Beaumont pioneers recall toughing it out in the early days By Mary Graff
Wearing pinkand-white orchids and sipping pink champagne, 11 of Beaumont’s longestresiding residents were gathered together for a celebratory “Pioneers’ Dinner” in the Billiard Room last month by hostess Sarah DaCosta, who immediately declared it an aboutto-be annual event. “Pioneer” was defined as anyone who had been in residence since 1987 (dirt roads and no food) or 1988, the year of the official opening. “If you wanted to eat that Photo by Robin Daye first year,” said Gloria Stickel, “you Left to right around the Pioneers Dinner table in the Billiard Room last month are Jane Andress, Marjorie Helmetag, Gladys Monier, Adeline Gay, Helen Stephens, Sarah DaCosta, Mary Yurchenco, Mary Page, Gloria Stickel, Frances cooked.” President Joe Etheringon, and Louise Averill. All have been at Beaumont since 1987 or 1988, and two of the diners are going on 103 years old. Fortenbaugh fretted a bit over the timing when he dropped in long enough was no reason Beaumont should not have as good to join in the reminiscing. He said he thought that a 25th meals as the Cricket Club.” “Yes,” said Joe, “and I remember that my first anniversary might have been worth waiting for. Sarah DaCosta countered that March 23, 2013 was complaint was that the portions were too small and the still a long way away and she thought any anniversary next complaint was that they were too big.” Dinner that night, from shrimp cocktail to one of at this point was “just a wonderful occasion for a party.” “I guess you’re right,” he agreed, but took a firmer Dining Services Director Rose-Marie Pringle’s elabostance in response to a suggestion that he provide rate cheesecake inventions, was acclaimed just right! Dom Perignon Champagne the next time around. ”No,” he said. New committees . . . . continued from page 1 Mary Page remembered that health care was so sketchy at first that when she got a big splinter (“It was discussing, but a recent brainstorming session caused so new there were splinters everywhere”), there wasn’t Joe to remark afterward, “This is a stellar committee!” even a tweezer to be had. Her husband, L. Rodman Kim Norrett, Director of Resident Services, defined the Page, had to go to his workbench for a tool to pull it committee’s main purpose as “to reach out to new members upon arrival and ensure that they are made out. Joe remembered firing half the managers in his first to feel welcome and informed.” The committee members are Jeanne Cortner and year (that was 22 years ago and he was 38, with Susan Woolford, co-chairmen; Peter Binzen, Betty Bole, “mostly brown” hair.) Dr. John Carson, Barbara Clothier, Fytie Drayton, Patsy Sarah DaCosta remembered serving on the first Fraser, Ray Freudberg, Eloise Gretz, Lillian Lefevre, Dr. Dining Services Committee: “Lincoln Gries, a good cook himself, was the first Jay MacMoran, Jan Miles, and Ed Rosen, in addition to chairman,” she said, “and I remember his saying there Louise Hughes, Beaumont’s newly named Trip Coordinator and Beaumont News chief photographer. 4