Summer 2025

JUNE 2025 NEWSLETTER OF THE PARK HILL RACQUET CLUB

June 24, 2025

Recent Parties to Usher in Summer

New Members’ Cocktail Party. On Friday, June 20th, the venerable Racquet Club on Park Hill welcomed its 2025 “class” of new members, ushering in summer with a vibrant potluck party organized and presided over by our hardworking Social Committee co-chairs, Justine Henry and Patty Gamba. Welcome to our new members and their families: Sergio Vasquez, Elizabeth Pereira, Laura and Albert Cruz, Ellen Venditto, Christine Burns and Michael Miller, Blair Ho􏰀man, Danille Swick, Sharon Ollivierre, Lois Forestieri, James and Tina Stout, Sally and Angel Collazo and Dejanee Moss and Scott Victorio.

The lounge, foyer and lower bar hardly seemed crowded in the festive atmosphere, despite being packed, wall to wall, with around 70 members and guests catching up on the latest club news and enjoying the several dozen tasty appetizers, hors d’oeuvres, desserts and other treats brought for the occasion by members.

Our peerless head bartender, Vinny D’Alessio, was kept busy all evening by the thirsty revelers,while new bartender Chess did great work circulating among the partiers wishing refills.

The 2025 Bowling Awards Party. The night before, on Thursday, June 19th, the club’s bowling league, led by Winter League President Jon Wallen, held its annual Bowling Awards dinner in the lounge to distribute prizes to teams and individual bowlers for their hard-won achievements during the six-month-long bowling season. (See below for the final statistical results for teams and individuals, as compiled by Steve Savard.)

A Great Launch of the Spring Social Season on Memorial Day Week End

Friday “Trivia and Pizza” Night.

The club kicked o􏰀 its social season with verve during the Memorial Day Week End festivities enjoyed alike by adults and kids. On Friday, May 23rd, Director Justine Henry organized the club’s first “Trivia and Pizza Night” for 30 members, with cash prizes, and a good time was had by all, due to the excellent mix of questions devised by Justine. Honorary mention for winning the first Trivia game goes to the team of Susanne and Vivian Savard and Lynne and John Twomey. Everyone enjoyed the delicious variety of pizzas ordered in by the club’s indefatigable Treasurer, Tennis Committee Chair, and Bar Committee Chair, Patty Gamba.

The Saturday, May 24th Pool Opening.

No event of the social season is more important than the annual spring day when the club’s repaired, cleaned and beautifully repainted pool re-opens. That opening occurs typically on the Saturday of the Memorial Day Week End, the day before the fun tennis tournament and potluck barbecue. As usual, few jumped into the frigid water on opening day, when the ambient air temperature was also unusually chilly. Liam McConnell was the first person to brave the cold air and water that week end, and Matt Gervais was the first adult to take the plunge. Congratulations, Liam and Matt!

Special thanks go to our hard-working Pool Committee – chair Pam Opdyke and her fellow committee members Casey Quinn and Karin White – for putting in nearly a month of preparation to get the pool ready on time for the end-of-May holiday week-end opening. Thanks also to all the members who assisted the committee in moving and power-washing furniture, putting on the primer, painting the pool, cleaning the decks and stairwells, and generally helping the committee in every way they could. Those helpers included: Pierce Co􏰀ey, Emmett Tucker, Pat O’Hanlon, Jennifer Ringstad, Debbie and Joe Kriksciun, Bob and Adele Longo, new member Sergio Vasquez, Beth Ostergaard and Vic Mason.

Pool Committee members also have the job of hiring the lifeguards, enforcing city regulations for safety and club rules of attendance and decorum, and supervising the e􏰀icient running of the pool all summer long. As the View Master told us recently in, “A View from the Hill”, this summer’s lifeguards are: Aileen Farrelly (in her sixth year with us), Eavan Co􏰀ey (fourth year), Pierce Co􏰀ey and Emmett Tucker (third year each), Gabby Castillo-Lopez and Nox White Krawiec (second year each), and Kate Comar, Rudy Martinez and Olivia Quinn (first year each).

Holiday Fun Tennis Tournament.

On Sunday morning, May 25th, in beautiful if unusually cool weather, 24 members took part in the holiday Fun Tennis Tournament organized and run by Tennis Committee member Claire Miko. (See photo of the 24 participants, also taken by Claire.) After six rounds, with everyone playing four times, the two highest-scoring players were new member Danille Swick and defending champ Michael Frisch, who garnered 12 points each.

Holiday Potluck Dinner and Barbecue.

The first big week end barbecue of the spring season – organized and run by Patty Gamba, Todd Geremia on grill (hot dogs, hamburgers and chicken) and Tami Vu – saw over 70 members and guests attend the annual Memorial Day Week End potluck barbecue beginning in the early afternoon. Members brought a wonderful variety of savory and veggie dishes and salads, as well as tasty desserts. Dishes filled the tables stretching out on the right side of the porch. As usual, there was a lot more food on the heavily-laden tables than people could eat. Vivian Savard and Tami also helped out on the grill. Thanks to Patty, Todd and Tami for hosting the event! Appreciation also goes to Tami for her year-round handling of our Evite system for invitations to members for all club social events.

Around mid-afternoon, as people were enjoying their meals, the holiday “porch karaoke” party began at the other end of the porch, with members crooning popular songs expertly spun by popular DJ Obie. Several dozen adults and kids took the mike, individually and in groups, as onlookers sang along. The karaoke party continued, as usual, well into the evening, no doubt also entertaining the neighbors.

As always, hearty thanks go to Tom (Westy) Westmoreland, who organizes the karaoke parties and recruits the DJs. Moreover, Westy is also the club’s most enthusiastic karaoke singer! Once again, a very enjoyable time was had by all, to cap o􏰀ff the holiday Sunday fun.

Holiday Karaoke Party.

nearly perfect spring weather. Our peerless head bartender, Vinny D’Alessio, was kept very busy all day quenching the thirsts of tennis players, diners and singers.

Kids’ Art Day.

On Monday, May 26th, eight kids gathered with their parents in the big hall for the club’s first-ever Kids’ Art Day. Each child produced two pieces of art, one to decorate the walls of the newlyrefurbished kids’ room and another to brighten their homes. Thanks to Loren McConnell and to new member Angela Persico and Angela’s husband Gio for being the driving forces behind this innovative project and for redecorating the Kids’ Room. Thank to Casey Quinn for helping repaint the room. A second Kids’ Art Day has been scheduled for Friday, June 27th.

The Latest Park Hill Players’ Production: “Sylvia”

The Park Hill Players last month put on the comedy “Sylvia,” by A.R. Gurney, in the big hall, which is newly dedicated to the memory of the late Jim Beirne, who almost singlehandedly revived the production of plays at Park Hill after a 30-year theatrical drought. Co-directed by Mary Kay Moment and Karin White (who did her typically fabulous set design), the play – about a husband and wife and the stray dog he brings home on a whim one day without her approval – drew large crowds for its four performances. Special kudos to Loren McConnell for her imaginatively conceived role of playing the pooch!

Appreciation goes to cast members Loren, Steve Ross, Mary Kay, Kathryn Buckley, Joe Garcia and Kris Ann Barbera, for all the time and e􏰀ort that went into their weeks of preparation and for their performances. Thanks as always to Matt Gervais for his excellent technical support on lighting and sound. And, of course, thanks go for all the essential “back of the house” support that came from Chris Gallin, Vivian Savard, Adrienne D’Alessio, Chrissy Gervais, Liam McConnell, Lucine McConnell, Reagan Quinn, Olivia Quinn, Matt Krawiec, Rosemary Beirne, Nancy Gallin, Angelo Schillaci, Casey Quinn, Ruain Casey, and the club’s Everyman helper and fixer in so many ways: Houseman Roger (Rogelio Herrera).

Pickleball

Thanks again to Karin Skalina and Steve Ross for their leadership of the pickleball players over the long winter. They say a core group of enthusiastic members plan to keep playing in the big hall even as spring leads into fast-approaching summer, so long as there are no rentals competing for the space.

As Karin likes to remind members, the tennis courts are now open – but our pickleball court is always dry! They urge members who have never played to take the plunge and see how much fun the game is. It is now America’s fastest-growing sport and can be played by people of all ages.

“A View from the Hill”

This is the second season of the View Master’s innovative mid-weekly Park Hill newsletters, entitled: “A View from the Hill.” The mid-week publications are very timely in alerting members to upcoming events on the following week ends. Thanks to Chris Gallin, the View Master, for his hard work in putting together these very useful weekly bulletins!

Upcoming Events

Next Open House:

Our third and final Open House of the season took place on Saturday, June 21st. Two Open Houses were held on weekends in May, and Board members gave visitors tours of the facilities.

Games Nights.

Joe Garcia is looking forward to hosting more Games Nights this summer. The Games Committee will meet soon to set a proposed schedule of events and dates.

Summer Friday Night Barbecues.

The Board is now recruiting hosts for the club’s traditional summer Friday night barbecues: for June 27th; July 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th’; August 1st, 8th; 15th; 22nd; and 29th; and September 5th. Volunteer hosts always have the full support of the Board in compiling the list of guests, soliciting a full range of dishes from the membership, setting up tables, buying proteins, grilling meats, and cleaning up afterwards. It’s always a labor of love. Thanks in advance to all volunteer hosts.

Tennis Update

Appreciation!

Thanks to the Tennis Committee, headed by Patty Gamba, for all aspects of running the club’s seven-month tennis program, from ensuring non-stop court care, to hiring pro coaches, to organizing fun and serious competitions and to running Sunday round robins. Special appreciation goes to Todd Geremia for dealing with the company Oval which sets up the courts in May and takes them down in December. Todd also coordinates closely with our great houseman, Roger Herrera, and his daughter Caroline on court maintenance and care: rolling the courts; adding “red clay” and calcium, when needed, throughout the season, especially after heavy rains; ensuring that sprinklers are functioning properly; keeping tennis players informed about when the courts are too wet to play; and contacting Oval for help, if necessary.

Our MITL Team:

Meredith Lue, captain of our MTIL (i.e., ladies’) team that competes against other clubs, says that the Park Hill ladies have fought hard this season and acquitted themselves very well ending in the middle of the standings. Susie Moscou is now captaining the ladies’ Over 50 team for the second part of the MITL season.

Our WCTL Team:

The WCTL (i.e., men’s) team captain, Tom (Westy) Westmoreland, arranges the matches for two levels of play against other clubs: the Smooth Division and the Sticky Division. Westy says that by early June, the club’s (upper-level) Smooth team had won two matches and dropped three. Meanwhile, the (lower) Sticky Division team had a record of one victory and four losses, playing in a more challenging grouping than last year.

Hooray to the No. 2 Smooth doubles team of Westy and Joel Sciascia, who on Sunday, June 8th, won a marathon match, capped by a 10-point tiebreaker (score:10-8) that tipped the balance and won the day, 4-3, for tiny Park Hill against mighty New York Sports Club, with its 10,000 members! Westy and Joel pulled o􏰀 their heroics after the team’s first single, William Schmid, second single, Peter Golfman and first doubles team of Artie and Vinny Liberatore all won in straight sets.

Fun Tennis Tournaments on Holidays.

The club organizes three fun tennis tournaments in the warm season: on the Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day holidays. Results of the first one on the Memorial Day Week End appear above.

Men’s Competitive Singles Tournament.

Westy hosted the Men’s Competitive Singles Tournaments on Saturday, June 21st. Some 12 players took part on the first day, with defending champion William Schmid defeating Pat O’Hanlon in one semi-final and Artie Liberatore beating Tom Westmoreland in the other. The date of the championship match between William and Artie will be announced soon.

Sunday Afternoon Round Robin Play.

This month, the round robin play gets under way on Sunday afternoons. Round robins begin at 4 pm and are organized by members of the Tennis Committee. Anyone is welcome to join in.

Availability of Club Pros. Ola White and Mike Portanova, will again be available this summer for clinics or for individual lessons. Ola can be phoned or texted at (917) 637- 9476. Mike’s number is (914) 290-2859.

End of the Bowling Season

Team Brown the League Champions.

The six-month club winter bowling league came to a close this spring with Team Brown, under captain (and league president) Jon Wallen, the league champion, with 98 points. Congratulations also to Jon’s teammates: Patty Gamba, Karen (“Sedgie”) Lorence, and Deane Prouty.

Not far behind at 92 points were the Strikers, under their captain, Bill Dennison. They were followed, in order, by Splitz ‘n Giggles, under their captain, Robert Klein; by the Pinheads, under their captain, Pat O’Hanlon; and the Water Bu􏰀aloes, under their captain, Ed Schmid.

Other Notable Team Stats.

The Strikers scored the highest scratch game of the season (without handicap) at 741 pins, followed closely by the Water Bu􏰀aloes at 737 pins. The Water Bu􏰀aloes had the highest game total at 757 pins when handicap was included. The highest team scratch series was bowled by the Strikers at 1943 pins. The highest team series with handicap was scored by the Water Bu􏰀aloes at 1944 pins, barely beating out the Strikers by a single pin.

Top Individual Averages. Jon Wallen ended the season with the highest individual average, at 169.23, and close behind him was Bill Dennison at 165.00. Rounding out the top ten were: Pat O’Hanlon at 158.1; Ed Schmid at 157.16; Joe Garcia at 153.5; Robert Klein, at 151.26; Jose Alvarado, at 150,68; John Maggiotto, at 150.17; Bill Co􏰀ey, at 148.69; and Jason McConnell, at 146.90.

Top Individual Games.

Bill Dennison had the highest game score of the season at 235 pins. Runner-up was Jon Wallen with a 230 game. Behind them came many other excellent 200+ scores by: John Maggiotto, at 225; Joe Garcia and Jennifer Ringstad, tied at 223 each; Robert Klein, at 215; Pat O’Hanlon, at 211; Jason McConnell, at 207; Jose Alvarado and Cathy Mulhern, at 205 each; and Ed Schmid, at 201. They were followed by Casey Quinn, at 199; Steve Savard, at 193; Pam Opdyke and Bill Co􏰀ey, at 191; Patty Gamba, at 187; Deane Prouty, at 185; Paul Cecere, at 184; Karen Lorence and Vivian Savard, at 179; and Susie Moscou, at 168.

Top Individual Scratch Series.

Unusually, there was a tie for the title of high scratch series bowler, as both Bill Dennison and Pat O’Hanlon recorded series of 573 pins. That is an average of 191 for the three games they bowled those nights. Following closely behind were John Maggiotto, at 568, and Ed Schmid, at 561.

The rest of the bowlers with scratch series in the top ten were: Jon Wallen, at 555; Jason McConnell, at 548; Jennifer Ringstad, at 547; Joe Garcia, at 526; Kevin Klein, at 525; and Robert Klein, at 518. They were followed by Deane Prouty, at 515; Jose Alvarado, at 512; Bill Co􏰀ey, at 507; Patty Gamba, at 503; Casey Quinn, at 489; Cathy Mulhern, at 488; Steve Savard, at 469; Pam Opdyke, at 468; Karen Lorence, at 466; Paul Cecere, at 462; Vivian Savard, at 445; and Susie Moscou, at 421.

Most Improved Bowlers.

John Maggiotto raised his average from 132 to 150.17 – more than 18 points while bowling 69 of the maximum 72 games. Second most improved was Vivian Savard, whose average rose from 108 to 122.56 – an improvement of over 14 points over 57 games.

Honorable Mentions:

Our super-subs, Jennifer and Kevin, do not qualify for awards this year, but they deserve honorable mentions for excellent performance. Jennifer raised her average by nearly 18 points – from 139 to 156.93 – while bowling 30 games. She also bowled a 223 game and a 547 series. Kevin, meanwhile, had a 198 game and a 525 series.

End-of-Season Bowling Tournament: Six teams of bowlers participated in the end-of- season tournament this spring. Winners were Robert and Kevin Klein, followed by the runners-up, Bill Dennison and Bill Co􏰀ey, with Pam Opdyke and Susie Moscou rounding out the top three teams.

Appreciation.

Thanks go, as always, to Jon Wallen for running the bowling league, including continual contact with the technician who comes to maintain and repair our four elderly and temperamental Brunswick bowling machines. Appreciation goes to Steve Savard for entering the results of each week’s competition into his program that calculates and updates team and individual data. The league also thanks the bowlers who oil the lanes each Tuesday night ahead of play, to get them into “playing shape.”

Enjoyable Club Social Events So Far This Year

January 2025 Karaoke Party.

Patty and Westy organized the first karaoke party of the year on Saturday, January 4th, with DJ Obie. Over half of the 30-35 members and guests took to the mike to share their favorite songs at the popular singalong.

Pizza and Bowling Night.

Patty Gamba organized a pizza-and-bowling night on Friday, January 10th. Delicious hot pizza warmed the souls of the 15 members who signed up to have fun in the bowling alley on a very cold winter night.

January Chili Cooko􏰀: A total of eight terrific chilis were contributed for the annual chili cooko􏰀 in the lounge on Sunday, January 19th. Roughly 25 adults and kids braved a fierce mid-winter blizzard that night to enjoy the eight delicious chilis of our talented “chili chefs”: Gaby Cinquemani, Sal Cinquemani, Vinny D’Alessio, Patty Gamba, Chrissy and Matt Gervais, Matt Krawiec, Aidan Quinn, and Susanne Savard. Susanne won first prize for her recipe. Vinny took second prize and Matt Krawiec, third. Robert Moment told the Newsletter that Patty won first prize in the vegetarian chili category.

Friday Vinyl Nights.

Our winter Vinyl Nights returned beginning on Friday, January 17th, and continued for three more cold Friday nights in January and February. Thanks to our DJs – Joe Harbeson, Justine Henry, Paul Cecere, Taylor Pierce, Dave Steck and Matt Gervais – who took turns spinning their favorite LPs to warm the souls of the TGIF bar crowd. Members who came were asked, as usual, to bring along snacks, hors d’oeuvres or other treats for all to share on the occasion.

Super Bowl Party.

On Sunday, February 9th, around 35 club members and guests, including a number of kids, crowded into the lounge and foyer to watch the Philadelphia Eagles overwhelm the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs by a score of 40- 22. Thereweremanyexcellenthome-madedishescontributedforthepotlucka􏰀air.

Pizza and Pickleball Party. On Friday, February 21st, Steve Ross organized an evening Pizza and Pickleball Party in the big hall for some 20 of the club’s most fervent pickleballs. The newsletter heard that everyone had a super time. Thanks, Steve!

Annual PHRC Tennis Party at the Yonkers Tennis Center.

Appreciation goes to Tennis Club President Patty Gamba for organizing the annual PHRC tennis (and pickleball) party at the Yonkers Tennis Center on Saturday, March 29th, from 8 pm until midnight. Some 42 members and guests took part, playing either sport and enjoying good food and beverages. Thanks also to all those who helped Patty with getting the food and drinks, carrying them into the YTC and assisting in the clean-up. Thanks also to Robert Moment for arranging the occasion with the YTC.

Annual Governors’ Ball.

On Saturday, April 26th, around 65 members and guests attended the club’s annual Governors’ Ball in the resplendent great hall. As usual, members brought a wide array of tasty hors d’oeuvres for guests as they circulated to meet and greet and to admire the gorgeous attire of the ladies in the big social event of the seasoneachspring. Afterdinner,membersandguestsdancedtheeveningaway,tothe music selections played by our great DJ, Matt Gervais, throughout the long evening. Thanks especially to Patty Gamba, Claire Miko and Kathryn Buckley and their helpers for all the work they put into decorating the gorgeous hall. Appreciation also goes to the beautifully dressed young ladies, all daughters of members, who served guests that night with such skill and helped the organizing committee with clearing tables and cleaning up later: Sabrina Garcia, Julianne McKenna, Olivia Quinn and Vivian Savard.

French Open Final Brunch.

The Tennis Committee hosted the party on Sunday, June 8th, to watch the men’s final afternoon match in Paris between second-seeded Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz and the world’s No. 1 male player, Italy’s Jannik Sinner, starting at 9 am New York time. The comeback winner was Alcaraz, who won in the longest men’s single in the French Open’s history, in a thrilling five-set match that constituted Alcaraz’s first-ever victory after being down two sets to none. Thanks to hosts Patty Cecere, Patty Gamba, Meredith Lue and Claire Miko for providing the delicious quiches, fresh fruit and other delicacies and for organizing the event for members and guests.

The Book Club

March Event Welcoming Back Jill and Larry Feldman.

On Saturday, March 15th, the Book Club organized its first-ever potluck “cookbook dinner” and invited former members Jill and Larry Feldman as special guests. Larry and Jill were founding members of the book club in 2008, and Jill was the previous editor of the club newsletter.

Book club members chose recipes for the dishes they contributed from an Ina Garten cookbook as the basis for the evening’s menu. Thanks to Claire Miko, Kathryn Buckley and Patty Gamba for organizing and inspiring the event. Some 25 members and guests took part, enjoying a scrumptious dinner in the big hall. Said Kathryn afterwards: “Ina herself would have been delighted” by the gastronomic event that the PHRC book club pulled o􏰀ff.

April and May Book Choices.

On April 14th, the book club discussed The Storyteller, the brilliant but grim historical novel on the Holocaust by Jodi Picoult recommended by VinnyD’Alessio’sson,Anthony.

On May 22nd, the club’s choice was Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, classics by Lewis Carroll recommended by Joe Harbeson, who said he re-reads them every year.

Next Book Club Meeting.

For its next meeting on Tuesday, July 8th, the book club will read and discuss the much-acclaimed 2024 novel James, by Percival Everett, a professor of English at the University of Southern California. The book is said to “reimagine The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain, “from the perspective of Huck’s friend Jim, the runaway slave.” The book, a New York Times bestseller, was shortlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize, England’s most prestigious literary award. It also won the $50,000 Kirkus Prize last year, and then this year it was awarded the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for fiction.

Members interested in taking part in the club can receive Book Club emails by contacting Claire Miko (at clarabell711@aol.com).

Update on Pedro Almodovar’s Film, “The Room Next Door”, Partly Shot at Park Hill

The film director Pedro Almodovar visited Park Hill Racquet Club while he was shooting his 2024 film, “The Room Next Door,” his first full-length English-language movie. He checked out our bowling alley and, with assistance from our league president Jon Wallen, shot scenes there which ended up in the final version of the film. (See photo of club member Steve Ross chatting with Mr. Almodovar, as taken by Robert Moment in May 2024.)

Robert and Mary Kay saw the film last winter and were pleased to report that the scenes shot in the PHRC bowling alley made the final cut by its editors. This comedy-drama which stars Tilda Swinton, Julianne Moore and John Turturro was one of the finalists at the March 2025 Oscar ceremonies for best foreign-made movie. Before that, it won the Golden Lion (i.e., best film) award at the prestigious Venice Film Festival last September.

Robert said the Board hopes to get permission to show the film at the club, which was paid well for the privilege of having those brief scenes shot here.

Member News

Passing of John Grunau.

In late March, the Board of Governors expressed its condolences to Ruth Grunau on the passing of her husband, John, at 81, following a lengthy illness.

Passing of Geraldine Canty.

The Board sent popular former club member Chris Canty heartfelt sympathy on the passing of his lovely wife Geraldine from inoperable cancer in early April. The Cantys were much-loved members of Park Hill Racquet Club for many years. Geraldine was always an especially enthusiastic and wonderfully cheerful participant in club activities of all kinds, ranging from playing tennis, to gardening and grounds-keeping, assisting in organizing “Breakfast at Wimbledon” events, and always attending the club’s annual membership meetings each February. Chris was a particularly talented actor in the casts of a number of plays at Park Hill, after the Park Hill Players were revived by Jim Beirne.

Passing of the Brother of Debbie Hernandez.

The Board this week expressed its condolences to long-time member Debbie Hernandez on the passing on June 6th of her beloved brother, David J. Wasserman, 63, in Charleston, South Carolina. Besides Debbie, and another sister, Anne Marie Wasserman-Starro, David is survived by his wife, Dr. Nereida Quiles-Wasserman; daughters Selene Buckley and Lely Chichetti; four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild, as well as nieces and nephews.