Marsha and Dan Radebaugh, Joe Ferdenzi, Crystal Mattocks, Sharon Barnett, Harry Faustmann, and Rich Levy Meet the Members Night—June 2007.
I believe I first met Joe Ferdenzi in 1975, after joining the Long Island Killifish Association (LIKA). He was also a new member at that time and, shortly thereafter, went off to college, law school, in Boston. He left his killifish with us, LIKA, to offer for auction at a Long Island Aquarium Society (LIAS) annual show and auction. Nice of him to do that. The next time I saw Joe was after he returned to New York from Boston. He re-joined LIKA, and became very active with the GCAS. Once he did that, there was no avoiding him. He was turning up everywhere. Club meetings, shows, auctions, and he always filled in as a last minute speaker for clubs in need. After running several GCAS shows, and an American Killifish Association (AKA) annual convention, he came up with the idea for the AFISH Convention, and chaired that for the first two years. It took two years to get the first one going. Somehow he got many of us involved in that. After success with that, he now wishes to sit back and relax. I can’t see that happening, but he deserves it. Hopefully, he won’t drag the rest of us into another of his crusades. So after knowing Joe for the past 34 years, I can only say, “Relax, and let the rest of us ‘ole’ timers relax, too!” Harry (Faustmann) ****************************************************************************************** When I joined Greater City in the early ‘90s, Joe was already well established as the President. It was a “smaller” club back then. Somehow, each meeting felt more intimate. Certainly the membership was lower and the club operated on a much smaller scale with a budget to match. Modern Aquarium was nothing but a hobby magazine that Greater City had once published, and the club had not put on a fish show for many, many years. That first year, I came to meetings and listened and learned. I wanted to be more involved, but did not feel that I had anything to offer. At one meeting, Joe asked if anyone had computer skills and could help with the upcoming fish show. Being a technology person by profession, I raised my hand and volunteered my help. That began a long ride that has included membership on the Board of Directors, Membership Chair, Editor of Modern Aquarium, Corresponding Secretary, and Co-Chair of the Breeder’s Award Program, along with many wonderful memories, experiences, and a world of knowledge. As the years have passed, the club has grown and prospered. Its reputation and name have become widespread throughout the hobby. Joe would be the first to say that it is the combined efforts of everyone that has made this happen. And while that may be true, don’t kid yourself; it was Joe’s incredible leadership, inspiration, and tireless promotions and efforts that have gotten Greater City to where it is. Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)
March 2009
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