June 2003 One Dollar RECOVERY of MISSING BOYS CLOSES MARITIME WINNERS SAIL TRAGIC CHAPTER in C.I
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Second Class Permit Paid at Bronx, N.Y. USPS 114-590 Volume 32 Number 5 June 2003 One Dollar RECOVERY OF MISSING BOYS CLOSES MARITIME WINNERS SAIL TRAGIC CHAPTER IN C.I. HISTORY INTO THE SUNSET By KAREN NANI By KAREN NANI After the recovery of the body of Max among other locations, but to no avail, Ms. Guarino on April 25, each week brought Koschak told The Current. another sad chapter in the effort to find the The next day, May 18, Mr. Rhoads came four teenagers missing since January 24, to City Island with his kayak to help search 2003. Volunteers, Islanders and spring tides the waters, and he headed for the western were among those who helped return the shoreline of Hart Island well above the boys to their families. high-water mark. He beached his kayak, Ten days after the discovery of the first started walking and apparently found boy, the body of Islander Carlo Wertenbak- Henry Badillo's body among the beach er was spotted by a fisherman off Hart grasses, where it could not be seen from Island (see story this issue). Then two the water's edge. He told Ms. Koschak that weeks later, Andrew Melnikov's body was the body looked like "part of the scenery." found on the shore of Hart Island by a In a sad twist of fate, the teenager was kayaker and co-worker of Henry Badillo, discovered near the Hart Island ferry dock, the father of the teenager who remained which the police and others have speculat- missing. His son's body surfaced the fol- ed was the original destination for the four lowing day and was discovered by resi- boys on the night of their disappearance. dents Lorraine and Arthur Rauhauser near The ferry and dock are used by the city to the dock of Consolidated Yachts on Pilot transport bodies to Hart Island, which is Street. used as a potters field to bury the unidenti- When residents heard the sound of heli- fied dead found in New York City. Photo by RICK DeWITT copters on Sunday, May 18, a shudder once About 1 p.m., Mr. Rhoads called Mr. The sixth annual Maritime Heritage Awards were presented aboard the yacht Cloud more went through the community. The Badillo, who was waiting at Barron's Boat- 9, which set sail from the Consolidated yacht yard on May 30, 2003. More than 100 body of Andrew Melnikov had been dis- yard, to tell him that he had found a body Islanders and guests enjoyed the evening cruise to the Statue of Liberty and covered on Hart Island by Chris Rhoads, wearing a leather jacket. A small group of applauded the dedicated award winners. Shown above are the honorees and pre- one of a team of volunteers and divers who volunteers, including divers Matt Marzullo senters (l. to r.): Patricia Hennessy, Karen Nani, Julia DiMaio, Susan Strazzera, Father had been searching on behalf of the fami- and Mr. Soto, went over by boat to assist Robert Moore, Deborah McManus, Michael Rauh, Frances Carrollo, Borough Presi- lies. Mr. Rhoads. They determined that the dent Adolfo Carrion, Angela Adler, Barbara Dolensek, Philip Dolensek and Rose Rod- According to Carol Koschak of Captain beached body was not likely to drift away, strom. Not shown, Jimmy Heekin representing Assemblyman Stephen Kaufman. Mike's Diving on City Island, the parents and they waited until the Harbor Patrol of the missing teenagers had organized a boat arrived at the ferry dock. Police then The 2003 Fleet Weekend Maritime Her- Civic Association since 1992 and secretary boat search on May 17 with some volun- took the boy's body to the Fordham Street itage awards were fittingly presented aboard of the City Island Historical Society and teer divers. They believed that the high dock, where it was removed by ambulance the yacht Cloud 9 as it sailed from Consoli- Nautical Museum since 1995. She is also a spring tides and strong northeast winds of to the medical examiner’s office. It was dated Marina on City Island down the East member of the City Island Garden Club and the preceding week might have caused the identified the next day as the body of River on May 30. The first floating Fleet the Bronx Council on Environmental Quali- bodies to surface and be washed ashore. Andrew Melnikov, 16, of Manhattan. Weekend dinner honored three longtime res- ty and is on the advisory board of the City One of the divers, Carlos Soto of Castle Families and friends prayed, on behalf idents, Barbara Dolensek, Michael Rauh Island Theater Group. She worked closely of Henry Badillo’s parents, that the last boy Hill Avenue in the Bronx, made numerous and Susan Strazzera, and three off-Islanders, with the Department of City Planning in its would be found quickly. They had to wait dives that day in a dedicated effort to find Angela Adler, Frances Carrollo, Adolfo Car- preparation of the City Island Maritime Her- the boys. He dove around Hart Island, Continued on page 3 rión Jr., all of whom have worked tirelessly itage Preservation study. In her spare time, to improve the lives of Island children and which is rare considering how much she adults. devotes to community service, Barbara The gala evening was hosted by IDEA enjoys riding horseback, working on her land- (Innovative Directions, An Educational mark Victorian house and gardening. Alliance), whose co-founders, Rose Rod- Michael Rauh strom and Patricia Hennessy, began the fes- Keeper of the Harbor Award tivities by introducing some of the Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1947, community leaders and politicians who had Michael Martin Rauh is a lifelong resident come aboard to pay homage to the honorees. of New York City. He received his primary Various presenters, including Julia DiMaio and secondary education in Queens and and Deborah McManus of P.S. 175, Father earned his B.S. and M.A. degrees from Robert Moore of St. Mary Star of the Sea, SUNY Empire State College. In 1967 he Jimmy Heekin representing Assemblyman joined the Army and served as an infantry Stephen Kaufman, and Karen Nani of The sergeant with the 199th Light Infantry Island Current, then highlighted the accom- Brigade in Vietnam. When he returned home plishments of each. from the service, Mike met clam digger Photos by RICK DeWITT and Courtesy of Captain Mike's Dive Shop Judith Wright. They were married in 1971, The body of Islander Carlo Wertenbaker was discovered by a fisherman off Hart Island Barbara Dolensek on Sunday, May 4, 2003, and brought to the Fordham Street ferry dock (top photo). Many Maritime Heritage Award and Mike has lived on City Island ever people have been involved in the recovery effort since Carlo and three other boys disap- Barbara Burn Dolensek moved to City since. Judy and Mike have two daughters, peared on Jan. 24, the Port Authority Police Department, and divers from Captain Mike's Island in 1976 with her husband, Dr. Emil Elizabeth and Susan. on City Island, who have been searching with specially-trained canines from a company Dolensek, who was chief veterinarian at the For the past 18 years, Mike has volun- called Western New York Search Dogs (bottom photo). Bronx Zoo until his death in 1990. Barbara teered with the P.S. 175 annual environmen- grew up in Weston, Massachusetts, and tal studies program at Camp Greenkill, graduated from Smith College with a B.A. where he draws on his knowledge of orien- in art history. For more than 40 years, she teering, environmental studies, and expert- worked as an art book editor, including 18 level cross-country skiing to give the years at The Viking Press and 15 years at children a memorable experience. He is The Metropolitan Museum of Art. She is known affectionately as “Mr. Greenkill” by also the author of 12 books. In 2002 she a generation of students. He is a firm sup- retired from Harry N. Abrams, Inc., as direc- porter of IDEA, where he helps with plan- tor of art and museum publishing. ning. Many people recognize him as “that Barbara has been active in the City Island guy they always see running,” and he co- community for many years, starting with the directs, with his wife, Judy, the annual City Parents’ Association at P. S. 175, when her Island 5K Road Race and Half-mile Youth 21-year-old son, Philip, was a student there Run on Fleet Weekend. Mike is a parish- in the mid-1980s. She has been copy editor ioner of St. Mary, Star of the Sea Church, and a writer for The Island Current since Continued on page 7 1985, recording secretary of the City Island Page Two The Island Current June 2003 THE MET IN THE PARKS series of free outdoor concert performances by BRIEFLY... the Metropolitan Opera returns to Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx for two performances in June. The Met performs Gaetano Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor” on Friday, June 20, GARDEN TOUR AND ANNUAL LUNCHEON: The City Island and Giacomo Puccini’s “Turandot” on Saturday, June 21. Both concerts are at 8 p.m. and Garden Club is sponsoring a garden tour on Saturday, June 7, 2003, from 1 to 4 p.m. The no tickets are required. Performances will be held on the field near the tennis courts and tour starts at 21 Tier Street, where you will receive a tour map. Suggested donation: $5. track; enter off Middletown Road and the Bruckner Expressway. For directions to perfor- The Garden Club’s Annual Luncheon will be on Thursday, June 19, at the City Island Yacht mance sites, rain dates or additional information concerning the Met in the Parks concert Club.