Buzz Aldrin and my unbelievable luck
Life took me around the world so naturally I ran into a few household names along the way
This is a list of people I’ve met, in no particular order.
John F. Kennedy, 35th President
Served: 1/60 to11/63
Met while visiting UMaine-Orono campus in May 1963
Had rededicated Campabello Island retreat for Park Service, once home owned by FDR; gave a foreign policy address to the public
ACTUALLY GOT TO SHAKE HIS HAND AND TALK WITH HIM
Muhammad Ali, formerly Cassius Marcellus Clay
Olympic Boxer 1960; professional 1961 to 1981
Met while visiting George Washington University in 1969; he had been stripped of his title and was on a speaking tour. He was also featured on the front page of Sports Illustrated at the time of his visit.
SHOOK HIS HAND AND HE SAT ON MY LAP ON RIDE TO RECEPTION
Hans Conried, Actor
Star of radio, stage, TV and film. Born 1917, died 1982
Met in Ogunquit, Maine, while he and his acting company were performing at the Ogunquit Summer Playhouse in the summer of 1963
HE AND I TIED THE LUGGAGE OF HIS CAST ONTO THE BACK OF A
TRUCK USED TO TRANSPORT THE GROUP FROM LOGAN AIRPORT TO THE MAINE COAST
Spring Byington, Actress
Star of radio, stage, TV, and film. Born 1886, died 1971.
Met when I picked her up in a limo at the Lakewood Theater and drove her to Ogunquit where she was to perform the following week
SHE RODE RIGHT NEXT TO ME IN THE CENTER OF THE FRONT SEAT AND LISTENED INTENTLY TO A RED SOX BALL GAME FOR MOST OF THE TRIP
Dr. Lillian Gilbreth, considered to be the ‘mother’ of Modern Industrial Management
Born 1878, died 1972
She is arguably the first true industrial/organizational psychologist. She and her husband Frank were pioneers in the field of industrial engineering. Her speciality was time and motion studies. The books Cheaper by the Dozen and Belles on Their Toes were based on their real lives
IN 1965 SHE INVITED ME TO SPEND AN HOUR WITH HER WHILE SHE WAS VISITING THE UNIV. OF VERMONT TO RECEIVE AN HONORARY DEGREE FROM AND GIVE AN ADDRESS TO THE MEDICAL SCHOOL FACULTY. ONE OF HER PROTEGES IN THE 1940’S WAS MY FATHER’S COUSIN JANE CALLAHAN.
Andrew Svenson, author and famous ghost writer
Hardy Boys, Bobbsey Twins, and the Happy Hollisters children’s books
Born 1910, died 1975
WHILE LIVING IN BLOOMFIELD, NJ, IN 1972, ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE SVENSON’S, HE INVITED MY DAUGHTER BETH TO VISIT, TALK ABOUT CHILDREN’S STORIES, AND SHARE SOME READING TIME. ONE OF HIS TWIN DAUGHTERS, LAURA, HAD A SUMMER COTTAGE IN MAINE NEXT DOOR TO MY PARENT’S COTTAGE ON SCHOODIC LAKE.
Jennie Grossinger, owner with her husband Harry of Grossinger’s Resort in the Catskills
[the Resort no longer exists]
Born 1892, died 1972
IN 1959, WHILE ON DUTY IN NEW YORK’S BROOKLYN NAVY YARD ABOARD THE USS MA Jennie Grossinger URY AGS-16, A SHIPMADE AND I GOT TO SPEND A WEEK AT THE GROSSINGER’S RESORT AS GUESTS OF THE OWNERS. WE WERE REPRESENTING THE US NAVY.
Eddie Albert, actor and star of stage, screen, TV and radio
Born 1906, died 2005. Best known for his role on the TV show Green Acres.
IN 1960, WHILE STATIONED AT PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII, I MET AND SAT NEXT TO MR. ALBERT AT THE WIAKIKI SHELL OUTDOOR THEATER AND ENJOYED A VARIETY STAGE SHOW STARRING BOBBY DARIN.
Elsie Masterton, writer, gourmet chef, hostess, entrepreneur
Owner with her husband John of the Blueberry Hill Farm and Inn in southern Vermont, she had just published Nothing Whatever To Do, non-fiction tale of their family’s adventures moving from New York City to the Vermont countryside. Died in 1966.
WHILE ATTENDING THE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT [1964-1966] WE VISITED THE INN AND MET AND TALKED ONE FULL AFTERNOON WITH BOTH ELSIE AND JOHN [THEN A RETIRED STATE COURT JUDGE]. WE WERE PLANNING ON RETURNING FOR A DINNER, BUT LEARNED OF ELSIE’S UNTIMELY DEATH. JOHN’S DIED NOT LONG AFTEWARD.
THEY HAD THREE YOUNG CHILDREN.
K.C. Jones, professional athlete and Coach, Boston Celtics
K.C. WAS A CLOSE FRIEND AND BUSINESS ASSOCIATE OF MY BUSINESS PARTNER, JOHN BATTAGLINO OF BOSTON. JOHN WAS A MEMBER OF THE NASHAWTUC COUNTRY CLUB AND INVITED ME ON TWO OCCASIONS TO PLAY THERE. K.C. WAS MY PARTNER ON BOTH OCCASIONS.
Nathanial ‘Nat’ Crosby, seventh child of Bing Crosby
Winner of US Amateur Championship in Golf in 1981. Turned pro and later restored his amateur status.
WHILE LIVING IN EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS, I WAS INVITED TO PLAY GOLF IN A TOURNAMENT ON CAPE COD FOR A WELL-KNOWN INVESTMENT COMPANY, TUCKER ANTHONY. NAT CROSBY WAS THE THIRD MEMBER OF OUR TEAM, AND WE COMPETED FOR TOGETHER FOR TWO DAYS, LOSING OUT EVENTUALLY TO JIM RICE OF THE BOSTON RED SOX AND HIS TEAM.
Liza Pulitzer (left), daughter of Lilly and member of the family
Pulizters owned St. Louis Post Dispatch newspaper and 13 other news chains and sponsor of the Pulitzer Prize. Liza, and her brother Peter and a sister Minnie, as children, were members at the Bar Harbor Club on Mt. Desert, Maine.
I WAS THE SWIMMING INSTRUCTOR AND LIFEGUARD FOR TWO SUMMERS AT THE BAR HARBOR CLUB IN 1962 AND 1963. LIZA, THEN ABOUT 6, WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PUPILS AND A YOUNG DIVER OF SOME TALENT. PETER, SOMEWHAT YOUNGER, SIMPLY HUNG OUT AND WATCHED HIS SISTER AT PLAY.
Buzz Aldrin, Astronaut, and the second man to step on the moon in 1960 behind Neil Armstrong
IN 1973, BUZZ ALDRIN AND HIS WIFE WERE THE HONORED MARSHALS OF THE FOURTH OF JULY TOWN PARADE IN MONTCLAIR, NJ. ALDRIN GREW UP THERE AND ATTENDED THE LOCAL COLLEGE BEFORE ENTERING THE AIR FORCE. MY HOME WAS DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM THE VIEWING STAND AT THE END OF THE PARADE. MID MORNING OF THE 4TH, HE KNOCKED ON MY DOOR AND ASKED IF HIS WIFE COULD USE OUR BATHROOM, AND WE SAID, CERTAINLY. WE CHATTED FOR SOME TIME ON THE FRONT PORCH BEFORE HE AND HIS WIFE RETURNED TO THE VIEWING STANDS.