Windlassie in front of our housebeing built on Singer Island, 1969-70
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Had to start somewhere, the pictures below are Marge, Debbie and
Me as we have looked for several years, aging of course now!
I started with Merrill after my 3 month training period in New York.
My first 9 years were in Palm Beach. I knew only one person in
the area, Llwyd Ecclestone, Jr. My client base started slowly
but was soon substantial. We joined the Sailfish Club, with Llwyd
as our sponser. I started playing sone high stakes bridge, 3 cents
a point! and generally went about meeting people as fast as I could.
The area was in a period of very rapid expansion, and Merrill
started opening sattellite offices, instead of free standing ones.
They opened one in North Palm Beach, and I was lucky enough to
be transferred there. Mostly because we had built a house { more
about that later}, on Singer Island, and lived the closest to the
new location than any other broker in the Palm Beach office, of
which the new office was a sattellite. After only about 5 months
I was made the manager, and held this position for 10 years. It was
a bonanza. People were moving into the area in droves, and had
money to invest I was a producing manager. We had lots of
walkins. I never took the walkins unless they specifically asked
for the manager. All of us built our books rapidly. In 1987, I
stepped down as manager, and decide to retire. That's a short
history of my carreer, but I'll be back on incidents all through
this "journal"
Me as we have looked for several years, aging of course now!
I started with Merrill after my 3 month training period in New York.
My first 9 years were in Palm Beach. I knew only one person in
the area, Llwyd Ecclestone, Jr. My client base started slowly
but was soon substantial. We joined the Sailfish Club, with Llwyd
as our sponser. I started playing sone high stakes bridge, 3 cents
a point! and generally went about meeting people as fast as I could.
The area was in a period of very rapid expansion, and Merrill
started opening sattellite offices, instead of free standing ones.
They opened one in North Palm Beach, and I was lucky enough to
be transferred there. Mostly because we had built a house { more
about that later}, on Singer Island, and lived the closest to the
new location than any other broker in the Palm Beach office, of
which the new office was a sattellite. After only about 5 months
I was made the manager, and held this position for 10 years. It was
a bonanza. People were moving into the area in droves, and had
money to invest I was a producing manager. We had lots of
walkins. I never took the walkins unless they specifically asked
for the manager. All of us built our books rapidly. In 1987, I
stepped down as manager, and decide to retire. That's a short
history of my carreer, but I'll be back on incidents all through
this "journal"
In 1969, after selling out to my partners. we decided to make our new life
in Florida. I needed a job, and we had agreed I would seek a career as a
broker. This was in a soft bear market, and I was 46 years old.
I interviewed, and was turned down, 45 times. I had been looking first in
Ft. Lauderdale, then Miami, and lastly in Boca Raton. I then interviewed
for a job with a top sail boat broker in Lauderdale. He offerd me a job, and
I called Marge to tell her. I had been making trips back and forth to
Florida while she held down the fort in Grosse Pointe Shores where we
lived. Marge objected strongly, not wanting my job to overlap our fun
stuff, boating. She suggested I try in Palm Beach, which I did. Voila, on my
second interview, I was hired by Merrill Lynch to start a training
program in Sept., this was in June. I rushed home, and we started to
move. This involved selling a house, buying or building a new one in
Florida, moving a 41 foot sailboat south, and my Cesna 172, 2 cars, and
Marge and Bob, jr. When we left the DYC dock on july 14, 1969, most
of our friends predicted an early return to Detroit. I began to worry how
secure my new job was after one interview and an entry test I took in
Detroit. But all went well, and after an uneventful, but wonderful trip
on ourBounty sailboat through the Welland canal, down the Hudson river,
and outside from New York to Atlantic City, then the rest of the way on
the intracoastal waterway, we arrived at the North Palm Beach marina on
Sept. 2, 1969. While we were heading South, my daughter was finishing
her undergrad at the University of Michigan. I started at Merrill, on
Sept 15, 1969, and our wonderful life in Florida began then.
in Florida. I needed a job, and we had agreed I would seek a career as a
broker. This was in a soft bear market, and I was 46 years old.
I interviewed, and was turned down, 45 times. I had been looking first in
Ft. Lauderdale, then Miami, and lastly in Boca Raton. I then interviewed
for a job with a top sail boat broker in Lauderdale. He offerd me a job, and
I called Marge to tell her. I had been making trips back and forth to
Florida while she held down the fort in Grosse Pointe Shores where we
lived. Marge objected strongly, not wanting my job to overlap our fun
stuff, boating. She suggested I try in Palm Beach, which I did. Voila, on my
second interview, I was hired by Merrill Lynch to start a training
program in Sept., this was in June. I rushed home, and we started to
move. This involved selling a house, buying or building a new one in
Florida, moving a 41 foot sailboat south, and my Cesna 172, 2 cars, and
Marge and Bob, jr. When we left the DYC dock on july 14, 1969, most
of our friends predicted an early return to Detroit. I began to worry how
secure my new job was after one interview and an entry test I took in
Detroit. But all went well, and after an uneventful, but wonderful trip
on ourBounty sailboat through the Welland canal, down the Hudson river,
and outside from New York to Atlantic City, then the rest of the way on
the intracoastal waterway, we arrived at the North Palm Beach marina on
Sept. 2, 1969. While we were heading South, my daughter was finishing
her undergrad at the University of Michigan. I started at Merrill, on
Sept 15, 1969, and our wonderful life in Florida began then.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
The years after the war sort of blend in. We had a wonderful family relation, ship, with more or less typical problems. My son had some problems in school, but managed to finish High School. I'll address this more whenI get us to Florida. My daughter was, and is, a strong, and very intelligent woman. Her years after the war were influenced, as I believe her whole generation
was, by the Vietnam war, and the drug culture, which never reached her personally, thank God.
And of course women's lib was a strong influence, and still is.
Our life in the 50s revolved around the kid's education, sailing, bridge, and the DYC. We made several cruises as a family to The North Channel, and Georgian Bay on our sail boats. the North Channel is above Lake Huron, and goes along Manitoulin Island. The longest fresh water island in the world. I also decided to fly again, and joined the air force reserve to fly at Selfridge Field. We were flying AT 6s, and it was great fun. The day I arrived at the field and was told that we would be checked out in jet trainers, I decided to drop out. My ex unit was called up for Korea about 6 months after I dopped out!!
I joined a small group of DYC friends in flying club, and we bought a Cessna 172. My associates
were all learners, and I soon felt nervous about this. I dropped out of that, and bought a Cessna 172 for myself.
My working life settled down to 7 years of sales engineering in electric motors. I then bought an Electrotype foundry, and was in that about 10 years. I had bought into a dying industry, letter press printing. Never the less we had some great years. Although you couldnt get rich in a dying industry, the tax laws allowed for a nice life style. I merged my company witha friendly competitor, and got about 5 years more than I would have alone. I sold to my partners in1969 and movedto Florida.
I taught Marge bridge as soon as we were married. We played a lot, and got pretty good. I remember playing against Goren in a tournament in 1939. Marge and I often played against a Barry Cohen. He went to Hollywood, and became Barry Crane, one of th greatest players of all times. His personal life was a shambles, and he was killed, probably by a jilted male lover. But that's another story.
I think my next addition will start after we left Detroit for Florida, and will have more pictures.RHD
was, by the Vietnam war, and the drug culture, which never reached her personally, thank God.
And of course women's lib was a strong influence, and still is.
Our life in the 50s revolved around the kid's education, sailing, bridge, and the DYC. We made several cruises as a family to The North Channel, and Georgian Bay on our sail boats. the North Channel is above Lake Huron, and goes along Manitoulin Island. The longest fresh water island in the world. I also decided to fly again, and joined the air force reserve to fly at Selfridge Field. We were flying AT 6s, and it was great fun. The day I arrived at the field and was told that we would be checked out in jet trainers, I decided to drop out. My ex unit was called up for Korea about 6 months after I dopped out!!
I joined a small group of DYC friends in flying club, and we bought a Cessna 172. My associates
were all learners, and I soon felt nervous about this. I dropped out of that, and bought a Cessna 172 for myself.
My working life settled down to 7 years of sales engineering in electric motors. I then bought an Electrotype foundry, and was in that about 10 years. I had bought into a dying industry, letter press printing. Never the less we had some great years. Although you couldnt get rich in a dying industry, the tax laws allowed for a nice life style. I merged my company witha friendly competitor, and got about 5 years more than I would have alone. I sold to my partners in1969 and movedto Florida.
I taught Marge bridge as soon as we were married. We played a lot, and got pretty good. I remember playing against Goren in a tournament in 1939. Marge and I often played against a Barry Cohen. He went to Hollywood, and became Barry Crane, one of th greatest players of all times. His personal life was a shambles, and he was killed, probably by a jilted male lover. But that's another story.
I think my next addition will start after we left Detroit for Florida, and will have more pictures.RHD
Saturday, January 21, 2006
We were married in April, 1948. Debbie was born in August of 1949,
Bob Jr. came along five years later. They both loved boats, and both
became outstanding swimmers. As you can see, we spent all our free
time on boats from about school out to school in. We spent weekends
on the boat at the back dock of the DYC all summer long. In the winter,
we were also at the club all our weekends. I served on the sail race
committee for many years, and was on the board also. I became a flag
officer, and ran for Commodore in 1968. Fortunately for me, I was
defeated. Fortunate because the following summer, we pulled
up stakes, and moved to Florida. Marge's mother, Brenda Helmbold,
contracted brain cancer about 1962. Her step father, Charlie Menshardt,
who raised her, came to live with us. He stayed with us for 7 years.
This was annoying once in a while, but by and large he was a wonderful
addition to our family. I can't help but add, he chose to live with us
rather than either of his real daughters. On saturdays in the winter,
I would take Charlie and Bob Jr. to the club. Charlie and I would both
sit in the Sauna, and then have a massage, and then have lunch. Bob
would swim and play with the kids. There were always
a lot of them. It was the highlight of Charlie's week, and I enjoyed it too.
Our kids were as different as night and day, and still are. Deb was an
outstanding student, while Bob had many problems. WhenI get into
our Florida life, I'll revisit this subject.
I want to address religion, at least lightly. I was raised a devout
Episcopalian, even thought I might have a calling. As I learned more
and more about the holocaust, I became less and less religious, and now
consider myself at least an agnostic, and maybe an Atheist. I was taught
that Jesus loved the little children most of all. I could not recconcile a
God who would allow the holocaust to happen, and I still can't. In addition,
the sheer size of the universe makes it hard to believe a 'God is controlling
the whole thing. Then I hear "but something had to create it" My thought
is who created the God? And who created that creator, and so on and so on.
I know this is not an answer, but I don't believe the answer there has to be
something to start it all is either. Still, I try to live by Christian rules, and
I HOPE THEIR RIGHT AND I'M WRONG! Another point hard to
swallow is that ours is the one true religion. All the religions believe that,
and someone has to be wrong. And I guess lastly, most wars have been fought
in the name of religion, and again whose religion is the right one.
RHD
Bob Jr. came along five years later. They both loved boats, and both
became outstanding swimmers. As you can see, we spent all our free
time on boats from about school out to school in. We spent weekends
on the boat at the back dock of the DYC all summer long. In the winter,
we were also at the club all our weekends. I served on the sail race
committee for many years, and was on the board also. I became a flag
officer, and ran for Commodore in 1968. Fortunately for me, I was
defeated. Fortunate because the following summer, we pulled
up stakes, and moved to Florida. Marge's mother, Brenda Helmbold,
contracted brain cancer about 1962. Her step father, Charlie Menshardt,
who raised her, came to live with us. He stayed with us for 7 years.
This was annoying once in a while, but by and large he was a wonderful
addition to our family. I can't help but add, he chose to live with us
rather than either of his real daughters. On saturdays in the winter,
I would take Charlie and Bob Jr. to the club. Charlie and I would both
sit in the Sauna, and then have a massage, and then have lunch. Bob
would swim and play with the kids. There were always
a lot of them. It was the highlight of Charlie's week, and I enjoyed it too.
Our kids were as different as night and day, and still are. Deb was an
outstanding student, while Bob had many problems. WhenI get into
our Florida life, I'll revisit this subject.
I want to address religion, at least lightly. I was raised a devout
Episcopalian, even thought I might have a calling. As I learned more
and more about the holocaust, I became less and less religious, and now
consider myself at least an agnostic, and maybe an Atheist. I was taught
that Jesus loved the little children most of all. I could not recconcile a
God who would allow the holocaust to happen, and I still can't. In addition,
the sheer size of the universe makes it hard to believe a 'God is controlling
the whole thing. Then I hear "but something had to create it" My thought
is who created the God? And who created that creator, and so on and so on.
I know this is not an answer, but I don't believe the answer there has to be
something to start it all is either. Still, I try to live by Christian rules, and
I HOPE THEIR RIGHT AND I'M WRONG! Another point hard to
swallow is that ours is the one true religion. All the religions believe that,
and someone has to be wrong. And I guess lastly, most wars have been fought
in the name of religion, and again whose religion is the right one.
RHD
Bridge
Let me digress for a moment, and bring in the second passion
of my life, bridge. In the 30s when I was a teenager, home
entertainment as we now know it, didn't exist. Bridge had come
on strong, and a lot of it was played by couples as night enertainment.
Bridge had evolved from Whist, and at first as Auction. It was
rapidly replaced by contract, and became a real rage. I remember
Culbertson as a real American idol. I began to learn it from my
Mother when I was about 13. I played a lot in the army, and a lot
at Michigan. I won my first tournament in Detroit about 1940
with John Grierson as my partner. I became better than average,
but never really an expert. I started teaching Marge to play right
after we were married. Both our mothers were good players. We still
play a lot, but Marge's bridge has sufferd some as a result of the
stroke several years ago. More as we go along "Life's busy highway"
RHD
of my life, bridge. In the 30s when I was a teenager, home
entertainment as we now know it, didn't exist. Bridge had come
on strong, and a lot of it was played by couples as night enertainment.
Bridge had evolved from Whist, and at first as Auction. It was
rapidly replaced by contract, and became a real rage. I remember
Culbertson as a real American idol. I began to learn it from my
Mother when I was about 13. I played a lot in the army, and a lot
at Michigan. I won my first tournament in Detroit about 1940
with John Grierson as my partner. I became better than average,
but never really an expert. I started teaching Marge to play right
after we were married. Both our mothers were good players. We still
play a lot, but Marge's bridge has sufferd some as a result of the
stroke several years ago. More as we go along "Life's busy highway"
RHD
The summer of 1947 was really my first start of life as a civilian following WW II. My closest friend was Tom Drennan. We had an older friend, Perce Darnell who was an ardent sailer, and owned an 8 meter racing sailboat. There were about 8 of these racing in Detroit. Another class had been the 22 square meters. These owners switched as a group to 30 square meters. Vic Lakits had just aquired his 22, and didn't have the money to change to a 30. Perce Darnell took pity on him, and bought his 22 sqare meter so Vic could buy a 30 square. Perce than told Tommy and I we could use the 22 as much as we wanted, we just couldn't race it, no insurance. What a summer we had. Talk about a chick mobile!
The next summer, I was a fresh grad, and started a life as an adult. I was able to race my Lightning all over the area, Detroit of course, Lake Erie, Inland lakes in Mich., etc. We started a Lightning class at the DYC, and I won every race. This qualified me for the Lightning Internationals. That's where I had my come uppance! Came in damned near last! I knew I had a lot to learn about sail boat racing.
In the fall of 1947, I remet Marjorie Menshardt. I asked her to come to Detroit and go with me to a Michigan football game. She lived in St. Louis. Well, she came, and about a month later, she asked me to come to St.Louis for New Years eve, never dreaming I would accept, but I did.
Before the Weekend was over, I proposed to her, and she accepted. That led to the wonderful marriage we still have after 57 years. More as I dredge up memories. Oh yes, Tom Drennan was my best Man
RHD
The next summer, I was a fresh grad, and started a life as an adult. I was able to race my Lightning all over the area, Detroit of course, Lake Erie, Inland lakes in Mich., etc. We started a Lightning class at the DYC, and I won every race. This qualified me for the Lightning Internationals. That's where I had my come uppance! Came in damned near last! I knew I had a lot to learn about sail boat racing.
In the fall of 1947, I remet Marjorie Menshardt. I asked her to come to Detroit and go with me to a Michigan football game. She lived in St. Louis. Well, she came, and about a month later, she asked me to come to St.Louis for New Years eve, never dreaming I would accept, but I did.
Before the Weekend was over, I proposed to her, and she accepted. That led to the wonderful marriage we still have after 57 years. More as I dredge up memories. Oh yes, Tom Drennan was my best Man
RHD
Friday, January 20, 2006
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