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The News of Sun City Center
Meet your Neighbors: Marty Gifford and Reinhold Baal
By Ilona Merritt Why did you choose SCC as your retirement home? The answers are often surprising. The Cincinnati Reds was the reason why Marty Gifford’s husband, Craig, chose Florida and wanting something to do was the reason for Marty wanting to live here. SCC happened to be close to Sarasota where the Reds had their Spring Training. After moving to SCC, Marty finally was able to learn to play golf. Pairings were still done by paper and pencil. Having good computer skills, she soon took over that job for her league and, then, took over two more leagues. Sadly, her husband passed away and Marty was looking for other activities to fill in her time. Because of her computer skills, the Emergency Squad called her in 2004 for help and she accepted. She became extremely involved and served in many positions. She was the assistant to the Assistant Chief of Personnel and later traded that role to become the Assistant Chief of Personnel. She became Secretary of the Board and a dispatcher while working in the Squad’s treasurer’s office. When Mike Schramm stepped down as Treasurer, she became Chief Financial Officer, a position she still holds. Marty planned and organized the annual Holiday Awards Dinner for many years and still helps with some of the details. For seven years, she was an active member of the former Guardianship Foundation until it was dissolved. Reinhold Baal worked at the Emergency Squad and had been widowed. Cupid did his job and the two became a pair. Reinhold was born in Pittsburgh, PA,
but in 1950, at the age of six months, his German born parents moved back to Germany. At age 20, Reinhold left Stuttgart, Germany, and came back to the United States. A year later, he was drafted into the American Army and found himself at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas, for two years to become a lab technician. During this time, he had to learn English and decided to take on the task of getting his GED. Instead of going to Korea, he was sent to Germany. When he came back to the states, his life took a different direction. He married Eleanore and, since her father owned a Butcher Shop, Reinhold learned a new trade. Eleanore and Reinhold were active in the Westchester Edelweiss German American Club in New York. In 1994, they decided to retire to Florida and chose SCC to be their new home. Reinhold chose Radio controlled airplanes for a hobby. He belongs to the Triple Creek RC Club in Riverview. This is a unique hobby and he is one of the last people in his club who still builds his own planes from scratch. Right now, he is building a model of the Spirit of St. Louis. He joined the Emergency Squad as a driver and retired after approximately eight years. However,
he still helps out sanitizing ambulances and the wheelchair transport vans and helps recondition wheel chairs before the Squad lends them out to members of our community. Reinhold is active in the SCC GermanAmerican Club where a German Sausage maker is always a highly desirable member. In the early years of the SCC club, members did their own cooking and Reinhold was our chief cook. When Marty came into his life, she joined
January 2018
the German-American club and they joined the Folk Dance Group. Marty was Secretary on the Board for many years and chaired many of the club’s activities, i.e. Oktoberfest, which always filled the Community Hall, while she continued with all her commitments to the Emergency Squad. Thank you to Marty and Reinhold for giving your time, talents and willingness to help make SCC such a unique community.
Friends of the SCC History Society
Everyone needs friends to encourage and sustain them. Even organizations are improved when individuals provide support through involvement and financial assistance. The newly established Friends of the Sun City Center History Society hopes that you will join with a group of volunteers who are dedicated to sharing the interesting history of our community. That task requires the time and talents of many people. Organizing and digitizing the archives accumulated since 1961 is a big task. At present only a handful of individuals are involved in sorting files, scanning and labeling documents. Others have dedicated their time to assembling displays for the Atrium Building and at local events such as FunFest and the Fourth of July Breakfast. A slide presentation put together by John Bowker has been well attended and provides a wonderful overview of our history. We could use your help in expanding the work that is being done. Although all of these tasks are done by volunteers, the Society does have expenses. Supplies are needed for preparation of slide presentations, for organizing materials in the vault where materials are stored, and for the technology which allows us to digitize our historical archives. Your financial support will help us to continue the activities which will eventually give computer access to all Sun City Center residents. Basic membership dues are $5 per year. To obtain a membership form contact Marilyn Coté-Miller at 716208-9548. Mail the completed form to Friends of the Sun City Center History Society, 1009 N. Pebble Beach Blvd., Sun City Center, FL 33573. Forms will also be available at John Bowker’s “History of Sun City Center” presentation to be held on February 17 at 2:00 p.m. at Community Hall. If you would like further information regarding the Sun City Center History Society contact John Bowker at “jbowker103@gmail.com” or call Marilyn Coté-Miller at 716-208-9548.
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