And here, folks, is what it was all about!!

 

THE FLORIDA FROLIC

(reprinted with permission - Nassoon Notes)

 

     Just when you think..."lt can't get any better than that"...it does! A record crowd of 27 graduate Nassoons gathered in Longboat Key, Florida on the Gulf of Mexico over the long weekend of November 7-11, 2002 for an event dubbed The Florida Frolic. Hosted by the superbly organized and ever-gracious Don and Judy Le Win, the Frolic was carefully scheduled to fall precisely between two storm fronts, affording the participants four glorious days of sunny, warm weather in an otherwise wet, stormy Florida fall.

 

     Participants included mini-reunion first-timers Jerry (and Betsy) Ford '54 and the previously long-absent Dave Kendall '61, as well as stalwarts from the '55-'63 class years and their spouses and significant others: Dave Howell '55, Gary Lane '57 (and Kathryn Adams), Hugh (and Peggy) Madden '57, Bob Brodsky '58 (and Toni Treadway), Erich (and Patsy) Everbach '58, Lew Ross '58 (and Miles Dumont), Dunc (and Joan) Dempster '59 J D. (and Judy) Helms '59, Bob (and Beth) Taylor '59, Pete (and Lana) Graff '60, Dick (and Carol) Grieves '60, Rlch (and Vicky) McGlynn '60, Jim (and Ann) Crawford '61, Don and Judy Le Win '61, Buzz Kelsey '62, the irrepressible Dave Watts '62, Barry (and Helena) Schuman '63, and Chuck Sethness '63 (and Jackie Standish).

 

     The gang was enhanced—vocally, if not visually—by the usual "freshmen" suspects: John (and Mart) Pieper '65, Rick Eisenhart '66, Mac (and Clare) McMorris '66, Roger Bates '67, Jim (and Jane) Schenkel '68, and Chuck Goldberg '71.

 

     The reunion was headquartered at the beautiful Hilton Longboat Key Beach Resort situated right on the Gulf of Mexico, just west of Sarasota. The group assembled Thursday evening for dinner followed by singing in the spacious, high ceilinged Antigua Room (dubbed the 'Soon Room for the weekend). On Friday morning the group was treated to a tour of the famous Mote Museum and Aquarium in Sarasota, the nation's leading shark research facility. (The lawyers in the crowd felt particularly at home). That was followed by lunch on the patio of the Beach House in Bradenton Beach, situated on the beach not 50 yards from the Gulf. The afternoon was free for swimming, beach-combing, and shopping at the famous St. Armand's Circle in Sarasota (sort of a Rodeo Drive East).

 

     Later that afternoon, the group got down to the not-so-serious business of rehearsing for their two weekend performances, under the able and energetic direction of Rich McGlynn. At the rehearsal, the group was particularly inspired by Buzz Kelsey's command of complex rhythmic patterns.

 

     On Friday evening, the group took over a large room at the famous Crab & Fin restaurant on St. Armand's Circle for a spectacular dinner washed down by an ample assortment of wines. Afterwards, Nassoon singing could be heard throughout the restaurant. A freshmen quartet ventured out to an adjacent room to entertain a group of ladies, visiting from Nashville on a tennis holiday, with their rendition of I Wish You Love. Following dinner, the group returned to the pool-side bar at the Hotel to sing a number of songs in the repertoire—many of which they did not know or could no longer remember.

 

     Another rehearsal on Saturday morning was followed that evening by the first official performance of the weekend at a reception for local Princeton alumni and other guests. Cocktails were served at the pool-side terrace bar under an enormous banyan tree. The performance then took place upstairs in the Antigua Room, followed by a buffet dinner and informal singing. Host Don Le Win did a beautiful job on The {our Winds and the Seven Seas, while Rick Eisenhart and Chuck Goldberg shared solo duty on a touching rendition of ('Christopher Robin. Mercifully, this year Pete Graff was asked to set the key changes on Toidy Toid & Toid. Jim Crawford was, once again, magnificent on his solo. The freshmen quartet also reprised other quartet arrangements from the '60s.

 

     That performance was followed with another on Sunday night at a reception for about 70 residents and guests at the Longboat Club, the condominium complex where the Le Wins enjoy their winters in Florida. After the reception, the group enjoyed a buffet dinner and sang the rest of the known pre- 1960 Nassoon repertoire. They were then entertained with some hilarious storytelling by Rich McGlynn.

 

     Another remarkable mini-reunion is now history. But plans are already afoot for the next...in Palm Springs in early 2004.