News From Elizaville

In the summer of 1954 (or maybe 1955), a box truck carrying Scatico laundry clipped the arch of the stone front gate and…. (The photo pretty clearly captures what happened next.) The gate pillars were repaired (wisely without an arch, but preserving the stonework) and today serve as an iconic place in camp, where alumni regularly make their first (or last) stop on an Elizaville visit for a photo op.

Flash forward 65-plus years and the discovery that the arch actually lives on. Moved after the accident (in its entirety) to Scatico’s property on the second Twin Lake, some 70 feet across from the entrance and several hundred yards north, up a ridge and into deeply wooded land, where it resides today. Forgotten by history. Who knew? A recent pilgrimage to the site brought on reflections as to other iconic locations around camp and how they continue to stir personal and communal memories for Scaiconians past and present.

Campfire circles. Sunset views over the lake from the waterfront stands or the Art Studios. Rocking chairs on the Admin Porch. The Pagoda, social halls, campuses .... And, somehow, often memories stirred by these locations emerge in minds’ eyes as things both individual (to the person) and collective (shared by the community). And varied. For every memorable catch or scored goal or basket on the Hill, ballfields, or A Court, there are also recollections of 180-degree rainbows emerging after a late afternoon thunderstorm or nights spent star-gazing.

The above locations are those shared by Scaiconians through the generations. Twenty-first century campers and staff can also lay claim to their own iconic locales. The amphitheater, BBQ deck, “U” porch off the side of the dining room,…. Spaces filled each summer with activity, singing, planning, sharing, laughter, story-telling, caring….

As for the rediscovered camp arch and the stories it could tell of the people who traveled beneath its span?... Meanwhile, what was the driver of that truck thinking? Ah, another story and another memory.

Vintage 1930s-40s Photos of a Few Favorite Iconic Scatico Locales:

Your iconic Scatico locale? Let us know where and why by e-mailing info@scatico.com.

Random Scatico Sightings

It’s been more than 20 years since the Alumni Newsletter began reporting Random Scatico Sightings, and it has clearly become a favorite column to write each issue. What’s better than that moment when you unexpectedly spot someone you knew in a different time (youth) and place (Elizaville). Or you spot someone wearing Scatico gear and piece together a connection that may span multiple camp generations. If you have an RSS to report, email info@scatico.com.

Scatico News

Lucas Held (1980s-90s) starred as the father in a Super Bowl ad for Google Gemini AI. On YouTube to date the commercial has had more than 44 million views….Jeff Bukantz (1970s-80s) once again took to the wrestling ring (victoriously) as the Mighty Maccabi–as part of a fund-raiser for Maccabi USA. Jeff was president of the organization from 2017-25, following in the footsteps of Scatico founder Nat Holman, who was the president from 1973-81, when it was known as the United States Committee of Sports for Israel. Jeff organized the 10+ bout card and wrestled in the final match. On hand to cheer him on were Scaticonians spanning the 1960s to 2020s: Mike Madorsky, Chase Madorsky, Scott Lieff, Tom Rosenberg, David Fleischner, Adam Birbrower, Jed Greer and Keith Barbarosh….Ceramic artist Kyungmin Park (a Scatico art instructor in the 2000s) was a featured keynote presenter at a recent conference in Kalamazoo, Michigan, demonstrating “a handbuilding technique for sculpting a human head.” She is also currently an Associate Professor at Endicott College…. Congratulations to current Scatico parent Benjamin Wallace on the March publication of “The Mysterious Mr. Nakamoto: A Fifteen-Year Quest to Unmask the Secret Genius Behind Crypto.”

Reunions

We love to hear about and receive photos of your Scatico get-togethers…

Yesterday and Today

We definitely love these submissions!

Laura Corder, Kristina Hilling, Dannie Vaughn, and Kael Au-Carroll met as counselors at Scatico in 2013. Laura, Kristina, and Dani traveling from the United Kingdom and Kael from Ohio. Flash forward to 2025, and Kael is married to Matty Carroll (both 2013 division leaders) and now living in Northern Ireland, which makes reunions with Laura, Kristina, and Dannie that much easier to arrange. Twelve years since they had met, and now 5 children between them!

Jackie Olensky, Laura Danford Mandel, and Wendy Sheldon Brown. Writes Wendy: “Jackie, Laura and I had dinner in the city last night. And then I remembered a photo I had from the summer of 1983 when we were first year counselors right before we headed off to college. We've all been friends for over 50 years and nothing makes us happier than being together and talking about camp.”

We Will Miss You

Roger Granet, a camper and counselor in the 1950s-60s, passed away on February 24. From his New York Times obituary: “A renowned psychiatrist, author, and poet… Dr. Granet was a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Weill Medical College of Cornell University, an attending psychiatrist at New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center and Morristown Medical Center, a lecturer of psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and a consulting psychiatrist at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. He was a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.” His latest book, published in 2024, focuses on coping with cancer and is titled, “Talking Back to Cancer: A Psycho-Oncologist Speaks to Hope.” At camp, he loved spending time playing basketball on the A Court. The photo to the right shows Roger (second from right) with Scatico Division Leaders and head counselor Stan Silverberg (center) in 1967. To quote the reaction of one alumnus: “Scatico has lost its Poet Lauterate.”

Michael Riesel, a camper and counselor in the 1950s-60s, passed away on February 27. His sister Susan also attended camp (1950s) as did his sons Jason and Paul (1980s). In the vintage A-Court photo, that’s Michael far right. Michael worked as a CPA for KPMG.

David Kass, a camper and staff member in the 1960s-70s, passed away on April 29. One alumnus shared memories of David’s memorable blasts in Twilight League. David was the CFO of Wellspring Capital, a private equity firm. In this photo of the 1974 Nat Holman Basketball team, that’s David in the back row, second from the left.

Congratulations!!!

Weddings!

Nicki Stuttman and Ben Rosen on April 5, 2025. Nicki and her brothers Matt and Josh were campers and counselors in the 2000s-10s. Her divisionmate Sydnee Fried officiated.
Franny Krieger and Luke Herlihy on April 19, 2025. Franny and her siblings Melanie and Matt were campers and staff members in the 2000s-10s. Their mom Ketti spent more than ten years on staff during this time, first heading the girls side Art program and then helping to run the main office. In the photo to the right: Luke, Franny, Audrey Fleischner (Franny’s bunkmate), and Mark Gretenstein (Audrey’s spouse and the current boys head counselor).
Stacy Blumenreich to Eric Siegel on May 11, 2025. Stacy and her twin sister Hailey (whose wedding was featured in the Winter Newsletter… their joint bachelorette included an afternoon at Scatico) were Soopers of 2010. There to celebrate were bunkmates Alana Pollack, Mandy Gerzog and Maddie Bianchi.
Danielle Liebman and Morey Stone on December 7, 2024. Danielle and her sister Julia were camps and counselors in the 2000s-10s. The photo below--Dani’s bunkmates are on hand to celebrate.

The Next Generation

Drew Rider to Alexis and Brian Helfman on April 26, 2025. Brian’s camper, counselor, and trip chaperone/staff-training career has ranged from the 1990s to the 2020s. His mom Jane Rosenberg Helfman was at camp in the 1960s-70s.

Brynn to Amanda and Jacob Pargament on December 18, 2024. The Scatico careers of Jacob and his sisters Shelby and Katie have covered all three decades in the 2000s.
Eden to Andy and Emily Heineman Jacobs on February 9, 2025. Emily and her brothers Jack and Matt were campers and counselors in the 2000s-10s. Their mom Leslie Wayte Heineman was a camper and counselor in the 1970s-80s.
Margot Lola to Michael Braverman and Nicki Fleischner on February 8, 2025. Too early to say, but maybe a fifth generation camp director with her big brother Henry?
Riley Jordan to Michael and Rachel Rothman Sackman on April 21, 2025. Rachel and sister Hillary were both campers in the 1990s-2000s.

Fall Open House

Ready for round two! We are excited to invite all alumni and their families to the second annual Scatico Fall Open House on Saturday, September 20 from 10:30 AM - 4:00 PM. Similar to last year (for those who were in attendance), the day is akin to a traditional Alumni Day, or a Visiting Day without camp being in session. Prepare for a day of activities, connecting with friends, and simply being in the 12523.

Sports facilities and the lake will be open, but programming is unstructured. Come and go as you please within the 10:30 AM - 4:00 PM window! We will have crafts/ activity stations for younger kids. For lunch, it is a BYO picnic (Visiting Day style).

Learn more and RSVP (for general headcount purposes) HERE. Current camp families and staff members are also invited.

Visiting old plaques and rec hoops on the A court among last year’s Open House activities….

Y2K, Scatico Style

Scatico alum Shira Savada (Sooper of ‘98), spent several summers on staff as a camp photographer and the creative force behind the end-of-summer slideshow from 2000-2002. During Shira’s tenure, the slideshow was still projected via a reel and physical slides. An organized conservationist by nature, Shira had stored all the slides from her time as slideshow creator in boxes in her childhood Maryland home. And there they sat for the past two decades (plus)... until now! Shira embarked on an amazing digitization process, and brought these throwback gems to life on oldscaticophotos.com. She even created a Spotify playlist of accompanying slideshow songs. Scroll through and prepare to be transported.