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REFLECTIONS
ON SOME OF THE FIRST ONES HERE
By Stu Cassell, Activities Director/Association Manager
Recently I was thinking of the “pioneers” of HHR, those folks who were in
the first wave of home buyers that settled here in 2001 & 2002 when we were
little more than a field and a vision of things to come. Back then there was
no clubhouse, no pro-shop, and the golf course was not open for play yet.
Here are some of my observations and comments about our first residents. I
hope I didn’t miss anyone that’s here now.
- Pat Goddard - The very first person to buy at HHR - she closed
on May 25, 2001 and for a few weeks was the only one living here. Along
with Annie Pick and my wife Mary Rose, she went on the first bus trip to
the Historical Museum. Pat organized our tennis leagues, and offered a
cane seat weaving class to fellow residents. She founded an HHR chapter of
the Questors, and is currently organizing a community co-op to pool vendor
and contractor resources.
- Martha Nolter - She followed Pat a few weeks later and was an
enthusiastic participant in many of the early activities. Later her
daughter Sue and husband Tom Gill also purchased homes out here.
- Bob Sexauer - Bob is what I would call a “no nonsense kind of
guy”, the kind of man you’d want on your side if the chips were down. In
the early days Bob was doing a fair amount of traveling so we’d didn’t see
much of him. When he was here we discovered what a big heart he has. He
used to bring out an elderly gentleman, I think his name was Gus. I would
see Bob and Gus in the clubhouse or over at the Pro-shop having lunch or
by the pool. Once in while you’d see Bob on his bike, riding around HHR.
- Jim & Karen Singleton - The Singleton’s are an active and fun
couple. They bought a villa near another villa that Karen’s parents,
Augusta & Leal Stewart purchased. They attended my first movie night, and
Karen has a funny story she tells about that night. Karen is still one of
the most active residents out here, and Jim plays golf and is a coach on
our Men’s Softball Team. A couple of years ago the Singleton’s threw a
community wide birthday party for Karen’s Dad Leal on his 90th birthday.
Leal is still going strong at HHR.
- Ray & Nancy Withey - These are the “lobster people”. Through
Ray’s former contacts as a lobster wholesaler, Ray & Nancy have put on 3
Lobsterfests, providing live Maine lobsters for huge community wide dinner
parties. At the first one, not only did they cook lobsters in our
clubhouse kitchen, but afterwards served margaritas and cheesecake to
everyone. Nancy worked for a while in the office with me, and when she
left I threw her a “retirement” party. They are a fun couple - really
great people.
- Jim & Pat Chinook - I was only starting to get to know Jim &
Pat Chinook - unfortunately he died a while after they moved here. I
remember he had a good sense of humor, and both of them attended one of
our most fun evening outings, a dinner cruise on the St. Charles Princess.
- Leal & Augusta Stewart - Maybe our eldest residents in
chronologic age, but definitely one of the youngest couples at HHR in
spirit. They both loved to play games and were frequent participants of
our contests and some of our computerized games like Family Feud, and
Wheel of Fortune. They attended our first Bingo. We lost Augusta a while
ago, but Leal is still active and an inspiration to everyone.
- Paul & Peggy Stedman - My first event was a donut social at the
sales office. Peggy was so sweet - The coffee maker was overflowing and I
was sooo embarrassed but Peggy came into the kitchen and was so kind about
it, helping me clean up. Paul is a great competitor in everything he does,
and quite a character. He was a winner in my “spoon dance” contests at
just about every one I did. He golfs and plays softball.
- Gayle & Janet Cattau - Gayle was our first resident rep, a
resident bus driver, and is very active in golf and shot a hole in one on
#6 . Janet is a gifted pianist who has shared her talent with us at
several community wide events. Gayle arranged for Jim Fowler to appear at
our clubhouse through his work connections. They both attend many
activities and enjoy dancing. Gayle & Fred McGavran won our first pool
tournament.
- Al & Linda Schwartz - Al came into my office the first day or
two I was here and introduced himself and welcomed me. He participated in
our first Bocce Ball tournament, and still plays Bocce every Saturday
morning in good weather. In the winter, he plays pool inside the
clubhouse. Linda was one of the first students in our Mixed Media class.
Linda enjoys water aerobics and Al enjoys water volleyball.
- Dave & Mary Williams - Dave is the kind of man that you
immediately like. With his distinguished good looks, he could have played
a banker or politician in the movies. I found out from Dave that he and
Mary enjoy dancing, and sure enough they signed up for just about all of
the dances I held during the early years and still attend them now. Mary
was a surprise to me. She is a lovely lady, but at first struck me as prim
and proper. Then she hit me with a zinger or too, and few people besides
my wife can surprise me with humor like that. She’s also a good dancer.
Dave is my current golf partner in the Lake St. Louis Men’s Golf League,
and no matter how rough a day I have, his good nature and wonderful
company always makes me feel better. Playing golf with Dave Williams is
one of my life’s treasures.
- Jeanette Hage - She moved into a villa, then shortly thereafter
her sister Andree and husband Garth moved in next door. Jeanette and
Andree started our bridge clubs. I knew I liked Jeanette after she stood
up at one of our first parties and told a semi-dirty joke. She’s my kind
of woman, fun to be around!
- Andree & Garth Wayman - I put out a call for block captains and
a hospitality chairperson and Andree volunteered (for that and many other
things later). For a long time she was the person that sent out get well
cards, etc., and met with new residents. Before we switched to a linen
service she also washed the polyester table cloths that we used when we
first opened the clubhouse. Garth is Superman, plain and simple. He played
as many as 81 games of tennis a week. I know because I played with him and
he’s good - I only played 27 games and I was worn out. Garth grilled
chicken in his backyard for our first Luau. They are both a wonderful
addition to our community and really helped me get things going out here.
- Gary & Sharon Rhodes - They attended our first Karaoke Night,
and many of our early dances. They are a really fun couple, up for just
about anything. Their daughter has participated in a few of our Art Shows.
Ray & Judy Markham - They started out in a villa, then bought a house.
Like the Singletons, they often participated in my contests, and usually
were winners. Both Ray & Judy enjoy golf and cards.
- Steve & Sandy Aubuchon - Another fun very active couple. Sandy
is on the Good Times committee and has shared her gift for creating
gorgeous lobby displays for some of our big events. Steve is an avid
golfer, and they both have shot “holes in one” on our golf course.
Terrific fun people to be around.
- Steph Hempel & Bob Bell - Bob was one of our first resident bus
drivers, and has made several donations to the clubhouse including a
croquet set, and a metal sheet for under our BBQ. Steph was the only buyer
to actually visit with me to find out what exactly I had planned for our
activities program. Along with her sister Janet, she’s taught tap and line
dancing classes, and I’d need pages to list everything else they’ve done.
- Janet & Mike Cook - They purchased a home next door to sister
Steph. Janet is active in the ladies golf league and on the Good Times
Committee. Along with her sister they formed the Heritage Hoofers, our tap
dancing group. Mike made a craps table for our Casino Night, is funny, one
of our better golfers, and an excellent fisherman. Mike has stocked our
lake with huge bass he’s caught elsewhere.
- Joe & Ellen O’Coin - Ellen & Joe spearhead our annual Butch Wax
dances, and are EXTREMELY active in staging various HHR special events.
Joe is on the softball team and they both are GIVERS in every sense of the
word. Ask Joe about his baseball card and memorabilia collection. Another
great couple.
- Jeanne & Jerry Brown - Jeanne, is a former music teacher, who
arranges the music for the Dapper Dans, our barbershop group. She
frequently plays piano at our parties, and is a member of the Heritage
Hoofers. Jerry is one of our regulars in the Saturday morning men’s golf
league, and a hell of a guy.
- Lowell & Shirley Barnes - Shirley took over the hospitality
committee that met with new residents, and it has since expanded to the
Care & Concern Committee. She heads the group that put on our annual Cup
of X-Mas tea, and was one of our first block captains. Shirley let her
hair grow out for several years before cutting it to donate. They make a
dashing couple and are frequently seen at our dances. Lowell is a man that
jumps in and helps without a lot of fanfare - I’ve seen him participate in
party setups and is often one of the people that stays after an event to
clean up. Lowell has shot a hole in one on our golf course. .
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The
photo on the was taken just before our talented Heritage Hoofers left to
compete in the St. Louis Senior Olympics. These talented tap dancers have
taken their show on the road. Seen in the front row from left to right are:
Judy Jacques, Stephanie Hempel, and Judy Markham. In the 2nd row are Janet
Cook, Betsy Miller, Linda King, Karen Singleton, Jeanne Brown and Joanne
Ketterer, and in the back row are Shirley Kruse, Theresa Maniscalco, and
Jane Ehrle.
“Hand
& Foot”
