Have you heard the latest?
Toronto Day in Florida (TDIF) celebrated its 40th anniversary on Feb. 28 in the lodge at beautiful Major Dade State Park in Bushnell, Fla. This annual event was established in 1970 by former Toronto resident John Westlake, and it has been happening every year since. More than 60 guests attended this year.
The purpose of TDIF has always been an informal get-together at a site in Florida for everyone who has ever been associated with the Gem City - residents, students, business persons, etc., along with spouses and friends. Both current Florida residents and Toronto residents are invited, as well as all others who want to spend a delightful day in Florida.
A few years ago a new practice was instituted - an invitation to a guest speaker, with special emphasis on sons and daughters of Toronto. Don Sutherin, Class of 1954, a distinguished Toronto alumnus and member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, was our first speaker. Don entertained the group with sometimes thrilling, sometimes hilarious tales of his football playing and coaching days. The following year John (Bill) Arehart, Class of 1951 and a career CIA agent, regaled us with exciting stories of his life over many years spent in overseas locales, while not spilling any CIA secrets.
This year's speaker was another Toronto favorite son, Tom Urich, Class of 1952, accompanied by his talented wife Judy. Tom followed our newly established tradition by enthralling the audience with show business anecdotes, many of which involved Judy, as they have spent their lives performing on the stage, screen and TV. They matriculated through Broadway, and Tom made many commercials.
We're delighted to announce the guest speaker for 2010 will be another Toronto favorite son, Michael Cervenak, Class of 1953, a retired attorney who for nearly 30 years was a civil trial defense attorney in Los Angeles.
Mike graduated from Ohio University in 1957 with a degree in physics, worked as an engineer for several years and attended night school to earn a law degree in January 1966 from Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles. He was admitted to the California State Bar that same year and eventually tried more than 100 jury trials to verdict during his career. He will be accompanied by his wife Donna. They have four children and 10 grandchildren.
Chairperson Joan Paisley Hendricks, Class of 1950, cordially invites all Gem City folks, spouses and friends who might be able to attend next year's event, which will be held on Feb. 13 at the same site.
So Red Knights, it's not too early to pencil in that date on your calendar and why not invite your friends and classmates to join with you as you attend the 2010 TDIF. If you can also spend the prior night in Bushnell, you must plan to attend the impromptu get-together in the evening at our event motel for some serious reminiscing. We call it an "attitude adjustment hour," but it's really a wonderful time to relax with friends as a prelude and warmup for the next day's TDIF.
We encourage anyone who is interested in attending to get in touch with Joan Hendricks at rnhjph@aol.com or Bobby Karaffa at karaffar@aol.com. If you would like to be on the planning committee, don't be bashful. Fresh ideas are always encouraged and the "old guard" is now talking retirement, so step up to the plate and help the team.
Some of the people who made this year's event a success were Romaine Roush Miller, Class of 1950; Carol Wasyk Rogers, Class of 1953; Cathy Karaffa Williams, Class of 1962; Tony Lamantia, Steubenville Catholic Central Class of 1947; Bobby Karaffa, Class of 1950; Joan Paisley Hendricks and last but not least, Joan's husband Ron, a Texan originally from Houston who has been instrumental in assisting Joan make TDIF an affair to remember.
So make your plans to attend, talk it up with classmates and friends, and let's keep TDIF alive and well. We need e-mail addresses and/or a mailing address to add to our list of proud Buckeyes who love our state and especially our Toronto heritage.
(Bobby Karaffa is a 1950 graduate of Toronto High School.)
