Left to right: Mike Speranza (90), Ralph Richardson (91), Howard Rudge (90 in June), Ed Lamers (90 in December), Dick Lapkin (91 in October), and Ed Mouchette (95 in May). They are wearing fire hats to signify the number of candles they needed to extinguish.
Candy Clark
On March 30 more than 50 neighbors on East Crystal Drive celebrated the birthdays of six amazing nonagenarians. Their combined ages totaled 546 years. Being 90 or 90-plus years didn’t seem to be slowing any of them down much! They felt that living in the Sun Lakes community and taking part in the many activities available to them kept them young.
The celebrants were Dick Lapkin (currently appearing in a play, still searching for stardom!), Ed Lamers (no more ladder climbing for Ed as he recuperates from a recent fall trying to check out his roof!), Howard Rudge (a mean bridge player and married to his charming wife Loie for 66 years!), Mike Speranza (the pool and gym are his favorite spots), Ralph Richardson (a lover of the game of golf), and Ed Mouchette (former Army Chaplain who will soon be moving to live with his daughter.
The Crystal Drive folks booked the new Poolside for a potluck birthday party to honor the six who are all residents of East Crystal Drive. Cake and candles and balloons, oh my! We raised the roof with a special birthday song for each guy, led by Jan Lewis (of the celebrated Chordaires). Family members came from as far away as Colorado and California to be with their dads. An amazing potluck dinner was provided by great cooks of our neighborhood. Unit Co-captain Candy Clark spearheaded this event, ably assisted by Terry Harrison, Jo Schenk, and Jan Lewis.
We truly enjoy living on a street where we have such great friendships and community.