On May 27, at the Cherry Grove Community House, the Memorial Fund presented its annual moving Memorial Day service, remembering Grovites and our loved ones who had passed away since last Memorial Day. Roland Michely presided and offered welcoming remarks.
Cherry Grove Community Association, Inc. President Diane Romano spoke of her mother, Katherine “Kay” Barone, who passed away the previous month at age 96 and ¾; saluted the service of the American military; and read the poem “The Little Ship.”
Arts Project of Cherry Grove Vice-President Dennis McConkey, whose partner David Blaustein passed away in relatively recent memory, addressed the issue of grief and shared a poem.
The Memorial Fund’s Richard Schack offered Mary Lee Hall’s poem “Turn Again to Life.”
Contemplative recordings of “Every Time We Say Goodbye,” by Cole Porter, sung by Annie Lennox, and Johann Pachelbel’s Canon in D bracketed the service.
Roland read the names of the departed, including Melinda Anania, Joe’s mother; cabaret’s Jon Anderson, who was Paul Cadmus’ partner and model, and sculptor Philis Raskind Anderson, who died within three weeks of each other; Helen Campbell, Jean Jerome’s mother; Craig Burns Eberhardt, Julian’s spouse, owners of Belvedere Guesthouse for Men; Broadway’s Michael Fesco; Lips and Top of the Bay bartender Frankie “Cocktail” Fioravonti; Linda D’Ancona’s son Pete and his girlfriend Tina Sgambati; writer Tereze Gluck; Bob Henzler, Dick Martell’s partner, former owners of Blueberry Hill; Robbyne Kaamil, writer and performer of political, comic commentary; Dr. William Ness; Cecilia “Ceil” Mary Rogers, who passed away at 97; Mary Romanelli, Michael Romanelli’s mother; Sheila Styles, dock mistress and partner of the late Jackie Petersen; Ray Topper, artist Doug’s father; and Elizabeth and Noel Williams, Sue Rayson’s parents; as well as Evelyn Danko and Valerie Perez’s cat Boots; Joyce Rogers’ Yorkie Sybil; and Tommy “Tush” DeMastri’s cat Dottie.
A moment of silence, Roland’s closing remarks, and the greeting of our neighbors concluded the ceremony.