Atlanta with her husband, Paul, and their children, Katie and Abby. Their second child, Judy, was the musical director of the senior show, SRO, and was also active in drama and singing before attending Wittenberg University in Springﬁeld, Ohio. She lives in Cincinnati with her husband, Kevin, and their children - Amanda, Christian and Kelly. Their third daughter, Patty, was awarded Varsity letters in basketball, volleyball and softball, before attending St. Lawrence University and Northwestern University (graduate school). She lives in Milwaukee with her husband, Joe, and their children - Kate, Jack and Ben. Their son, Richard Jr., was awarded his varsity letters in basketball and baseball before attending Lafayette College. He lives in Paramus, N.J. with his wife, Michelle, and their children - Richie III, Ashlee and Luke. Lastly, in April 2004, Marion was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Shortly after Richard and Marion celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and 75th birthdays, Marion died July 22.

Outside Activities Richard and Marion joined Burning Tree Country Club in l968, and took a leave of absence for a few years during a temporary move to Cincinnati. In l980, they reactivated their membership and within a few years, Richard served on the Board of Governors for 5 years.

Since l953, Richard has been active with Scarsdale Post 52 American Legion. He served as Commander l961-l962’ and since l996, has been Financial Officer, in which he has been responsible for administrating about $2 million. Post 52 was the first individual American Legion local organization to donate $10,000 toward the WWII National Monument in Washington, D.C. Richard also spearheaded the Scarsdale Memorial Garden, a living memorial project, conceived and paid for by the Scarsdale American Legion. It is featured in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service catalog as a unique, peaceful setting in which private enclaves shelter individual, handcrafted 5 ton granite monuments, topped with bronze tablets, depicting each American War experience from the Revolutionary War, up to and including a monument to 9/11. Richard served on the Board of Directors for Utilize Senior Energy, a non-profit, job-related service of the Greenwich Senior Center. The service matches local senior with employers who have full or part-time positions available.

Richard has been a member of the RMA since 2001. During that time, he has served with the Special Events, Program Committee and Executive Committee, plus sang with the Melody Men. Starting with 3rd Vice President, he rose through each position and became President from 2007 to 2008.

22 Michael A. Ryan President 2008 - 2009

Early Life: Born in Oakland, California on March 5, 1938. Father was Ambrose Ryan, a medical doctor. Mother was Grace Ryan, a registered nurse.

Education: Attended Saint Vincent Grammar School in Vallejo, California. Graduated high school from Saint Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco in 1955. Graduated from Santa Clara University in 1960 with a B.A. in Political Science. In 1957, obtained a Certiﬁcate of Study in French Civilization from the University of Grenoble, Grenoble France. In 1963, obtained a B.A. in International Marketing from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Glendale, Arizona.

Military Service: Signed up with the National Guard in 1961 and had six months of active duty at Fort Ord, California in 1961/1962 and subsequently spent two years on active reserve in California and Arizona.

Employment: Pan American World Airways - San Francisco - 1960/1962; Radio Ménag, a French distribution ﬁrm of heating and air conditioning equipment, - Marseille, France - 1963/1964; Texaco - 1964/1999. The 35 years with Texaco in downstream marketing were broken down into three time periods: the ﬁrst covered the period 1964 to 1980 in Texaco's Foreign Sales Department during which - after training stints in New York and San Juan - there were 15 years of assignments in French-speaking West Africa (Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Cotonou, Benin; Dakar, Senegal). The second one was from 1980 to 1987 working in Texaco's International Aviation Sales Department in London selling jet fuel to airlines domiciled in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. The third period was from 1987 to 1999 again working in Texaco's International Aviation Sales Department. Was manager of U.S. sales to both domestic and foreign airlines. Retired from Texaco in June, 1999.

Personal Life: Married Susan Plummer in June, 1964 in London England. The two ﬁrst met while attending the University of Grenoble in 1957. They have two children – Michèle and Sean and four grandchildren - Cristina, Emma, Stephen, and Katie.

RMA: Became a member of the RMA in October, 2000. Served on the Membership Committee and was a member of the RMA Board of Directors for 10 years.

Volunteerism: Has been a driver with Call-A-Ride since January 2001 and served as President of Call-A-Ride for two years. Volunteered at Greenwich Hospital for 13 years. Has conducted Backstage Tours at the Metropolitan Opera House for 14 seasons. Has been involved with the local Salvation Army chapter since the early 2000s, managing the Kettle at Riverside Commons for three years and being a Board of Directors member for three years.

Special Interests: Opera, Politics, International Affairs, Cultures, Travel, San Francisco 49ers, the San Francisco Giants.

Sports: Golf 23 John P Craine President 2009 - 2010

RMA Activities John joined the RMA on March 12, 2003. He was sponsored by Bob Oppenheimer and Gordon MacDonald. John has been active with the name badge greeting committee since his induction. He was chairman of volunteer committee for 2004 and 2005. John was elected to the RMA Board as 3rd Vice President in 2006 and was designated as chairman of the annual RMA Picnic committee for both 2006 and 2007. He moved up the chain to 2nd VP then 1st VP in the following years. John has served as chairman of the RMA Raft-up Committee since 2010 and in 2014, he was designated as chairman of the RMA Emergency Exit Committee.

Outside Activities John’s volunteer activities currently include: the CT State Boating Advisory Council, Meals on Wheels and chairman of the Fairﬁeld County Commodores Association. His past volunteer activities include: Ten years as a driver for Red Cross Motor Services and the Board of Parks and Recreation for six years as Marine Facilities Chair where he coordinated $.5M Federal funding for the Grass Island Marina dredging project. He lead the focus on safety with the installation of safety ladders and emergency phones on Town docks. He also was responsible for leading the development of the Town Waterways Vision Plan, a substantial portion of the preliminary Town Harbor Management Plan and the web based Beach Pass Renewal process. For two years, John led the initial Coastal Resources Advisory Committee that implemented an on-line mooring registration system. He was also the Dredging Chair of the Selectmen’s Harbor Management Advisory Committee and coordinated $2M State funding for Mianus River dredging. In 1979 John became Chairman of the Ensign Class Regional Sailing Association. In 1980 and 1981 was Commodore of the Greenwich Cove Racing Association. In 1993 and 1994 he was Commodore of the Old Greenwich Yacht Club. John was one of the founders and was elected Chairman of the High Speed Ferry Safety Task Force of Long Island Sound.

Personal History Born December 27, 1936 in Bay Shore, NY. John grew up in Port Washington, NY where he attended St. Peter’s grammar school. He was an altar boy at St. Peter’s Church and was very active in the Cub Scouts. John is the oldest of the family of four children. Although John’s parents were teachers, John’s business interests started when he collected used newspapers at an early age. He invested the proﬁts in developing his interests for model trains and later for building his own amateur morse code radio station. John and his family moved to Albertson, NY in 1949 and he attended Chaminade High School, Mineola, NY where he played drums in the school band and ran the half mile with the track team. Upon graduation from Chaminade, he attended Villanova University for one year as a physics major. He joined the Naval ROTC and volunteered at the university radio station. John transferred to St. John’s University, Queens, NY where he earned a BA degree in Economics.

25 At the same time, he completed two years of accounting in evening classes at St. John’s Business School. He also joined the US Army Reserve, where he was promoted to sergeant and became the lead radar operator on the 75mm Skysweeper. His unit attended summer camps at Oswego, NY and Cape Cod, MA, where they tracked and shot down drones over the water. John also had a full time summer job at the IBM Country Club in Sands Point, NY. He raked sand traps and ﬂipped burgers and was promoted to snack bar manager in 1956. His most signiﬁcant activity while at St. John’s was competing for the attention of Mary Erensen who was one of a few dozen coeds in a college with 2,000 males. John graduated from St. John’s in June 1958 and the next day began his “real” career with IBM in their commission accounting department in New York City. He also began his night school studies for an MBA in accounting at NYU’s Sloan Business School. Soon after Mary returned from summer vacation in Europe, John and Mary were engaged. On July 18, 1959 they were married at St. Gerard’s Church, Hollis , NY. John & Mary raised six children and relocated from Hollis Park Gardens, NY, to Greenwich, CT, in December 1975 and became parishioners of St. Mary’s church. Upon retirement, they downsized to Riverside and became members of St. Clement’s. They also have ten very active grandchildren.

Professional Experience In addition to the BA from St. John’s University and an MBA from New York University, John also attended the IBM Advanced Management Program at Harvard University. He retired from IBM Corp. in 1991 after 33 years in accounting, systems engineering, marketing and ﬁnance assignments, including a number of management positions.

Recreation/Hobbies John and his family skied for many years in Connecticut, the Catskills, Vermont, the Adirondacks, and a trip to Vail, Colorado. After sailing lessons in St. Croix, he bought a Sunfish and the children all attended junior sailing programs. Soon a Laser, a 23 ft Ensign sloop and an inflatable all became part of the family fleet. Golf was added later as a part of their annual Florida spring break.

Awards Eighteen IBM Hundred Percent Clubs and six Golden Circles. US Coast Guard & Red Cross Certiﬁcates of Merit. Numerous sail boat racing & volunteer awards.

Life’s Pursuits Travel. IBM Golden Circle award trips with Mary to Bermuda, Mexico City, Acapulco, San Juan and Phoenix. Bare boat sailing charters to the British Virgin Islands, St. Martin and Guadeloupe. Cruises to Norway, Denmark, England, the Mediterranean, Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Hawaii, Alaska, the Caribbean, Panama Canal and tours tours of Europe. Racing and cruising their Endeavour 33 to Mystic, Newport, Block Island, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket and Cape Cod. They now travel mostly to grandkids regattas, swim meets, hockey and lacrosse games.

Objectives To continue to enjoy a healthy retirement in Greenwich with my wife Mary, six children and our ten grandchildren. Maintain an active role in community volunteer programs together with family sailing and travel activities.

26 Thomas J. Healy President 2010 - 2011

Tom Healy served as RMA President from May 2010 through April 30, 2011, during which time the RMA moved from its original location at the Greenwich YMCA to The First Presbyterian Church. This move generated a need to incorporate, revise the Articles of Association, and raise the annual dues to meet operating needs. Fortunately, with the help of many hands, the transition worked.

Tom was born in Richmond Hill, Queens, and graduated from Bishop Loughlin H.S. and St. John’s University with a BBA Degree. He worked over forty years in Finance with Pan American Airlines, Lockheed Martin, and retired from Texaco Inc. in 2001.

Tom and Kathie ( Wall ) were married in 1968, and moved to Greenwich in 1977. They have seven grandchildren thanks to their three offspring, Tara, Amy and Tom.

Prior to joining the RMA in 2002, Tom was very involved with community affairs in various capacities. Obviously, as a supportive Dad, he was Treasurer of the Cos Cob and Central Middle School PTAs, and coached various Town Boys and Girls Baseball, Soccer and Softball teams. Moreover, he was the Leader of the Greenwich Republican Town Committee’s Districts 2 & 8, as well as Executive Committee Member and Chairman of the Town Ofﬁcers Recruitment Committee. From 1990 through 1995, he was Chairman / Member of The Community Development Block Grant Committee.

In 1990, Tom was elected to the Greenwich Board of Estimate and Taxation, and served three terms until 1996. Prior to that, in 1987, he received a Presidential Appointment to serve on the local area standby Selective Service Board, which he did for 10 years.

Currently, Tom just retired from the RMA Board of Directors, where he served for the past 8 years. Now he is Co-Director of The Melody Men. Another ofﬁce Tom held was Special Events Chairman for four years. He still enjoys golf and tennis, and continues to say that the best thing that he did in retirement was to join the Greenwich Retired Men’s Association, where he has met “ the greatest group of guys he has ever known ”.

27 Richard H. Bartholomew

President 2011-2012

George W. Shaddock President 2012 - 2013

George Shaddock was born and grew up in Glen Rock, New Jersey. He graduated from Ridgewood High School where he was captain of the Golf Team. He is an alumnus of The Principia College, Elsah, Illinois and Columbia Graduate School of Business, NYC. George entered the business world in 1951, working at the production and management of corrugated shipping containers. In 1954, after a one-year stint at Columbia, he began work at Robert Gair Company, a corrugated container manufacturer, which later became Continental Can Company of “Fortune 500” fame. He was transferred to their New York office, division staff, and began extensive travel throughout the United States and Canada as a “Trouble shooter” servicing forty plants. His work required almost continuous travel and provided raw material for many of the vignettes collected in a self-published work (later in life) called ONLY MY FOOTPRINTS. He stopped traveling to serve as Plant Manager of two corrugated shipping container plants – CCC’s 502 Boston plant, Cambridge, MA, and later Boise Cascade’s Merchant plant in Chicago, IL (another Fortune 500 company). He was forced to close that plant in 1972 because of a sudden, and severe, recession. This precipitated his move to a career in sales. He began as a straight commission sales person in Indiana, working for Tax Research Institute of America, a division of Lawyers Cooperative Publishing Company. Within two years, he moved from salesman to Regional Sales Manager, to TRIA’s first Division Manager covering the entire Northeast United States. During these last two positions, he was constantly “on the road,” working with, and training, Regional Sales Managers and their reps. In 1984, George took a registration idea, conceived by a small quick-printer, and developed it into a nationally known product within two years. Once again, this required extensive travel throughout the United States, and included exhibiting at 15 Graphic Art shows a year. Virtually all of his travel was done by car and trailer. Later, he began his own company, The Cyrano Group, specializing in Copywriting and Marketing Consulting Services. Based on a move to California, The Cyrano Group morphed into London Circle Publishing, one of the first in e-book publishing. He had named the company after the street on which he lived in Benicia, California, and was immediately deluged by hopeful authors from England and Australia. The stated mission of LCP was to give authors a “leg up” on becoming print-published. His authors included MI5, MI6, agents, Vietnam Vets, and people from all walks of life. Approximately 20 percent of his authors became published in “hard copy” In 2007, George retired from publishing and moved to Greenwich, CT to help a dear friend who had recently retired. She and George had been good friends in Ridgewood High and had remained in contact for years. She immediately encouraged George to join the Retired Men’s Association of Greenwich. His original effort involved publicizing the RMA speakers’ program, under the direction of John deCsepel. He felt that the quality of speakers attracted by the RMA was of such a high level that the talks should be publicized to the entire Greenwich area. He began a ‘Flyer program” to promote each speaker. In 2009 he was elected to 3rd VP and followed the trail to President in 2012. Just prior to his leaving office, he undertook the task of updating the RMA song books with additional songs, fresh formatting, and new covers. George continues to believe that the quality of men the RMA attracts is absolutely “top drawer,” and the speakers, still under John deCsepel’s direction, are outstanding. Prior to his becoming President, he approached Bernard Schneider about taking over the Flyer program. Bernard accepted and has done, and continues to do, a creative and exciting job ever since.

31 Michael R. Smith President 2013 – 2014

RMA Activities Mike Smith joined the RMA in 2002

Outside Activities Past Commodore - Riverside Yacht Club Past President and current driver for Call-a-Ride of Greenwich Executive Committee Member – River House – Adult Day Center Past Board Member – Greenwich Symphony

Personal History Born in Santa Barbara, California - August 27, 1939 Married Beverly Jo Buehner – July 28, 1962 Children – Brad, Jani, Shawn, and Jennifer Education – Graduated from San Diego State University and American Institute for Foreign Trade (Thunderbird), Phoenix, Arizona.

Professional Experience Georgia Pacific Corp. – Portland, OR Louisiana Pacific Corp. – Portland, OR Intermarket Consulting – Portland, OR Price and Pierce Inc. – New York, NY and Stamford, CT Elof Hansson Inc. – New York, NY and Elmsford, NY

For 40 years, exported wood cellulose, raw material for paper, rayon, acetate, and paint products.

Recreation/Hobbies Sailing, fishing, golf, tennis. Sailed in Newport to Bermuda Yacht Race seven times. Won Division First Place twice.

Awards Lovely wife, four kids, four grand-children, healthy life, and member of RYC and RMA

Life Pursuits Lucky enough to visit most industrialized countries of the world many times during 40 years of international sales work.

Parting Thoughts It has been said many times, “EVERY DAY IS A BEAUTIFUL DAY,” quoth Chuck Standard evermore. I BELIEVE IT!!!

RMA Presidents’ Book

Robert Osborn Phillips RMA President, 2014-2015

Bob Phillips was born on May 13, 1941 in Bronxville, NY the fourth of four sons of the late Alfred and Marion Phillips. His father, a partner in the Brown Wood law firm of New York City, in informing his brothers of his arrival, is reputed to have rolled down a car window at their place of play and announced with an apparent hint of exasperation (at not having at least one child of the opposite sex) “it’s a boy” and then rolling up the window and driving off. Fortunately for Bob this incident became only a humorous tidbit of family history as his father was always his biggest supporter and loved all of his sons greatly.

Bob grew up in Scarsdale, New York and the last three of his high school years were spent at Taft School in Watertown, CT from which he graduated in 1959. From there Bob stepped up to Brown University where he joined the Navy R.O.T.C. Reserve program and was a member of both the Sigma Chi fraternity and the Faunce House Board of Governors, a student board which planned and coordinated student activities. He graduated from Brown in 1963 with an A.B degree in International Relations (a course of study which cut across the History, Economics and Political Science Departments) and a commission as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy Reserve.

Upon graduation Bob was assigned by the Navy to the USS MAUNA LOA, an ammunition ship. He was quickly to learn that there must have been someone in the Navy’s ship naming department with a ghoulish sense of humor as all ammunition ships were named after volcanoes- sister ships being among others the AETNA, VESUVIOUS and MOUNT HOOD. Bob joined the MAUNA LOA in Naples, Italy after waiting three weeks ashore in Naples while the ship plied the Mediterranean’s waters- an educational experience not very similar to academics at Brown. After Bob joined the ship it traversed the Mediterranean from Barcelona to Istanbul leaving waves of stories and adventures in its wake. Bob served on the MAUNA LOA as a deck officer and Special Weapons Officer (don’t ask what was kept in Hold #2- you might have to take a cyanide capsule).

Bob entered Fordham Law School at Lincoln Center in New York City in the fall of 1965 emerging three years later as a fledgling attorney at the admiralty law firm of Kirlin, Campbell and Keating in NYC. It was during this time that he met Adriana van der Borg of the Netherlands, a law school graduate there, fluent in four languages, who was in New York for a year as a foreign trainee. Adriana’s year in the U.S. turned into 47 years and counting as after a 2 year courtship Bob and Adriana were married in her hometown of Nijmegen, The Netherlands in 1971 and returned to the U.S. to live. They were actually

married twice (in a civil and four days later a religious ceremony) the magistrate in the civil ceremony making a 10 minute pronouncement in Dutch about the obligations of marriage of which he then rendered a 30 second summary in English. Over the course of 44 years of marriage it has become clearer exactly what was lost in translation. The magistrate also proclaimed at one point in English that “the marriage is now consummated” which instantly drew the attention of the bride’s family, particularly her parents.

Bob joined Texaco Inc. in New York City in 1971 as a maritime attorney and had an almost 30 year career there which expanded into the areas of aviation, marine fuel sales, oil trading and corporate law. He served for a time as General Counsel of Fuel and Marine Marketing Inc., a joint venture between Texaco and Chevron prior to the acquisition of Texaco by Chevron. While always based in the New York area, Bob travelled extensively overseas for Texaco.

The company moved from the Chrysler Building to Purchase, NY in 1977 and Bob and Adriana at about the same time moved from New York City to Greenwich, CT where they have resided since. Their two daughters arrived in 1978 and 1979 inspiring a move from a two bedroom condominium in Lyon Farm to the current home on Jeffrey Road. The two girls were educated in the Greenwich Public Schools the elder then attending Princeton and the younger Yale from which they both respectively graduated. Today their older daughter lives with her husband and two children (boy and girl) outside of Frankfurt Germany where she is a senior executive with Deutsche Bank and their younger daughter who graduated from and did her residency at the University of California, San Francisco Medical School is an internist in San Francisco, married with one daughter.

Bob served for 10 years on the Greenwich Representative Town Meeting during part of that time as Chairman of the Education Committee and Vice Chairman of District 8. In retirement Adriana and he spent a year in Coral Gables, Florida where he worked under contract with Chevron. He currently serves as President of Meal-on-Wheels of Greenwich.

Bob greatly enjoyed his term as President of the RMA and very much appreciates the support of the membership during that time. He continues to enjoy the fellowship of the Association through RMA golf, Program Committee discussions and hanging out at the break of RMA meetings. He looks forward to continued participation in the Association’s activities- long live the RMA!