Hello, Skyscrapers,    June 18, 2005

 

1. I've appended the summary of last Wednesday's luncheon. This summary will appear in the  RUPA NEWS. Lots of retirees showed up whom we haven't seen for quite a while.

 

2. You are all invited to the United Pilot's Annual Golf Tournament, scheduled for late September 2005 at the Bellport Country Club on Long Island. Bob Falco tells us that this is more of a social outing than a golf outing, and he encourages non-golfers to attend.

 

For more information, please contact Bob Falco:  boomer2993@aol.com or

Mike Severson: mikeann@optonline.net

 

3. Hank Lopez-Cepero and I stopped by to visit Al Becker after the luncheon. Al lives in Franklin Lakes, NJ. Shortly after he retired 17 years ago, Al had an accident that caused him to lose his sight. He looks terrific, and is in fine spirits. He and his wife Alice really appreciated our visit. I hadn't seen Al for over 20 years. He was a pleasure to fly with.

 

4. I'd like to reiterate my appreciation for the help we received at the registration desk from

Billie and Skip Fairman, Rosemarie and Bruce Kutz, Bob Beavis, Hank Lopez-Cepero, Al Mitchell, Bill Muller, Rip Munger, and Ron Tsolis.

 

They did a great job. Billie and Rosemarie proved that our wives are our better halves.

 

Thanks also to Harry Lloyd and Ray Amato for helping with the raffle awards.

 

Hope to see the rest of you at one of our future luncheons.

 

cheers,

 

Pete Sofman

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The New York Skyscrapers held their 100th semi-annual luncheon at the
Montclair Golf Club in West Orange, NJ, on Wednesday June 15th,
guests of long-time club members Jack and Elizabeth Smith.

 

ALPA Council 52 canceled the Annual Retirement Party, partially due
to all the strife between ALPA and the retirees, but primarily due to
the inordinate amount of time that would have been required to roast
Bob Falco, one of our many local living legends.

 

So, we payed tribute to Bob at our luncheon.  Coincidentally, while
he was being honored, he received congratulatory cell-phone calls
from UAL CEO Tilton and ALPA President Duane Woerth. We were privy
only to Bob's end of the conversation while he was at the podium
receiving some gifts from us.

 

We were fortunate also to have as a guest our dear friend Mark Seal,
who has devoted many years of ALPA service to all of us. Mark, who
probably counts more friends among us retirees as among his fellow
active pilots, showed his mettle by accepting our invitation as well
as by agreeing to discuss the current pension problems with any and
all of us.

 

Another guest was Carol Hooey, one of several devoted daughters who
have brought her retiree Dads to our luncheons over the years. Her
Dad Bump Hanley flew west this past year.

 

Daughters Dorothy and Marie Lippincott, and widow Anna Lippincott,
enabled us to honor Winfield "Lippy" Lippincott's request to sponsor
a toast "...To the best Gentlemen of the Sky". Lippy passed away on
February 2nd 2005, at the age of 94. His daughters plan to post a
message summarizing his lengthy career in aviation to the RUPA NEWS
in the near future.

 

The traditional raffle was held, helping to finance a $250
contribution to the United Airline Retired Pilots Foundation, which
helps support needy retirees and their widows. This included waived
raffle prizes by JJ Hill and Bob Lawson, as well as a surplus from
the money sent by the Lippincott family to cover the cost of our
toast.

 

The registration desk was manned in turn by Billie and Skip Fairman,
Rosemarie and Bruce Kutz, Bob Beavis, Hank Lopez-Cepero, Al Mitchell,
Bill Muller, Rip Munger, and Ron Tsolis.

 

We were delighted to see many faces that had been missing from our
luncheons for many years. Perhaps a reflection of the times.

 

Our next luncheon, usually held in the Fall at Manero's Steakhouse
in Greenwich, CT, might have to be relocated this year. Manero's long-
time building will be torn down. Mike Perry has promised to help us
find a good substitute. We might be able to afford to rent the
outdoor tables at a local Fast Food restaurant!

 

Here's a list of all 87 of our guests at the luncheon:

 

Ray and Sharon Amato, Howie Aronson, Bob Beavis, Bud Berlingeri, Ron
Bouchard, Jim and Elizabeth Brady, Frank Calderaro, Vince Ciriello,
Jan and Pattie Conover, Ed and Ona DeChant, Frank Decker, Mike DeMeo,
Ron and Betty Denk, Don Devine, Todd and Joan Donahue, Bob Eccles,
Wayne Erb, Wes Erbe, Ken Ernst, Skip and Billie Fairman, Bob Falco,
Jim Gardner, Joe and Cherie Guccione, Jim Haeni, George Haslett, Dave
and Paulette Heilbrun, Al Heller and Judi Barteau, Barney and Marie
Higgins, Jack Hill and Glinda Talley, Carol Hooey (Bump Hanley's
daughter), Ron and Marie Jersey, George Kane, Joe Kollar, Jody Kraly,
Bruce & Rosemarie Kutz, Bob Lawson, Ron Lewis, Harry and Jane Lloyd,
Hank Lopez-Cepero, Clayton and Janet McFarland, Augie and Margaret
Miller, Al Mitchell, Bill Muller, Rip Munger, Charlie and Bobbie
Pocher, Tom Purrington, Ned and Rae Rankin, Bob Schaet, Jerry
Schlichter, George Schnell, Mark Seal, Mike Severson, Jack and Liz
Smith, Pete Sofman, John and Linda Stewart, Al Swanson, Ron Tsolis,
Watts & Phyllis Waddell, JD and Kay Weeks, George Williams, Lyn and
Martha Wordell, and Jim and Millie Wright.
--------------------------------------------------------