Storytellers, Essayists, Interviewers, Poets, Etc.  

 

Southport Village Voices welcomes writers. A monthly commitment is not necessary; an occasional contribution is appreciated. We're looking for residents who would enjoy doing an interview or a restaurant review, writing about a travel adventure, telling a story or writing an essay, poem or memoir. Let your imagination be your guide. If you want to contribute but prefer not to write, let me know and I'll arrange for someone to talk with you and do the writing.

David Kapp,editor

 

 

Bob LaRocca                           Photo: E. Ruber

 

Bob LaRocca, chair of the Southport Finance Committee, is a man who likes to talk. If you want the scoop on what's happening at Southport, stop by the Village Center Fitness Room around 7:00 in the morning; you'll probably find him there. Say good morning and ask him about Southport's financial status. In 20 minutes or so, you'll understand the big picture -- and probably a lot more. Just like Bob himself, Southport's finances seem to be in good shape. 

        

Bob spent his early years in an Everett "triple-decker." His grandfather, a bricklayer, came to Boston from Italy. His father was an Everett policeman, and his mother, also an immigrant, was a homemaker. As a young entrepreneur, Bob sold the Boston newspapers -- Record, Herald, Globe, Post -- at bus and MTA stands when he was only twelve. He worked his way through BC High and then through Boston College. After a stint at Middlesex County National Bank in Lowell in 1965, Bob enrolled at BC Law School. But law was not to be his calling; he left the law school for a position with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston two years later.

 

       Bob began a 37-year career at the Fed as a bank examiner but was soon ready for more. Early in his career, when the bank's first vice-president asked him what he wanted to do next, Bob replied, "Give me the toughest assignment, one that nobody wants, one that you think no one can handle." "I have a big problem with that," the FVP said, "because you're the only one in the bank that will say that to me."

       So, in 1972, at age 29 and without management training or specific experience, Bob was made an officer and put in charge of more than 200 employees in the department that processes and distributes currency and coins in the New England District and destroys unfit currency. In 1979 he was given management responsibility for the Check Collection Department, with nearly 300 employees. in 1982, he managed the "discount window," lending money to New England banks, and then operated an airline that delivered checks among the 12 Reserve banks ("I got no sleep for ten years with that job.")                

       Other assignments followed and in 1994, Bob was promoted to senior VP/chief financial officer/chief information officer. "They were getting their money's worth with that combination," he says. Bob retired in 2004. Commenting on his career, Bob says, "Income was never my prime motivator; I wanted to do work that was challenging and consequential -- that's what I found rewarding. Fortunately, the Fed provided the opportunity." 

 

At Southport, Bob has been a member of the Finance Committee for five years and for the last two years, the exceptionally well-qualified chair. The committee helps to prepare the Southport budget and holds regular open meetings to keep residents up-to-date on the association's financial status. But very few people attend the open meetings, and when Bob asks why, the answer he hears most often is that most Southporters are satisfied and that the material is too complex. For those who are interested, and to promote openness about the budget process, the committee publishes its minutes on southportlife.com and quarterly financial highlights in FOCUS.

        Bob has also been involved with the operation of the men's golf leagues over the last three years. "I have learned that social golf is generally more popular than competitive golf and that 9 holes of play is more popular that 18 holes," he says. "With these realities in mind, and with the help of a committee [John Bryant, David Drinkwater, Jack Clark, and Tony Smith], the men's golf leagues are thriving and have had their best financial season ever." Bob also volunteers at the St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry one day a week.       

Joey, Bobby and Bob LaRocca in 2004, BC vs. Notre Dame.  BC won, of course.

 

While he is reluctant to talk about himself, Bob is happy to talk about his sons. Joey earned a degree in film studies at BC, has taught at the NY Film Academy and at Harvard, got an MFA from Boston University, and is now teaching filmmaking at BC. Bobby graduated with honors from Georgetown U. and then turned down offers from Wall Street firms to volunteer at Nativity Prep in Boston, teaching inner city 5th to 8th graders for a year. Since then, he's earned an MA (with highest honors) at the London School of Economics and Political Science and a law degree at Boston College Law School. He now works for a non-profit organization developing strategic planning efforts to improve global education in our high schools.

       

Bob likes the pat on the back he gets for his work with the Finance Committee and feels strongly that the community needs to be aware of budget realities. "It has to be more than asking, 'Are my condo fees going up next year?' Everyone wants improvements but they need to remember that everything comes with a price tag. We always have to watch our financial commitments," he says. "The completion of the engineering study now taking place will shed a lot of light on Southport's financial future. The results of this study will help to determine where we will allocate our resources in years to come."  

       Bob loves living at Southport. He used to go to Florida in the winter but now he sticks around. "Southport has good community spirit and there's a good sense of volunteerism that permeates everything," he says. He advises all residents to identify an activity that really interests them and get involved. "The most rewarding thing you can do is contribute to the community, whether in Southport or outside." Southport is clearly benefiting from the talent and commitment of Bob LaRocca and we thank him for his contributions.

 

Italian chefs preparing for Southport's annual Italiam feast on December 16.  (l to r): Nick D'Alessandro, Alex DeBaggis, Frank Mucci, George Gaudin, John Margardo, Dick Crispi, Ed Palizollo and Bob Pavone.  If you don't have your tickets yet, it's too late. They sold all 230 in one day!

 

A few years before WWII, Bobby's family moved from their Bronx apartment to a new house in upstate New York, where his engineer father had a new job as county road commissioner. The house was in a lake resort community and many of the homes were occupied only in the summer. 

What Bobby liked most was his new school, where he, now in fifth grade, shared his teacher with just 20 other students, one third the number in his Bronx school. Valley Central was a progressive school, and the friendly young teachers seemed to have time for every student. The shop class, with its amazing power tools, and the home economics class, with its well-equipped kitchen, were open to both boys and girls. Bobby attended both.

As Christmas approached that first year,Bobby's home room teacher Miss Bloom asked for a volunteer to find a Christmas tree and bring it in for the home room. Hoping to impress his new classmates, Bobby jumped up and raised his hand just before his classmate Billy did.

"Can you find a tree in the next two weeks?" Miss Bloom asked. 

"Sure." He replied. "My dad and I already found a great tree." He didn't mention that the tree was in a forest more than a mile away from his house.

"If you can't get one I know where I can get a good one," Billy challenged.

"Let's give Bobby a chance first," Miss Bloom said.

During the following week, Bobby had time to do his homework, play with his chemistry set and listen to his favorite radio programs, Jack Armstrong and I Love a Mystery. But he didn't find time ask his father to help him go get the tree and bring it to school.

Each day, Miss Bloom asked Bobby if he had found a tree yet. He assured her he'd have a tree on time, but Billy kept insisting that he could bring in a better tree anytime. Bobby continued to procrastinate, and finally Miss Bloom set a deadline for him - he must show up with his tree on the following day.

As the school bus dropped Bobby off at the lake and he began his daily trudge up the hill to his house,he asked himself how he was going to find time to visit the property where he and his father had cut down a tree. The sun was already setting; it would be dark in a few minutes. Half-way up the hill he arrived at a house owned by summer residents who operated a nursery business in Westchester County. They had spent years improving their property with expensive shrubs and trees. Bobby looked admiringly at the three symmetrical pine trees that grew six feet tall by the front stairs.

The next morning Bobby overslept and awakened frantic, realizing that he had no time to search for a Christmas tree. He dressed quickly, gulped down his breakfast and departed for the school bus with his father's hatchet in his hand. He stopped in front of the house with the three pine trees, hesitated, looked around to see if anyone could see him and then stepped behind the center pine tree. He started chopping away, wood chips flying in every direction. Finally the tree fell to the ground.

He grabbed the tree's trunk and dragged it down the hill to the school bus. The driver helped him load his tree aboard to the 'oohs' and 'wows' of the students. At school, there were more loud expressions of approval, while Billy sulked in the back of the room.

Bobby was thrilled with the reception he and his Christmas tree got from the students, Miss Bloom and the other teachers. He felt like a hero. He had triumphed over Billy and cemented his relationships with his schoolmates. Later that day, however, the glow wore off after he stepped off the school bus, started up the hill and saw only a stump between the remaining two pine trees.

"Oh God!" Bobby said to himself. "Everyone in town will see that big hole between the trees. What if somebody saw me and tells the owners? Dad will expect me to admit that I cut down the tree. I see that family in church every Sunday during the summer. I won't be able to look them in the eye. What will I do?"

Bobby decided that he had to come clean and tell his Dad what he had done and, as he had feared, his Dad told him that he would have to confess his vandalism to the owners. But the summer residents never returned. Instead, a real estate agent, came by and planted a "For Sale" in front of their house. After the first thaw Bobby and his father removed the stump and planted a wild blueberry bush in its place.

There were no buyers for the house until Bobby was in sixth grade with a new homeroom teacher, Mr. Neff. The following summer, Mr. and Mrs. Neff, the former Miss Bloom, showed up as a newly married couple and the new owners of the house. They admired the blueberry bush and were happy to share a bowl of berries with Bobby's mother. She made a pie for her son. Who said that "Crime does not pay"?

 

Barbara Steptoe  

53 Portside Drive; Moved in September 2014

 

Originally from: Norwell 

Previous residences: Northboro and Mashpee 

Why Southport: I had been living less than a mile from Southport and wanted something different. I met Ann Riley at my gym and she was a big 

influence in getting me to check it out. Also got to meet Southporters at the Taste of Mashpee. Five days after seeing a resale listing, I bought. 

Like Best about Southport: Fitness activities, pools, classes, everyone is friendly 

Like Least: No recycling 

Wants to get involved with: Kayaking, biking, fitness classes

 

Jan Gow

11 Rolling Green Lane; Moved in March 2014

 

Originally from: Hyannis.

Previous residences: San Francisco Bay area for 20 years and Centerville 

Why Southport: In the winter of 2013 while shoveling snow, I'd had enough! I wanted a condo that took pets and had one floor living.

Like Best about Southport: All the amenities. Brown Bag Lunch is excellent. 

Like Least: Wish so many trees weren't being taken down with new construction. Would like to have recycling and a dog park. 

Wants to get involved with: Bridge, exercising and more

 

Rena Hannaford

30 Southport Drive; Moved in October 2014 

 

Originally from: Medford, MA 

Previous residences: Melrose, Wakefield, Stowe and Wilmington 

Why Southport: Living mostly north of Boston, I always thought I would move to a north shore seaport town like Gloucester, but there was no new construction there. Didn't know the Cape. Heard a radio ad with Dan Rea and took a ride down with my friend. Driving down I thought there was no chance I would ever move here. Fell in love with the model and the idea of moving somewhere with lots of amenities.

 

Like Best: Amenities and many activities. Everyone greets you. Getting to know Mashpee area and liking it.

Like Least: No recycling and no garbage disposal. 

Wants to get involved with: Golf, swimming and exercise classes

 

If you would like to do a snapshot introduction with Andy Jablon 

or know someone who might like to be introduced, please send him a note at

 

Veterans Day, Southport 2014

Arlene Rucki (center) widow of Honoree Wally Rucki, and family

Bob Mendes began his career as an advertising copywriter at Doyle Dane Bernbach in New York before becoming senior vice president of marketing for a west coast department store chain. He left that position to start Pacific Sports, a sports and general marketing agency. There he developed "The Reading Team," a children's literacy program sponsored by the National Football League and the American Library Association, which used NFL players as literacy role models. Bob is the author of "A Twentieth Century Odyssey, the Bob Mathias Story." After retiring, he served as executive director of the Glendora, CA Chamber of Commerce. When grandson Adam was born, Bob and Bette moved to Cape Cod, where they recently celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary. Neither retires well. He's had a number of part-time jobs, has written two more books, and volunteers. Bette serves on committees at Southport and at the Falmouth Jewish Congregation. Their son Steve is a pediatrician and lives in Marion with his wife Sarah and their children, and a second son, Jeff, practices law in Indianapolis.