The first day of summer was celebrated with an Ice Cream Social for the Tennis Club

Jay Clayton Wilson

The SaddleBrooke Tennis Club celebrated the first day of summer. Debbie McGeehan and Joyce Wantuck put together a wonderful hot-day event they called the STC Ice Cream Social on the club’s spacious patio.

These energetic ladies are the club’s fun-Olympians. Searching their calendars they find every possible occasion to celebrate and have fun by organizing a party. To compensate for the extra warmth introduced by the first day of summer, they decorated the patio to resemble a down home soda counter with tablecloths and napkins to match. The party atmosphere was launched with hearty Margaritas, iced tea and soft drinks. Then, when the moment was right, Debbie started the stampede to the dining area where members indulged in a plethora of fruit salads, tuna salads, chicken salads, salad salads, croissants and tasty summer delights for every palate.

Then came the main event. That would be ice cream and root beer floats.

Gary Greenbaum and Walter Fritz served ice cream to members and their guests. Just as important, Joanne Wells served delicious root beer floats. The main event brought joyous shouts from members and their guests. Who could have imagined a better way to celebrate the first day of summer? Leave such imagination to Debbie and Joyce. Their idea was an immediate hit. Everyone was suddenly transported back to college days at the corner drug store. Thank you for this marvelous idea.

Breaking with tradition, we want to actually recognize some of our valuable volunteers who make parties at STC possible and fun. Our members always volunteer to make STC a better SaddleBrooke venue where good health and enjoyment are hallmark objectives. To that end, we are grateful to Claudia Enea and Laura Ingold for getting things started on the right note by serving at the bar. Thanks to Gary, Walter and Joanne Wells for serving the ice cream and root beer floats. How could we have had chairs and tables without the dedication of Rufus Renfrow, Randy Zimmerman and Richard Wantuck? Thanks to Debbie McGeehan and Joyce Wantuck for decorating those tables and the rest of the patio. We fondly remember Joyce Wantuck, Sarah Smith, Stephanie Thomas, and Mary Zimmerman for making food service so convenient and colorful. Nothing would have started without Judie Renfrow and Nancy Hunter who checked in members and their guests at the STC front door. Ron Hunter was ready with happy music and Riley Jackson notified members about the party by posting on the STC website. The tennis matches were curtailed at the last moment, even though George Collins, Melanie Murphy and Debbie McGeehan arranged pairings. Finally, we are glad for our President TJ Duffy, who devoted his expertise to memorializing the event through great photographs.

Did we overlook a valuable volunteer? Probably. Well, one group shall go unnamed even though the party would have been considerably diminished without the culinary efforts of every member who prepared delicious dishes to make the event complete. Thanks to each of you.

Until the next fun STC party, our wish is to further our ambitious objective of facilitating good health and enjoyment in retirement to our SaddleBrooke neighbors.