The American Legion Auxiliary Unit 524 hosted a fall fashion show and luncheon at The Flanders Hotel benefiting the building fund for the American Legion’s new home at 46th Street and West Avenue.
Over 300 ladies converged on The Flanders, taking a break from watching the Pope on television and leaving husbands at home watching football. Joanne Marzulli wore a cream lace dress when she welcomed me and quickly gathered luncheon committee members Marguerite Clark, Barbara Faith, Cathy Rebl, Donna Baker, Maureen Sabato, Rosemary Molette, Suzanne Fisher, Bonnie Hyson and Nancy Plauschinat together for a picture. Catering director Karen Bergman reprimanded me for crashing through the taped-off dining room to take pictures. Barbara Faith of Avalon baked 330 cookies in the shape of a ladies dress with yellow icing with tiny white pearls around the neck, a goodie for each lady to take home to enjoy. Barbara also found time to create a sea creature cookie tray for the Chinese auction. Marianne Gontis from Somerset, Pa. admitted to being Barbara’s cookie helper. Lynn Brock was looking forward to a big change in her life as she recently sold her home in Ocean City and will divide her time between a townhouse here and an apartment in Center City Philadelphia. Rose Savastano is delighted to be back in her home in Merion Park, finally having it raised after Hurricane Sandy. Michele Gillian and husband Jay are also settled in their new home in the Gardens and the Gillians got a lot of exercise this summer walking from their home to Wonderland on the boardwalk. Sally Huff and this columnist have attended many luncheons and fashion shows over the past 50 years and look forward to many more. Eileen Adams didn’t bother to move her car and just walked over to the luncheon after attending Mass at St. Augustine’s.
Marie Hayes is in great shape as she and husband Lloyd are biking all over town, sometimes as much as 25 miles a day. Marie isn’t going to miss anymore circle meetings after Joan Walker volunteered her to teach next month’s lesson. I checked out the Chinese auction gift packages as I walked down the mirrored hall to the Candlelight Ballroom for lunch. I had a hard time finding Table 20 until I noticed Marion McCaughey and Joanne Budnick waving to me from our table in a corner in the back of the room.
I joked with Denise Jessel about not having much clout with this group since our table was so far back then figured they knew how rowdy we were, so they put us in the corner. I enjoyed catching up with old friends Pat Brown and Arlene Druck, who were sitting at the next table. Jim and I rented the second floor of Pat and Dick Brown’s duplex on Central Road when we got married in ’62. Arlene’s father, Spence Lightcap, was a sergeant in the Ocean City Police Department when my husband first joined the police force. The three of us had a great time reminiscing about the good old days in Ocean City. Arlene said her grandchildren are the fifth generation living in the family home in Ocean City. Jean Pessano is looking forward to the arrival of her sixth grandchild in February. Denise Tumelty said she has lived in Ocean City for over 60 years and was excited to report her daughter and grandchildren went to Philadelphia to see Pope Francis. Roberta Schulz jogged my brain when she told me she and her husband are neighbors of the Koleas, who host the Republican Club cookouts on their deck with guests overflowing on the Schulz deck.
Peg Kendrick’s granddaughter also went to see Pope Francis. Beverly Osborne is looking forward to visiting her family while traveling this winter. Liz Mossop said Ocean City is her favorite town although she lives in Blue Bell, Pa. and summers in Upper Township at Oak Ridge Camp Ground, where she is good friends with our friends, Sally and Bob Stair. Eleanor Conway didn’t seem to mind that she missed getting her picture taken. Ann Maikner created the programs for the luncheon and Joanne Marzulli wanted to be sure I got her picture. When Joanne invited models Joanne Kocher, Cathy McMenamin, Gloria McDermott and Joan Sambucci to join Ann, they were somewhat reluctant until Barbara Riggione told them “When Cathy calls you, come.” Janet Dershimer enjoyed the luncheon with her granddaughter, Aubre. It was great to see Vivian and Joe DiMassimo enjoying the luncheon and fashion show. Post 524 Cmdr. Bob Marzulli arrived a little late and quickly took the stage to welcome everyone to the luncheon, however, his wife and all the rest of the ladies were disappointed he didn’t wear his uniform. I enjoyed the lunch, salad wrapped in cucumber, chicken francaise, fingerling potatoes and bread pudding, while chatting with Winnie Piriano, Carol Hadtke, Betty Ray, Marion McCaughey, Denise Jessel, Gail Blevin and Alice Wolf.
After lunch, I caught up with the female models in the dressing room changing into their first outfits from Chico’s for the fashion show. Lisa Giorno was helping Joann Kocher, Suzie Fisher, Nancy Plauschinat, Gloria M cDermott, Denise Tumelty, Maureen Sabato, Cass Cebular, Ellen Laut, Cathy McMenamin, Sandy Weisser and Lisa Giorno with their jewelry and scarves to complete their fashions.
John Kocher, a member of the American Legion, handled the sound system and Lisa Giorno served as commentator for the Chico’s fashions while the models walked the runway then circulated around the dining room so the ladies could get an up close look at the fall clothes. Ten members of the American Legion Post 524, Bob Buker, Jack Hagan, Miky Hyson, Rich Laut, Bob Marzulli, Jack Monaghan, Fred Plauschinat, Joe Rebl, Jim Sambucci and Gene Weber, whose wives were running the luncheon, were persuaded to model in the fashion show, however, they were nowhere to be found when it was time to get ready. I finally discovered them enjoying lunch in the sunny solarium off the second floor lobby.
With some prodding from their wives the models changed into their Tommy Bahama outfits and posed for pictures before taking to the runway. Krasimira Kostadinova served as commentator for the men’s fashions while the ladies at the show enjoyed checking out the models when they paraded by each table. When the 10 male models took their bows on the runway, the ladies whipped out their cell phones to take pictures of these handsome guys.
Our table did quite well in the Chinese auction with Marion McCaughey, Winnie Piriano, Gail Blevin and Joanne Budnick taking home nice gift packages. By the time Marion finished scratching off all the lottery tickets in her gift package, she had over $400 and decided to give half back to the American Legion. Denise Jessel won the yellow mum in floral wrap table centerpiece with the closest birthday, but gave it to Gail Blevin to take home. Marion McCaughey, Alice Wolf and I enjoyed chatting with Nicolette Mirra and Gerri Cusato as we headed for our cars after the luncheon.
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