Winter 2023

NEWSLETTER OF THE RACQUET CLUB ON PARK HILL

February 16, 2024

Remembering Jim Beirne

A shadow has fallen over the Racquet Club on Park Hill in Yonkers, with the untimely passing this

month of one of the club’s great all-time leaders. In many ways, one-time club president Jim Beirne was

larger than life, as wife Rosemary says below in her eulogy, and he leaves a hole in the fabric of the PHRC

community that will be difficult to fill. He personally reconstituted the Park Hill Players theater group,

moribund for 30 years – not an easy task for a small social club like Park Hill. And he loved selecting the

Broadway comedies that the group has been performing so successfully since the Players’ recent rebirth.

Jim was a people person and he never stopped trying to recruit new members, to rebuild the

club to its former glory, when it could boast a membership topping 200. And when new members

joined, he enjoyed reaching out to them to make them feel comfortable in their new surroundings, while

discussing the history of Yonkers and of Park Hill. A favorite topic was always an explanation of the

beautiful photo of the Park Hill area on the left wall of the foyer as one enters the club.

Jim was delighted when Lyrica Leon introduced pickleball after she learned to play the game in

Florida. Jim was one of the most enthusiastic advocates for building up a cadre of regular pickleball

players in the PHRC ballroom as a winter sport, designating himself “Captain Pickle.” In both tennis and

pickleball, Jim had a powerful serve. He loved to win at both sports, but no one was better able to

compliment others on their abilities or to lose with more grace. Jim was always a gentleman.

Everyone has great stories reminding us of Jim’s strong personality and his delightful sense of

humor. How he could laugh from the pit of his belly at a good joke or an amusing story! And there was

the rock-ribbed patriotism, as when he would so proudly and unforgettably stand ramrod-straight and

recite the Gettysburg Address from memory in that stentorian voice of his on important occasions, like

the Fourth of July. And who can forget that one of the highlights of every summer barbecue season at

the club was the wonderful and always bountiful cedar-plank salmon feast hosted and organized by Jim

and Rosemary.

Rosemary, Aodhan, Brendan, Nora and the rest of the Beirne family have the sympathy of the

Park Hill community and the Racquet Club at their loss. We all share in the fond memories of Jim’s

kindness and helpfulness in reaching out to all he knew to make this a better world.

Rosemary’s Tribute to Jim at the Funeral:

“Thank you all so much for being here today. Our sorrow is mitigated only by the love that we

feel and have felt throughout this journey from each and every one of you. Please know that Jim loved

you, and he certainly was a person with an incredible capacity for love.

Since the day I met Jim at the Fordham University pool in 1983 until the day he died, he always

seemed to be the youngest person in the room. If there were toddlers crawling under the dining room

table at a party, Jim would crawl around with them. When he got older, if there were people his age

talking about retirement, Jim would say he was much too young to retire. At 78, he was still saying it.

“He approached life with joy and youthful enthusiasm in everything he did. And he was a

lifelong learner who always had a book in one hand and filled with ideas for new things to learn. He

never let age get in the way.“In his 30s, after several years working for insurance companies, he started his own business in trial preparation because he didn’t want to work for anyone else. He wanted to learn how to run a

business. The company just celebrated its 40th anniversary.

At age 41, he had his first child, and when he returned to Cardinal Hayes High School for a

reunion, he proudly showed off the picture of his new infant as others showed off their teenagers. He

wanted to learn how to become a father.

At 60, he resurrected the dormant men’s tennis team at the Park Hill Racquet Club, where he

played tennis for nearly 40 years and where he and I have so many wonderful friends. At 65, he took up

acting, and appeared in several black box productions in Manhattan with his dear friend and colleague,

Sean O’Loughlin. He played everyone from a disgraced police officer in “The Iceman Cometh” to Uncle

Vanya in the Chekhov play. And at age 70, he restored the Park Hill Players, the beloved theater group at

the Racquet Club that has since roared its way to eight amazingly successful productions in eight years.

Still, he wasn’t finished. So he became a tour guide for the Old Croton Aqueduct, a pickleball

player, a serial explorer of hidden gems in Manhattan, in a city he dearly loved, and he remained fiercely

loyal to Cardinal Hayes and its alumni. He was less impressed with the fact that Martin Scorcese and

Regis Philbin went there than he was that he, with a single mom who could never afford the tuition on

her own, could graduate from the school. He always appreciated the help and has given back ever since.

Jim was the most intellectually curious person I have ever known. The 30 books that sit on the

night table and on the floor next to our bed are proof enough of that. It caused him physical pain to part

with a book. Jim once told me that when he was growing up, he had a Webster Dictionary and that every

single day he looked up and memorized one word. By the time I met him, he was 37 years old and at

least on the B’s. For our wedding, I gave him the wonderfully romantic gift of a copy of the updated

Oxford Dictionary, which came with a magnifying glass that he used every night to look up words.

As many of you know, Jim was also very devoted to Abraham Lincoln. If you ever wanted to

steal Jim’s identity, just think of passwords that had something to do with Honest Abe. The only two

passwords he consistently remembered were “Lincolnismyhero” and “11/19/1863,” the date that Lincoln

delivered the Gettysburg Address.

In 2016, when Jim was 71 years old, he decided that everyone in the U.S. should hear that

speech because it might help them focus on unity instead of division. So one day, he decided to

memorize it and repeated it every night in the shower. Then, he set out to recite it to everyone who

would spend a moment or two listening. He went to the New York Stock Exchange and stood on the

steps and recited it.

He would randomly stop on street corners and turn to me and say, ‘I think this is a good place.

Is it okay?’ And I would stand by grudgingly and say: ‘Go for it.’ His proudest moment on his personal

Lincoln project was when he recited it in the middle of Hyde Park in London, on Easter Sunday 2018, on

Speakers Corner. I have it on video, if you ever want to see it.

As much as he loved history, tennis, reading and acting, nothing was more important to Jim

Beirne than family. He was incredibly proud of his children – Brendan, Aodhan and Nora, and their

spouses, Lindsey and Patrick, whom he never called in-laws but rather his fourth and fifth children – and

of his two grandchildren, Olivia and George, all of whom reminded him daily of why we are on this earth.Every time I went to see Olivia and George early on a Saturday morning, the last thing he said as I left the

house was, ‘Send plenty of pictures.’

Jim had amazing friends. You gave him tennis games and pickleball games, you commiserated

or celebrated with him about the Giants, you shared historical stories, you walked with him down the

aisle at Nora’s wedding, you celebrated with him Brendan’s admission to the bar, listened and smiled

patiently as he bragged about the latest piece Aodhan had written, and Lindsey’s and Patrick’s masters

degrees. You acted or built sets or sold tickets with him at the Racquet Club, toasted when he gave one

of his many, many Christmas Eve toasts.

You were, in short, with him on this life journey. In the end, he struggled with health issues.

But he never lost the joie de vive that helped him maintain his youthful outlook on life. For Jim, things

were always, as he would say, terrrrrr-ific, or outstanding.

Jim Beirne, sleep now in peace. You have left a legacy for generations to come. Thank you for

being the husband, father, uncle, grandfather, cousin, brother in-law, and friend that you are for so many

people. Please know that we will love you forever.”

Other Recent Losses

Here is a list of those whom we have lost over the past year, as read to attendees at the Annual

General Meeting on Thursday, February 8th:

Daphne Romeo

Bob and Lois Reape

Rose Marie Montebello (Greg Nolen’s mom)

Alicia Jackson (Patty Cecere’s mom)

Jean Cestaro (Janet Westmoreland’s mom)

Al Cestaro (Janet Westmoreland’s brother)

Kevin Martin (Kerry Schmid’s brother)

Marco Rene’s mom

Jim Beirne

Upcoming Social Events at the Club

“Sweetheart” Bonfire Night on Friday, February 16th:

This will be the first bonfire of the winter.

Mardi Gras Dinner Party on February 24th:

The Park Hill Players group is preparing for their exciting

Mardi Gras dinner party, entitled: “Murder at the Mardi Gras Masquerade,” to be held in the big hall on

Saturday, February 24th. The PHP organizers call the event a murder mystery: “a thrilling evening of

mystery and mayhem” and “a night of intrigue, suspense and revelry.”Marshall Inglewood, the Governor of Louisiana, will host the affair at his posh New Orleans mansion. Those assembling are told: “Everyone is expecting an elegant evening of hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and dancing -- [not] …dastardly deeds and unsavory scandals.”

Seating will be limited. Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP by Monday, February

19th. Tickets are $40 for club members and $50 for non-members. Participation is for adults and teens

only. See the evite for the scrumptious Mardi Gras menu for the evening.

Thanks to the Players for going to a lot of trouble to prepare for an unprecedented Park Hill

event for everyone’s pleasure.

Karaoke Party on Saturday, March 9th:

This is the rescheduled date for the karaoke party.

March Fridays: Vinyl Nights will return next month.

Committeepalooza on Friday, March, 22nd:

On this evening, the Board will host its annual gathering

to discuss committee assignments for members.

Indoor Tennis Night at the Yonkers Tennis Center on Friday, March 29th:

This year the YTC tennis party will be held on Friday night, as no Saturday evening was available.

Saturday, April 13th, Yonkers Film Festival (YoFiFest) Prom:

This will be a rental.

Saturday, April 27th, Governors’ Ball:

The DJ this year will be the same as the one who played the music last year.

Current Status of the Club’s Winter Bowling league

Team standings. As of Tuesday, February 6th, Brown, captained by Jon Wallen, led the league with

55 points. Rolling Thunder under Robert Klein was second with 48 points, followed closely by the Water

Buffaloes under Ed Schmid with 46, Bill Dennison’s Strikers with 45, and Jose Alvarado’s Hurricanes with

44.

High Individual Games. High individual games so far are the following: Kevin Klein, 239; Bill Coffey,

220; Bill Dennison, 218; Jason McConnell, 216; Pat O’Hanlon, 201; Ed Schmid and Jon Wallen, 198;

Deane Prouty, 193; Karen Lorence and Patty Gamba, 191; and Pam Opdyke, 190.

High Scratch Series. High individual scratch series so far are as follow: Bill Coffey, 568; Jon Wallen,

540; Bill Dennison and Kevin Klein, 530; Jason McConnell, 517; Ed Schmid, 516; Jose Alvarado, 513;

Robert Klein, 509; Annmarie Ennis, 497; and Pat O’Hanlon, 491.

Most-Improved Bowlers: Most-improved averages since the start of the season last fall belong to:

Jason McConnell, +12; Vic Mason, +11; Joe Garcia and Steve Savard, +7; and Pat O’Hanlon, +5.Pickleball

Thanks to Steve Ross, our new Acting Captain Pickle, for picking up the banner from Jim Beirne.

Steve has been preparing sign-up sheets, handling communications among players, and ensuring the

club house is open on mornings when members want to play.

Recent Fall 2023 and Winter 2024 Events at the Club

Sunday, February 11th, Super Bowl Party:

The club held its annual Super Bowl potluck party, hosted by Patty Gamba, for around 30 adults and kids, as the Kansas City Chiefs repeated as NFL champs for the second year in a row, beating the San Francisco Forty-Niners, 25-22. Vinny D’Alessio, as usual, ran the popular pools.

Friday, February 9th, Pizza-and-Bowling Party:

Patty Gamba organized and hosted the annual pizza- and-bowling party in the club’s bowling alley. Twenty adults either participated in the bowling or just observed the competition but enjoyed the food and camaraderie of the occasion.

Thursday, February 8th, Annual General Meeting:

This year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held in the big hall, and the new Board was presented to the membership. Due to inflation, the Board proposed a 5 per cent increase in dues for FY24-25 – the first increase in four years -- and that proposal was adopted unanimously by the membership.

Sunday, February 4th, Chili Cookoff/Potluck Dinner:

Robert Moment organized and hosted the annual chili cookoff/potluck dinner in the lounge for 20-25 adults and kids. Everyone had a good time, as Robert, Chrissy, Gaby and Tami/Todd brought the four pots of delicious home-made chili, with Chrissy’s chili ending up the top vote-getter.

Sunday, December 31st, New Year’s Eve Party:

Some 25 adults and kids attended the New Year’s Eve potluck party organized by Justine Henry and held in the beautifully decorated lounge, to cheerfully usher in the new year.

Sunday, December 17th, Brunch with Santa Party:

The club held its annual Brunch with Santa party in the big hall, with over 40 adults and kids present. Justine Henry and Chrissy Gervais hosted the party, with help from Casey Quinn, Loren McConnell and Ingrid Krawiec. Chrissy’s dad, Pat, again was the jolly St. Nick listening to the little ones’ fervent wishes for Christmas.

Saturday, December 16th, Annual Potluck Holiday Cocktail Party:

Some 72 members and guests crowded into the beautifully decorated ballroom for the annual potluck Holiday Cocktail Party organized by Patty Gamba and Claire Miko. Thanks to all for bringing tasty dishes and desserts for the occasion,

and to Vinny and Sean for the special drinks in the upper bar.

Early-December PHP Performances of “Drinking Habits”:

The Park Hill crowds, as usual, thoroughly enjoyed the Players’ performances of the last Broadway play selected by Jim Beirne, the zany comedy entitled: “Drinking Habits,” by playwright Tom Smith. Congratulations for a job very well done to the director (and set designer), Karin White; to her co-director, Chris Canty, a founding member of the

Players who doubled as acting coach; to the excellent cast of Casey Quinn, Mary Kay Moment, John

Tracey, Karen Lorence, Declan McKenna, Chrissy Gervais, Nancy Garcia, and Chris Gallin; to the lightingdesigner and sound engineer, Matt Gervais; and to Mary Kay Moment, for the beautifully designed

playbills.

And, of course, to Jim Beirne – chief talent scout, enthusiastic impresario, energetic master of

ceremonies, and cheerleader for the actors – posthumous appreciation for all he did to bring to fruition

his vision of a restored theater program at the club. This was quite an achievement these past eight

years at the smallest social club in Westchester County. Thanks also to all the local advertisers who have

again financially supported the PHRC theater program.

October 27th, 28th and 29th “Haunt”:

One of the club’s newest “annual traditions” has become the “Haunt”-fest conceived, developed, constructed and run brilliantly (and finally dismantled) by Matt and Chrissy Gervais in the big hall for the Halloween week end. Once again, Chrissy and Matt recruited many volunteers from among the club membership to help them frighten the living daylights out of the unwary crowds they pack in annually through their terrifying maze populated with hidden witches,

fearsome demons, ghastly ghouls, monstrous spiders, and bloody body parts.

Sunday, October 22nd, Oktoberfest Party:

One of the highlights of the club’s fall social season is the always wonderful Oktoberfest party organized by Patty Schumann, this year on Sunday, October 22nd

.

Attendees can always count on a bountiful feast of German wieners, weisswurst, bratwurst, and

authentic German pretzels and potato salad, all washed down with delicious light and dark Spaten,

specially brewed for the season. Some 32 members and guests attended for this occasion. As usual, we

appreciated Justine and Taylor dressing up in their authentic dirndl and lederhosen, respectively.

Friday, October 6th, MITL/WCL Party:

Patty Gamba hosted an MITL/WCL end-of-season party in the big hall for 40 adults and kids, who enjoyed a delicious meal catered from the splendid Bistro House of Angelo and Antonio in Hastings.

Member News

Richard Haas’s Current Exhibition. Richard Haas, one of America’s leading urban muralists – and a

long-time Park Hill Racquet Club member – currently has an exhibition of his various works on display at

the Century Association located at 7 West 43rd Street, just a short walk from Grand Central Terminal.

The exhibition is a 60-year retrospective of Richard’s work as muralist, easel painter, printmaker, sculptor,

and creator of diorama boxes, among his various artistic talents. Models for interior projects are also on

view. The Century Association is a private organization, so those wishing to visit to view the exhibition

should phone in advance, to be sure there are no meetings or rentals going on there at the same time.

The number is: (212) 944-0090.