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Volume 4, Number 1 Florida's Finest Resident-Owned Retirement Community JanuarylFebruary 1987

The Hawthorne Residents Co-operative Association (HRCA) Board of directors posed on the stage at the clubhouse. From leftto right: Eleanor Monahan, Dick Johnson, Mildred Bovee, AI Lux, Walter Smoyer, Elizabeth Deuerlein, Loyal Wilkins, RogerOlos, and John Pearson.

We the People of HRCA"The purpose of Hawthorne Residents Cooperative

Association, Inc., is to promote the comfort, welfare,and safety of the members and tenants of Hawthorneat Leesburg, and to maintain its appearance' andreputation. These rules were established by formerBoard of Directors of HRCA and are updated when theneed occurs."

At the present time, the members of the Board 'ofDirectors are: Walter Smoyer, President; Alvin Lux, 1stVice President; John Pearson, 2nd Vice President;Mildred Bovee, Treasurer; Elizabeth Deuerlein,Secretary. Other Directors are: Richard Johnson,Eleanor Monahan, Roger aids, and Loyal Wilkins.

There is also an Advisory Committee consisting ofCarl Curtis, Helen Gardner, Robert Lenox, LouisePaquette, Roy Singer, James Williams, and Hal Wines,who's input is given to the board on matters that con-cern the Hawthorne community and its residents.They advise the Board of major problems and helpdecide what action needs to be taken.

The Board reviews all written requests, sugges-

tions and complaints from residents. The Boardmembers and Dan Gorden also answer a lot of phonequeries.

Dan Gorden, General Manager, works closely withthe Board alerting the members of important eventsoccurlnc in the community at large of concern toHawthorne. An instance is the proposed rezoning ofthe property adjacent to Hawthorne to the south of us.

An important function of the Board is to approvecertain expenditures in order to keep the Cooperativerunning efficiently. The recently paved streets are anexample. This operation ran quite smoothly due to theplanning finalized by the Board and carried out by ourGeneral Manager.

The officers of the Board conduct the "AnnualMeeting" held in March each year. This is an openmeeting that is essential to elect new Board membersand to conduct other business of the cooperative. Thisyear's "Annual Meeting" is Thursday, March 19, 1987.We the People of the Hawthorne ResidentsCooperative Association should all take part in thisimportant event. Each shareholder has a vote.Hawthorne is your domain. Take part in it!

-Elnora Bolan

From The ...

Editor's NotebookWrite your name in kindness and love on the hearts ofothers and you will never be forgotten.

* * * * *Left over from Christmas ...The Christmas season got underway at Hawthornewith the unveiling of the giant Christmas card onChannel 4 TV on December 1st. The card stood in theauditorium and was filled with the signatures of thepeople here who wanted to wish their neighbors aMerry Christmas this way, in lieu of sending individualChristmas cards. Their donations went to predeter-mined charities.On Monday, December 1, the 10th annual "ChristmasPudding" was presented - Hawthorne's original recipe.Dick Parks put the ingredients together, starting witha generous helping of traditional Christmas songsplayed on the organ by Reba Heintzelman. Then addedthe invocation by Raphael Miller. A sprinkling of beau-ty and grace in the "March of the Wooden Soldiers" bysix lovely white clad Hawthorne girls under thewatchful eye of Jo Ferguson was mixed in and JohnMarino sang "Gesu Bambino" with Bob Brown at theorgan. Blended in was the Christmas story with areading by Gloria Tonkel and a musical medley ofhymns by Bob Brown on the organ and CharlotteFowler, piano. The Barbershop chorus added flavorwith "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas", "I'llBe Home for Christmas" and "0 Christmas Tree". TheDrum beats tapped in spice, choreographed by DorothySinger, and the Hawthorne Chorus under the directionof Elizabeth Elliott with Bob Lenox accompanying onthe piano, filled the recipe with 60 beautiful voices, aviolin obbligato by Ed Laske, solo parts by StephenHall and Paul Newman, and topped with "WhiteChristmas" that the audience was asked to sing alongfor the finale. It was a tasty dish.The New Year's Eve dance party with music by "UncleWaldo's six piece Jazz Band" was a festive event toclose out the holiday season at Hawthorne this year.And George and Flo Strohsahl made it a neighborhoodaffair as they organized a table for 18 of the peoplewho live on the one-block-long Willow Lane andactually two other couples from Willow Lane werethere with other groups. It was a fun party for all.

* * * * *We are so pleased to have Evelyn and Stanley Ginsback in Hawthorne. They moved here from Columbus,Ohio in April of 1984 and in August of 1985 movedback to Ohio so Evelyn could be treated by her familydoctor and could also be near their children. Then onSeptember 1, 1986, they came back to Hawthorne tovisit friends and celebrate their 41st wedding anniver-sary and decided to move back, which they did onOctober 28. They are happy to be back, Evelyn's doctoradvised her to go back where it's warm, and theirchildren are happy to have a warm place to visit in thewinter.

* * * * *Russell Darling has also moved back to Hawthorne, atleast on a winter time basis, altho he sold his home inNorth Carolina. He and his Loretta came to their home

in Clermont, Florida but she was hospitalized and diedin April. Then in November, Russell moved to AzaleaTrail in Hawthorne and we hope he will be contenthere. He was born in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, lived on a 400acre farm, worked for a newspaper but has been in theantique business for the past 66 years and feelsespecially blessed that he has been able to make aliving doing something he enjoys so much.

* * * * *Mary Schirra, originally from Scranton, PA. came toLeesburg in 1969 when her husband retired. Theymoved to Hawthorne in 1974 but went back toLeesburg in August of 1978. She lost her husband in1983, and in November of 1985 moved to 146 RoyalPalm Dr. and has truly felt the loving warmth of return-ing to Hawthorne. Since they stayed in Leesburg, Marykept many of her friends here and was so Sincerelywelcomed back. We add our "welcome back" to all ofyou.

* * * * *Walter and Genevieve Derr, who live at 311 HawthorneBlvd., celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary onDecember 24, with their entire family at the OrlandoMarriott World Center near Buena Vista. They havetwo children, Barbara in Michigan and Gary in Arkan-sas, and five grandchildren - and all were here for thecelebration. The daughter brought a basket filled withcards, pictures and mementos from their friends inMichigan. The Derrs' came to Hawthorne fromMichigan in 1979. Walter was an Electrical Contractorand Genevieve a nurse and both have served as longtime very active volunteers at Leesburg RegionalMedical Center. They are also active in a localgenealogy group called Kinseekers - learning andrecording family genealogy.

* * * * *Special tribute was paid on September 20, 1986 toDewhirst Wade, a trustee and member of the WestDover, Vermont Congregational Church, as Coor-dinator of the historical project to designate theoriginal center of the town of West Dover of 22 villagehouses built between 1805 and 1885, for recognitionby the National Register of Historic Places atWashington, D.C. The 129 year old CongregationalChurch building was accepted and included in the for-mation of the West Dover Village Historic District.Wade is on the Hawthorne Herald Staff.

Hawthorne HeraldHawthorne-at-Leesburg

Post Office Drawer "T;' Leesburg, Florida 32749Telephone (904) 787·1000

Published bi-monthly by the HawthorneResidents Cooperative Association, Inc.

Editor Verna GarberAssociate Editor Bunny McCarlEditorial Staff Elnora Bolan,

Reba Heintzelman, Anna K. Merlino, Marie L.Richardson, Web Stull, Rosalind MacRaeSykes, Dewhirst W. Wade.

Photographers Nathaniel Bodinger,John Tienken

Art Lorraine Thomas

Bunny McCarl, Program CoordinatorSometimes I get questions about some of the

"Hawthorne terms" used in and about the Clubhouse.Some of you are already familiar with these terms, butfor those of you who have questions, here is a briefdescription of these "Hawthorne terms".Our Clubhouse Facility: There are many rooms whichmake up our Clubhouse facility. The Great Hall orAuditorium is our main meeting place, but we alsohave many smaller meeting rooms. They are:Hospitality Room (Orange Room), which is the livingroom and television area; the Palm Room is directlybehind the Hospitality Room; the Craft Room is direct-ly behind the Palm Room; the Lemon Room is themeeting room just east of the Auditorium and north ofthe Hospitality Room; directly behind the LemonRoom is the Lime Room; and finally there is theGaliery, the long skinny room with all the windowsnorth of the Lemon-Lime Room and east of theAuditorium.Walls of Fame: As you enter the Auditorium throughthe main entrance, the walls on either side are filledwith plaques and awards given to Hawthorneresidents, activities or the community-at-Iarge, honor-ing them for participation or outstanding achieve-ment.HRCA Bulletin Board: On the left wall as you enter theAuditorium you will find the HRCA Bulletin Board. Inthis glass enclosed bulletin board are posted theminutes of the HRCA Board meetings, notice ofupcoming meetings and other pertinent and importantinformation from the HRCA Board of Directors.Triangle: The Triangle is located inside the main(south) entrance just beyond the Walls of Fame. Sign-up sheets and information concerning most activitiesare located on the Triangle. The red "Activity Atten-dance" notebook and the green "State Clubs'Register" are also located on the Triangle.Activity Bulletin Board: Around the corner from therestrooms is where you will find the Activity BulletinBoard. Financial statements from all activities,newspaper articles about Hawthorne, copies of thecurrent Program Bulletin and Program Calendar, andother important information are posted on this bulletinboard.Suggestion Box: The Suggestion Box is located justnorth of the automatic glass sliding doors. Signedsuggestions, announcements, certain designatedsurvey forms and donations are placed in this box forcollection by office personnel and then distributed tothe proper recipients.Information Table: The Information Table is nowlocated on the right side of the entrance to theHospitality Room from the Auditorium. On this tableare various informational pamphlets,donationenvelopes, and other general items of interest.For Sale Bulletin Board: This bulletin board is locatedin the hallway which leads to the Library, Loan Closetand Pool Parlor, directly opposite the hall door fromthe Lime and Palm Rooms. On this board are posteditems for sale, wanted to buy items, communityservice announcements and thank you cards to allresidents. Please note: Before posting, the card needs

Golden Rain Tree(Koelreuteria Elagans)

One of the few trees in Hawthorne that flowers inthe fall.

The Golden Rain Tree is a deciduous-droughtresistant, attractive bright yellow blossoms inclusters, that are followed by colorful orange-red seedpods that decorates the tree until after the holidays.

This tree's origin is in China. The rate of growth ismedium and the height of 25 to 35 feet. It prefers warmclimatic conditions and tolerates most any type of soilwith a range of well drained areas, therefore wateringrequirements are almost nil.

The foliage-leaves are compounded of light tex-ture-fruit and papery seeds (pods) are almost 2 in-ches long with a slight ruffle to distort thesmoothness or evenness of the covering.

This is a nice flowery tree for Hawthorne that pro-vides color throughout most of the year.

- Dewhirst W. Wade

to be approved and stamped in the Program Office andcan remain posted for one month.Residents' Clearinghouse Bulletin Board: On thesouth wall of the back hallway is this special bulletinboard. This was set up as a place for resident-to-resident questions and information. As with the ForSale Bulletin Board, these notices must be approvedand stamped at the Program Office.Back Bulletin Board: On the north wall of the backhallway is a glass-enclosed bulletin board which areposted scores from many of our activities includingsporting activities and cards.Commercial Bulletin Board: The Commercial BulletinBoard is located at the Marina Lobby. On it are listedmany professional services and businesses. Securitymaintains this board. If you are looking for ahousekeeper, yard man, or whatever, this is the placeto find one.

I hope that these explanations will help answersome of your questions. If you need further informa-tion, come by the Program Office. ~Pat and I will be •glad to help you!

-'

Faith

I can't tell what He looks likeI've never seen His face

If, in fact He has oneLike those of the human race.

I couldn't recognize His voiceI haven't heard His voice at all

Unlike so many other folksWho claim they've had "The Call"

I cannot prove that He is thereNor can I prove He's here

Yet I believe He's everywhereAnd why is that so clear?

It's clear because I do not knowHowever else humanity

Could cope with life's complexitiesMuch short of sheer insanity

So I believe that He is realHe's more than just a wraith

I pray - and trust He'll hear meI've no proof - but I have FAITH.

-Web Stull(From "Ventures in Verse")

Not Quite Old

Today is just the time to startPreparing for another partThat I must play, I don't know when,But I'll be ready, now or then,However short or long may beThe "getting ready" time for me:Before my friends and foes decideOld age I'm trying hard to hide,I'll shock them and surprise them, too,By doing things I've longed to doThrough all the years maturityHas held in check the real, real me.I'll learn to spit; I've wanted to!And bubble gum I'll wildly chew.I'll wear a purple dress so loudIt will stand out in any crowd.And my red hat, with roses gay,Unsuitable in every way,I'll wear with joy because it's me,Emerging from sobriety.I'll find ten widowers to kiss;One expert I would hate to miss!Money I'll spend on brandy strongAnd travel, gypsy-like, along.I'll ring doorbells and run away;I'll yell, world wide, "Have a good day".I'll clap my hands for no good reasonAnd thrill with each changing season.Then, when at last I'm really old,My gleeful heart will not be cold.

- Betty Crilley

The

Poet's World ...To Abigail Van Buren

Dear Abby,

For every age you've given adviceFrom dribbling Pablum to throwing rice,From adolescence to creaking kneesAnd when to talk about birds and bees

How to respond to the guests who guessThe bride should have worn a maternity dressAnd what's to be done if rich Uncle WillieLeaves all his dough to a blue-eyed filly

You've helped so many to see the light,You're a ray of hope in a gloomy nightWe need your wit, your wisdom, your fire,So please, dear Abby, don't ever retire.

LeisureWhen we settled down in HawthorneWe thought we'd have a rest.Then we saw the weekly bulletinAnd tried to choose the best.

There were sports and chess and dancing,Things for body, mind and soul.If the mind is getting absent,We can always learn to bowl.

If the soul is getting weary,We had better turn to sports,Or perhaps have "Fun with Music",Good for people out of sorts.

If the body's getting creaky,We had better shift to mind.There's Investment Club or Mah Jong.Anything you want, 'you'll find.

But if nothing suits your fancy,Gather those whose interests blend,Then they'll make you their chairman,And you'll always have a friend.

But with chairmanship goes labor;See to this, and see to that,And they'll keep you running circles,So you never will get fat.

So you always will be active,And you'll find no time to loaf;But with work to keep you busyYou'll be happier than most.

-,

- ErnestineJohnson

Touching And HealingIf you can touch another mind-However brief, however light-

With help of God, your words will guideTo ease a hurt, and heal it right. ..

If you can heal a hurting heartAcross the miles, by thoughtful prayer,

It matters not how small your part-For God's own loving touch is there ...

- Ruth J. Campbell

The Forest of Ocala"A Tapestry"

I sit in the dappled shadeReviewing the glories I've seen,

As I walked the paths that meander'Mid a changing assortment of green.

The floor of the forest is burstingIn a profusion of mosses and vines,

Crowding or creeping - a bright flower peeping'Neath last year's compost entwines.

Springs gush with life eternalRippling into streams along the way,

Or gather in tiny crystal poolsWhere fish and turtles swim and play.

Trees like tall sentinels standWith branches aloft to measure the sky,Birds know where to nest, court and rest

Before winging their journeys on high

"Juniper Springs"

The spouting springs spume and spraySome bubble and plop in measured regularity;

Others are tipsy so they gurgle and burp,But all join to release a crystal purity.

These clear pools just teem with life.The revolving water wheel makes a cascade

In rhythm like a nautical symphonyThus gentle-flowing streams are made.

In awe I watch this miracle unfoldEach player has a special part assigned

The forest, the streams and the pools in placeAll just as the Master designed.

Art by-Anna K. Merlino

Seasons In The Country'Tis springtime in the country,The trees are clothed in green,The sun reflects the gloryOn the clear lake's silvery sheen.

Through the quiet little dellRuns the gurgling brook,Where the children often gather,And laugh and dream and look.

'Tis summer in the country,And the fields' deep greenIs streaked with brilliant colorOf the daisies' golden sheen.

Through his lands the farmerPlods sturdily on his way,Urging his patient horsesTo reap the scented hay.

'Tis autumn in the country,Sweet with spice of fruit.Children schoolward turn once moreWith dinner pail and book.

Down there in the corn fieldMen reap the golden grain,And thank Him for His blessings,For sun and cooling rain.

'Tis winter in the country,With all its flurry charms,Sleighs are dashing everywhereTo snowy covered farms.

The children laugh upon the hillsAnd shout with merry glee,And though the snow is falling fast, ...., _Bright joyous throngs we see.

FIlII

- Mardel L. Harris

EARTH'S ANGELThere are angels in heaven as we all know.There are angels on earth, I saw one aglow.

It was shortly before dawn in a pale moonlightNever ever have I seen such a heavenly sight.

Awakened with a kiss on my childish cheek.It left me in awe, all trembling and weak.

So plainly I could see her dressed all in white.Upward she floated in ectoplasm, a glorious sight.

I arose from my bed and went to the clock.It was the hour of two as it went tic tock.

When I learned that was the hour she died,I went to a dark corner and Silently cried.

She had been angelic while here on earth.She had been kind from the day of her birth.

It was spiritual to witness as glowing she arose.Why God took her to heaven, only God knows.

- Howard Murray

Man On The Move

Lew Cass holding a 1945 picture of himself using a camerafor Paramount News which was the first zoom lens cameradeveloped. The lens was made by Dr. Back and the camera aBell & Howell. The lens cost Paramount $12,500 at that time(1945) but can be bought now for less than $100. (NatBodinger photo)

When Lewis Cass was standing in Adolph Hitler'sEagle's Nest in Germany after World War II had ended,he never dreamed that forty years later he would endup in Hawthorne at Leesburg. And who's to say that hewill end up here.

His life-long experiences as an internationalphoto-journalist would fill volumes about his adven-tures with nationally known celebrities from all overthe world. And if Lew didn't have hundreds ofphotographs and five scrap books filled full ofnewspaper clippings as proof, it would be hard tobelieve one man could experience so much in onelifetime.

Lew was with Franklin D. Roosevelt during hisentire campaign for U.S. President. In one photo, Lewis shown shadow boxing with the great Primo Camero.Another, he is on the S.S. France getting photos ofMaurice Chavalier for Paramount News. Other photos,he is with the Duke and Dutchess of Windsor in theBahamas, and with Babe Ruth in Yankee Stadium inNew York City.

He stood on top of a moving car taking pictures ofAmelia Earhart in a parade when she came back fromher successful flight around the world. Lew was withMark Clark's 5th Army during the Italian Campaign. Heaccompanied General Marshall to Moscow for filmcoverage of the Conference of Foreign Ministers. Thiswas the first time Stalin had allowed any foreign cor-respondents in Moscow. Later Lew flew to Rome withCardinal Spellman to film the Holy Consistory ofRome when Spellman was made a Cardinal.

The energetic gentleman accompanied HerbertHoover on the famous World Food Mission in 1945.This trip covered all of the Scandinavian countriestouching down on every European and North Africancountry.

Lew received a contract from the French govern-ment to make a tourism film about North Africa.

In 1960 Lew was official photographer for the U.S.government, riding in Air Force I with PresidentDwight D. Eisenhower.

In 1928 in New York City, Lew headed the crew whodid the very first radio broadcast of a church service.And one of his favorite assignments in radio was theweekly broadcast of Rudy Vallee at the Hi-Ho Club.

Because he was a finely trained engineer of radiobroadcasting, Lew was chosen by Paramount News totrain engineers in the complexities of sound on filmwhen it was in its infancy. He worked with ParamountNews for 22 years.

When Walt Disney asked him to take photos of afast moving New York subway train, Lew had 5,000watts of strong light mounted on the front of the trainfor his necessary lighting. It was a success and Disneyhired Lew to make many short skits in the following3% years.

One of the most exciting and near-deathexperiences Lew encountered was when he wasassigned to photograph a Monastery in northern Italy,which the Poles had taken from the Germans. Lewhired a young pilot with a small spotter plane and theyhad made one slow-speed, low pass and were comingaround for another series of shots when a secludedtroop of Germans opened fire on them with German88mm shells. The pilot put that plane into a top speednosedive straight down the side of the mountain and,altho Lew and the pilot were not injured, they werescared white for a week.

Lew and his wife Florence came to Florida fromNorth Bergen, N.J., some 10 years ago to get awayfrom shoveling snow, and while having dinner at theChallet Suzzane near Lake Wales, met a bus load ofdiners from Hawthorne, and Harold and MildredMcNish were so enthusiastic about Hawthorne, theCass' came to see and stayed. Florence had a heartattack and died in 1982 and a couple of years later,Lew married a long time friend, Anne Wilson.

The 79 year old Lew is getting ready to be on the goagain with his Anne. As soon as he sells his househere he plans to get a big motorhome and "head forparts unknown". Again!

"Brown Bag" - Hawthorne Styleserved by a group of devoted volunteers and thenlistening to a stimulating program?

Among the many interesting programs presentedby hardworking Brown Bag chairmen and their com-mittees have been speakers representing the media,including television personalities and newspaper staf-fers, bringing listeners up to date on past, present, orfuture local affairs. Authorities on the economics ornatural history of Florida have shared their knowledge;magicians and musicians have demonstrated theirskills.

"One wonderful way to get acquainted with theinteresting people in our Hawthorne community is togo to the unique Brown Bag luncheons." So began ashort article in the Penn Notes issue of May, 1974. Oneof the earliest organized activities in Hawthorne, theevent had been mentioned in the first issue of themagazine and quickly became popular. The spirit offellowship evident since the activity's start has neverdiminished.

Programs to complement the luncheons werescheduled from the beginning and became a part ofresident's enjoyment. Past and present Brown Bagcommittees have offered a wide variety of these- in-formative, entertaining, inspirational, patriotic. Whatbetter noontime diversion can you think of than theopportunity to chat with friends and neighbors overlunch while imbibing a delicious cup of coffee or tea

Captivated By CaptivaThe Nature Club trip to Captiva Island in November

received a 5 star rating from all 39 participants.Nowhere is it written that the club chairperson be atravel escort as well, but Wini and Jack Hosking havethis talent, too!

This was a trip rich in learning opportunities. Evenbefore finding our lodging, our bus stopped at the new"Ding" Darling Visitor Center. Our orientation was aslide show about the National Wildlife Refuge whichwe would later tour. How indebted we are to JayNorwood Darling for his humor and far-sightedness!He received two Pulitzer Prizes for his timelesspolitical cartoons. His commitment to conservationwas profound.

As we moved on to our quarters at 'Tween WatersInn on Captiva, we meet Mr. Darling again. 'TweenWaters is the expanded Old Captiva House wherenature lovers such as "Ding" Darling, Ann and CharlesLindbergh, and Roger Tory Peterson stayed. Whatcompany we keep!

We were located just yards from the shellingbeach. A talk, with exhibits of local shells was an

Brown Bag topics range from the history of Floridato the work of the American Cheerleaders Associa-tion, from the latest Medicare regulations to folksongs of our country, from the future of citrus growingto the future of the country and the world.

Reminiscences by a United States Marine Corpsmajor of "The Day of Infamy," December 7, 1941,stirred our patriotism. Several types of musical pro-grams satisfied the universal love of music and wereespecially appreciated when the performers wereyoung people of the area.

This monthly get-together of 300 to 500 persons(602 in December, 1986) is considered a not-to-bemissed event by Hawthorne residents. The fellowshipfelt throughout our community is particularly evidenton Brown Bag occasions. A preview of some upcom-ing programs indicates that these will offer theexcellence and variety so notable in past years. For apleasant FIRST FRIDAY noontime experience, toteyour Brown Bag to the auditorium, and enjoy!

- Marie L. Richardson

excellent tune-up. We learned that the eat's paw isSanibel's good luck charm. And the Fighting Conch isthe state shell of Florida.

Day two featured a narrated cruise to CabbageKey. This is a nearby island named for the cabbagepalms that grow there. It was peopled by prehistoricIndians, the Cal usa, who constructed high shellmounds. On the top of the highest 35 ft. mound AlanRinehart built a house in 1938. Here his mother, MaryRoberts Rinehart came to write her mysteries. Nowthe enlarged house is an inn and restaurant. The din-ing room walls are covered with several thousandautographed dollar bills. One bill over the entrancesaid "Leesburg" in big black letters. But the absolutehighlight of the boat trip was five dolphins racing ourboat. The crew said the dolphins could out-distanceus in a minute.

Day three started before dawn, since we had a datewith a naturalist guide at 6:30 am to tour the "Ding"Darling nature preserve. This exceptional young manshared his professional expertise simply and easily.Would you have known that a long line in the sand wasthe trail of an alligator's tail? Finally, we now know thedifference between an anhinga and a cormorant.

This trip validated the Nature Club's goal ofgetting to know the real Florida.

Hawthorne Neighbors

Don Dornbrook with his wife Jane. The "Bard" celebrates his"Babe's" birthday, September 1986. (Both photos from theDornbrook collection).

RETIREMENT'S STILL IN HIS FUTUREHawthorne may be heaven for retirees, but it's also

a happy haven for many residents still working," wroteDon Dornbrook, when he and wife, Jane, becameHawthornites five years ago. He has put his words intoaction.

While winding up his 38 years of feature editing onthe Milwaukee Journal, Wisconsin, Don subscribed tothe Leesburq-Oornrnerclal, as the mouthpiece of thisCentral Florida area.

"You can judge a town by its paper," he said. "Iread the classified ads and noted the large number ofautomobile ads, showing great vitality here. I notedthe low prices of real estate and the many ads forjobs."

He also noted the names of the "movers andshakers" in both Leesburg and Hawthorne. When Donmoved here, he made contacts with many of thoselocal leaders. He soon added zip to our lives as editorof the Hawthorne paper, committee member for filmselection. He gave Book Reviews. He was one of thelead roles in the play, "Morning's at Seven".

As Brown Bag Chairman, Don brought in manyoutstanding speakers. Will we ever forget the day hestaged Channel 6 News Anchor Carol Nelson'shelicopter flight into Hawthorne?

Despite his current health, Don is still writing withvigor and incisiveness. An eagle lamp beams as hetaps out play reviews and other articles for theLeesburg-Commercial. (The eagle symbolizes 20 years

of articles sold to the Eagles Magazine, starting with"How to Smoke a Pipe"). The "Bard o tBougainvillea's" deep-throated chuckle can be heardas Don composes,

"Dear Spider Plant,Dear Spider Plant;I'm not your Uncle,I'm not your Aunt."

Don credits his long experience on debating teamsin high school, Oshkosh Teachers College, and Univer-sity of Wisconsin as the most valuable carryover intohis life. He said it helped build his skill for organiza-tion to get to the point.

Years of editing for the Milwaukee Journal gaveDon an 'attic trunk' filled with a priceless inventory ofcontacts with the stars of the entertainment world,and the skill to share the human element of thoseassociations.

"Jack Benny was the most fun to interview," Donsaid. "Those people are lonely, you know. Jack Bennytreated us as friends."

The struggle up the ladder of success was warmedand colored with love for a "girl with a figure youwouldn't believe, wearing a raspberry sweater andwalking down the college hall with her books on herhead: one Jane Hopkins (Dornbrook)".

Don's footsteps are being followed by 2 of their 3children, and 1 of their 4 grandchildren. Dan is copyeditor at the Milwaukee Journal. Kay, a debater in col-lege, is now writing for the Columbia Flyer andhomemaking for husband Paul Wisniewski andchildren, Luke, Mark and Rachel. Older son, Peter,works at a California ski resort. His son, Derrek, is adebater.

Don says, "I've made full circle: born in a smalltown and returned to a small town. Hawthorne isunique. It offers the greatest opportunities ofanywhere to lead a fulfilling life. Food for soul andmind and a chance to use your brain".

- Rosalind MacRae Sykes

Don Dornbrook (right) with Ronald and Nancy Reagan, in1956. After Don Dornbrook interviewed this host of G.E.Theatre, he told Jane, "t wouldn't be surprised if RonaldReagan ran for preskient. All he talked about was politics!"