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JUNE 2024 941.312.0665 | 27TH STATE MEDIA, LLC
Nature Day By the Bay
KENTUCKY DERBY PARTY
Success beyond expectations
Submitted by Jackie Massari, LMA Social Chair
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LRC UPDATE
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PASSAGES: BORIS MALDEN
We all had our fingers crossed on April 21 as we hoped that all our planning would come to fruition. The weather was on our side, with the sun in the sky and a slight breeze coming off the water. And so, we celebrated what will hopefully be the first of many Landings’s Nature Days, honoring our local environmental treasures and the good earth as well. And equally importantly, enjoying the company of other residents, many of whom we never see on an ordinary day. Approximately 200 or more residents and their guests came to learn, explore, have fun fishing, kayak i ng, face pai nt i ng a nd enjoying ice cream or maybe a cold beer. Of the 200 attendees, approximately 50 were children; the youngest to join us was 3-weekold Jack Unger and the oldest, well, perhaps that is better left unsaid. There were folks who told us that they have never been on the trail before and there were those who left knowing more about mangroves, composting, butterflies, oysters et al. Parents were overheard directing their children to the exhibition tables before they could grab an ice cream treat.
Young and old were ferried into the waters surrounding the kayak launch by Randy Harm, Ellen and Jon Demos, and Ken Drost, with help from Jeanie Virball. Some ventured independently into the waters with a little instruction. Younger folks tried their hand at fishing, many even catching, under the guidance of Norm Olshanky,
the official fish whisperer, with support from Kim Cooper. One young man took three kayak rides and caught a snapper. What a day! At the top of the Nature Trail, the day concluded with four Landings musicians, Gary Eason, Angie Eason, Michael Cohen, and Peter McHugh, providing musical entertainment.
There were ma ny who contributed to the success of the day: Darka Hawrysz, who chaired the event, and her committee, Judianne Smith, Alcie Howard, Maralyn Kaufman-Davivd, and Jackie Massari. But i n su m m a r y, it wa s a s uc c e s s f u l d ay for a l l wh o participated! Shall we do it again?
Four Landings musicians, Gary Eason, Angie Eason, Michael Cohen, and Peter McHugh provide musical entertainment during Nature Day at The Landings. For more coverage and photos of this event, go to page 12-13.
Volunteers Who Work for You By Dan Bella Bob Kueppers page
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LANDINGS RESIDENT PROFILE: ALEX SOKOLOFF
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KID’S CORNER: LUKE UNGER, 4
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This is the twentieth in a series of articles highlighting the special volunteers who help make The La nd i ng s suc h a wonder f u l community. The Eagle interviewed Bob Kueppers for this issue. We’ve all been by the Cloisters and have seen the impressive twin markers that bookend its entrance and bear its name. Those of us walking or on bikes may have taken a quick circuit through the Cloisters and back out again. But no doubt a lesser number of us know the president of the Cloisters Homeowners Association (HOA). Meet Bob Kueppers. B ob a n d h i s w i f e, L i b b y, purchased their home in the Cloisters in 2014. They bought it from someone who at the time was president of the Cloisters HOA. They were told that if he they bought the house, the job came with it! Sure enough, Bob became HOA president and has served in that capacity ever since. The Cloisters is one of the smallest HOA’s in The Landings, with only 10 homes. Reflecting on the position, Bob commented, “Fortunately, in our case, HOA president involves working well with your neighbors and getting a little help from everyone from time to time.” Bob and Libby are from St. Paul, MN. They married in 1976, the year Bob graduated from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of
Business. They left the Twin Cities in 1981 and moved to New York City on assignment with a firm that eventually became the financial services firm, Deloitte & Touche. In the mid 1980’s, Bob engaged in a fellowship with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C., then returned to New York as a partner with Deloitte. He eventually became Deput y CEO of Deloit te US, working with large clients such as General Motors, Boeing, Dow Chemical, and Best Buy. A top regulatory expert, Bob has worked extensively with the SEC, the U.S. Treasury Department, and with committees and members of Congress, frequently handling high profile matters for public companies facing investigations by the SEC and other agencies. Following the demise of Enron and Worldcom, he worked closely with both private sector and government regulators on financial industry reforms. Bob became active in volunteer and non-profit work for several organizations, often as chair of the organization. Notably, he joined the board of the United Way of New York City in 2010, becoming chair in 2012. The Mayor of New York City proclaimed May 10, 2016 “Robert J. Kueppers Day” in New York City in recognition of his leadership of the United Way.
In The Landings, in addition to being Cloisters HOA president, Bob, until recently, has been active in The Landings Holiday Charitable Foundation. Bob retired from Deloitte in 2015. While his primary residence is in Sarasota, he splits his time between Florida and the New York area. Bob still does consulting work for companies through affiliations with a couple different firms.
He and his wife of 47 years have two sons. Bob enjoys fishing and walking, is an amateur musician and a wine collector. About living in The Landings, he observed, “As a place to live, The Landings works because so many of our residents volunteer their valuable time to benefit the community. No one cares more about our neighborhood than those of us who call The Landings home.”