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NOVEMBER 2024 941.312.0665 | 27TH STATE MEDIA, LLC LRC MOVIE BOOK CLUB COMMENCES
WELCOME BACK SNOWBIRDS! The Landings’ Bob Manteiga A Man of Multiple Talents! By Joan Lowery
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SUMMER OF STORMS
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BEAUTY OF AFRICAN BIRDS
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KID’S CORNER CAM MCCUE, 9
Spend a few hours with Bob Manteiga and you will come away with a deepened appreciation of the arts, culture and the importance of being receptive to alluring opportunities that come one’s way. Four words that come to mind in describing this ‘Renaissance Man’: educator, visionary, artist and leader. While he is extraordinarily humble, his upcoming photography exhibit at Arts Advocates Gallery in Sarasota prompted him to share the landscape of what was a highly impressive academic and artistic career. J: Bob, where were you born and what was your early life like? B: I was born in Brooklyn and grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey. I was very lucky to have wonderful grandparents who took care of me while my parents worked. They spoke only Spanish and so, until I started school, I spoke only Spanish. J: You studied architecture at the University of Virginia. What was that like? B: I enjoyed it but found the intensity of the work and the many “all-nighters” quite stressful. After being hospitalized with a serious case of mononucleosis, I decided that, perhaps, architecture was not the career path for me. Luckily for me, a professor of mine suggested that I spend my junior year abroad in Salamanca and Madrid taking Hispanic Studies classes. I took his advice. It was an amazing year and opened my eyes to the fact that a Hispanic Studies major was more than just studying Spanish, but involved comparative literature, film, history and culture – all subjects I loved. It was in Madrid that my passion for film grew as I got to eat breakfast nearly every morning at the Plaza Hotel with actor Jack Palance. I also met
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THE LANDINGS TRANSDFORMS
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Dates: Tuesday Nov.19 with the Ultra Seniors (80’s) Wednesday, Nov. 20 Super Seniors (70’s) Thursday, Nov. 21 Seniors (60’s) Player’s luncheon is served on Thursday as well as dinner that evening. Friday, Nov. 22 Gold ball Pres. (Ultra’s) Saturday, Nov. 23 Gold Ball Pres. (Super Seniors)
Telly Savales, Yul Brenner and other film industry legends. Madrid was a big hot spot for films at the time. I even played an extra in a few films and got to witness filmmaking firsthand. I had a fantastic time! J: It seems like you really went with the flow in finding your path. B: Yes. I let life guide me. I didn’t try to guide my life.
Play throughout the week. Sunday, November 24 Gold Ball Finals (Seniors) presentation United States National Championships Looking for Ambassador’s Sign up in Pro Shop Responsibilities: Welcome your team upon arrival, answering any inquiries. Follow their matches Contribute a hot or cold Pot-Luck dish enough for 10 people for the players luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 16. Sign up for whatever you want to bring at the Pro Shop. Ambassadors do not have to provide housing but are welcome to share comradery with their team and attend the Players Dinner only if your team is attending.
J: What happened when you reWhy not get involved turned to the U.S.? If you just want to volunteer with the luncheon, or any other activities, or be an B: I decided to continue with Hispanambassador, we thank you for your efforts giving the National Father/Son Tournament ic studies. I earned a Master’s Degree in that special Landings touch. Spanish from NYU while studying in Please call: Dee Ricapito at 941-356-7912, or Beverly Austgen: 941-685-0469. Madrid, and then my Ph.D. in Hispanic Studies from the University of Virginia. B: Yes, it probably did. Literature and Film, you also taught After graduating, I ultimately landed courses in film history, the American a professorship at the University of J: And given that architecture is a Western, Italian Neorealism, writing for Rhode Island (URI) teaching Hispanic visual medium, I wonder if that led you film, 20 th Century poetry and drama Studies and Comparative Literature. to your avid pursuit of photography, and so much more! During my 40- year tenure, I was Difilm and video. It seems like you reBut, perhaps most unusual, and rector of the Comparative Literature ally found outlets for so many of your seemingly unrelated, was your foundProgram, Head of Hispanic Studies passions. ing the Spanish International Engineerand one of the co-founders of the Film B: I did. ing Program at URI. How did that fit Studies Program. into your work? J: Your life as an academic was quite B: It didn’t! I was coerced by the EngiJ: It strikes me that your early years varied. In addition to authoring five neering Dean into writing a grant to fund with your grandparents perhaps had books and more than 60 articles about a first-of-its- kind undergraduate Spanan influence on your resonating with 20 th Century Spanish, Comparative ish international engineering program. Hispanic studies. Story continues on page 10
Landings Resident Profile
Abdullah (Apo) Kayaalp
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The 2024 Father/Son Clay Court Championships
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Cook, caterer, waiter, swimmer, rummikub champion, Uber driver, postal worker, immigrant, new American, farmer, spice merchant, husband, fisherman, and Muslim, all describe Apo. New to The Landings with wife JT Thaler, Apo made a fascinating journey from his birthplace in Konya, Turkey, to Kusadasi, Turkey. He eventually went to Brooklyn, NY, Cliffside Park, NJ, and Nutley, NJ, before landing in Sarasota. Apo grew up in a religious Muslim family. His father was a mailman and his mother a cook at a school. During the summers, he worked on his grandparents’ farm raising goats, sheep, cows, donkeys and farming beets, beans, corn, cherries and chickpeas. He had a pet goat that followed him and came running when Apo called the goat by name. He went to a vocational high school that specialized in hospitality and tourism services. After high school, he went into the Army, which was compulsory for all Turkish men. He rose to the level of sergeant and had
40 men under his command working on the border with Iraq. He met JT in 2002 while she was traveling in Turkey. They visited Ephesus archeological site, which was near where he lived. It was the first time he saw the famous archeological sites. From there they traveled together to Istanbul where Apo experienced the city for the first time. Their relationship blossomed and JT worked, unsuccessfully, to get Apo a tourist visa to the U.S. It was right after 9/11 so tourist visas were held back for people from the Middle East. She was able to get him a “fiancée” visa which only lasts for 90 days if you do not get married. They did get married and have been together ever since. Apo’s parents were not happy with his moving to the U.S. and at first did not know that JT was Jewish. She is an active member of the local Conservative synagogue, Temple Beth Sholom. Apo finds many similarities between Islam and Judaism, especially around burial procedures, circumcision, head coverings, and
dietary laws. Apo and JT return to visit Turkey and see family every summer. Apo loves the United States. He finds life here more organized and easier to make a living. He noted that people in the U.S. follow the rules more so than people in Turkey. He noted that JT has made his transition to life in the US much easier. While JT and Apo were living in Brooklyn, Apo got a job at a Turkish restaurant in Manhattan. He worked in several high-end restaurants in Manhattan and also worked for a short time as a U.S. Postal Worker. JT has brothers who live in Naples and Venice. While he and JT were visiting them, they ventured to Sarasota and liked it, eventually selecting a place in The Landings. They love The Landings for many reasons…. the landscaping, being close to the water, shopping and having a big pool within walking distance. JT doesn’t drive, so being near a bus stop is also very helpful as is being close to so many cultural venues. Apo is an avid fisherman and loves being able to fish at the gazebo. JT is in the
process of starting a book club in The Landings and loves Trivia nights and mahjong. They are making more friends in The Landings. However, Apo hasn’t found many people in our area who are Turkish. Apo is a very friendly, easy-going guy with a fascinating history. If you see him at the club or at activities in The Landings, introduce yourself and get to know this special Landings resident.