Elinor Donahue

You may know Elinor Donahue from the 50's hit tv show Father Knows Best or maybe from The Andy Griffith Show where she played Ellie, Andy Taylor's girl friend and Mayberry's pharmacist. Or maybe from any one of the dozens and dozens of roles she played on tv and screen from early roles on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show to Dr. Quinn Medicine Women to The Princess Diaries 2 with Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews. Throughout Elinor's career she has worked with a never ending list of Hollywood's greats like Donald O'Conner, Alan Ladd, Jane Powell and Margaret O'Brien to name just a few. Her on and off screen heart warming smile made her a very welcome addition to any show. Star Trek fans might even remember her as commissioner Nancy Hedford.

To go back to her early years Elinor was born in Tacoma Washington. At a very young age she began taking dance lessons and started appearing in films as early as age 5. She was on vaudeville and began taking many roles in movies as a teenager. At just age 11 she played one of the three daughters in Three Daring Daughters. Her break through role may have been as Betty, the eldest daughter on Father Knows Best with Robert Young and Jane Wyatt in 1954. The role made her one of the most familiar faces on tv foreshadowing the great career to come.

If you're looking for a great book to take you down memory lane Elinor has also published her memoirs called "In The Kitchen With Elinor Donahue. In it Elinor shares many of her memories in Hollywood alongside over 150 of her favorite recipes. It really is a great trip down memory lane.

All our best wishes Elinor on your Birthday this year and every year!

The UHS TWIN TIER HOME EMERGENCY ALARM RESPONSE program makes independent living as easy as the push of a button!

Our IN HOME AND GPS EQUIPMENT help individuals remain in their homes and allows them the freedom to go anywhere with confidence!

Ask about our newest GPS device the Smart Watch – which can also count your steps and check your heart rate!

UHS HOME CARE

601 Riverside Drive

Johnson City, NY 13790 (607) 763-8952 • nyuhs.org

A Little Movie

Baseball Trivia

1) The Legendary Baseball Field of "Field of Dreams" with Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan, Ray Liotta, James Earl Jones and Burt Lancaster is located in a) Gary, Indiana b) Wichita, Kansas, c) Dyersville, Iowa d) Springfield, Illinois a) Tom Hanks b) Tom Cruise c) Jim Belushi d) Harrison Ford e) Johnny Depp a) Jimmy Stewart b) Gary Cooper c) James Dean d) Montgomery Clift a) Warner Bros b) Thomas Edison d) Republic Pictures e) The US Government a) James Garner b) Chuck Connors c) Hugh O'Brian d) Clint Eastward e) Steve McQueen a) New York Yankees b) Boston Red Sox c) Chicago Cubs d) Detroit Tigers a) Willie Mayes b) Hank Aaron c) Jackie Robinson d) Ernie Banks a) The Natural b) Field of Dreams c) Bull Durham d) For Love of the Game a) Kevin Costner b) Ed Harris c) Ray Liotta d) unknown e) James Earl Jones

2) This famous line "There's no crying in baseball" was said by actor Tom Hanks in " A League of Their Own", but do you know who was the first actor considered to play his part?

3) Who played Lou Gehrig in "Pride of the Yankees"?

4) Who produced the first baseball movie "The Ball Game" in 1898?

5) Which famous Western TV Star once played baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs?

6) In Magnum PI, Tom Selleck often wore the baseball cap of this team?

7) Chadwick Boseman played this historic baseball player in the movie "42"?

8) Baseball-lover Kevin Costner stars in all of the following movies except ?

9) In "Field of Dreams" the famous mysterious voice heard in the cornfield saying “If you build it, he will come.” was spoken by...

10) In "The Bad News Bears" Tatum O'Neal played the starring role of Amanda Whurlitzer. From the list here all of these actresses were also considered for the part of Amanda except which one? a) Jodie Foster, b) Sarah Jessica Parker c) Molly Ringwald d) Kristy McNichol

Answers: 1c Dyersville, Iowa ~ 2c Jim Belushi ~ 3b Gary Cooper ~ 4b Thomas Edison ~ 5b Chuck Connors ~ 6d Detroit Tigers ~ 7c Jackie Robinson ~ 8a The Natural ~ 9d unknown. You'll have to watch it & decide for yourself ~ 10c Molly Ringwald

Remembering The Ultimate Umpire

Ron Luciano

They say there is nothing as American as hot dogs, apple pie and baseball. Baseball is a national pastime that is enjoyed by all as it brings all people together for a common purpose – to support their home town team. And here in Broome County that means rooting on our own Rumble Ponies – a team with not only talent but with heart as they remain consistently committed to helping worthwhile causes in this area. But the word “baseball” also brings back, to me, thoughts of one of the greatest umpires of all time. A man who was born, raised, lived and died in this area. A man whose personality was bigger than most countries. The man I speak of is none other than Ron Luciano.

Is it possible that you have never met him? Never seen him ump a game? Never read his books? Never saw his commentating? Well then let me fill you in from a personal point of view.

Back in 1982 I was working for WAAL. The Station Manager then was Tom Shiptenko, a suave executive who dressed to the nines, drove a classic blue T-bird and had endless connections with those in the entertainment field. Tom arranged for a game of round robin between the various radio and TV station personalities at Otsiningo Park and to make it special he invited one of his friends to ump – past President of the Major League Umpires Association - Ron Luciano.

Ron was born in Endicott and with his talent, and his size (6’4 and 260 pounds) he excelled at football in high school and went on to play offensive and defensive tackle at Syracuse University. His talent was noted by the Baltimore Colts who signed him up to play in the NFL in 1959 and then after playing for other teams including Detroit and Buffalo he retired after a knee injury. With football behind him, Ron navigated over to umpiring. As an American Major League Baseball umpire he was known for his over the top personality. I remember tuning into baseball not to watch the games but to watch Luciano’s antics and waiting for what would come next between him and anyone at bat or any manager that would question a call including Orioles Earl Weaver. Luciano was always center stage, usually standing between the pitcher and the base – the attention on his shouting out calls, jumping in the air, and doing over the top theatrical movements to call someone out. He even gave us some of the most notable quotes in the field including: “Umpiring is best described as the profession of standing between two 7 year olds with 1 ice cream” and “throwing people out of a game is like learning to ride a bicycle – once you get the hang of it, it can be a lot of fun”.

But aside from Luciano’s bigger than life personality and his fame and fortune what sets Luciano apart from some is his lasting love and commitment to this area. Even when married one of the sticking points was the fact that he remained committed to having a home in Endicott whereas she wanted one in Chicago – a sticking point that eventually helped seal their divorce. And with her being “OUT” Luciano remained a lifelong resident of Broome County, having passed away in his Endicott home and being buried at Calvary Cemetery.

Broome County is lucky to have Ron Luciano as someone who helped to make this place a great County in which to live. And I was lucky to have him as my umpire because not only was that day at Otsiningo Park fun due to the comradery of the different players, but it was also over the top because of the calls and personality of the greatest umpire to ever live – Ron Luciano.