A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE Y'S MEN OF WESTPORT/WESTON 

The Y's Men of Westport/Weston was organized in 1977 for the purposes of "enlightenment, fellowship and community service" for retired or semi-retired men.  By 2013 the group had grown to over 415 members with weekly meetings on Thursday mornings featuring prominent guest speakers.  Within the club, there are more than 27 groups focusing on activities reflecting the interests of its members that range from sports to book club, bridge, international discussion, photography, gardening, travel to support groups.

In November 1977 Charles Curtiss, Secretary of the Westport Chamber of Commerce and Matt Johnson, Executive Director of the YMCA, met with Dick Shirey, Cy Harriman, Ben Robbins, Fred Denham and Bruce Miller to organize a club for Westport's retired men. They were united in their belief that retirement was to be enjoyed and not feared. They formed a temporary Board and held the first official meeting of the Y's Men of Westport in the Bedford Room of the YMCA in January 1978, with nine men in attendance.

ENLIGHTENMENT is nurtured at the regular Thursday morning meetings, featuring stimulating guest speakers on a wide range of subjects.

FELLOWSHIP starts with the coffee and donuts which precedes the start of the weekly meeting. It is strengthened through participation in the many organized activities and travel and events with fellow members and their womenfolk.

COMMUNITY SERVICE covers a multitude of activities including Meals on Wheels, delivering food to Westport community centers, assisting with community clean-up programs, driving the elderly to doctor appointments.

One cannot help but be impressed by the quality and diversity of our members. Before they retired, they were executives of major corporations, business owners, doctors, lawyers, engineers, government officials, airline pilots, teachers, publishers, musicians, artists, experts in computers, media, marketing, advertising, research and public relations.

FORMER Y'S MEN BOARD MEMBERS  

1977

• President - Charles Curtiss
• 1st Vice President - Dick Shirey
• Program - Dick Shirey

1978

• President - Ben Robbins
• 1st Vice President - Dick Shirey
• Program - Scott Hill
• Secretary - Mike deStefano
• Treasurer - Cy Harriman
• Publicity - Dick Shirey

1978-1979

• President - Ben Robbins
• 1st Vice President - Dick Shirey
• Program - Scott Hill
• Secretary - Mike deStefano
• Treasurer - Cy Harriman
• Publicity - Scott Hill

1979-1980

• President - Dick Shirey
• 1st Vice President - Scott Hill
• 2nd Vice President - Rudy Swanson
• Program - Scott Hill
• Secretary - Mike deStefano
• Treasurer - Joe Chamberlain
• Publicity - Dick Sutphen
• Trips & Travel - Herb Baldwin

1980-1981

• President - Dick Shirey
• 1st Vice President - Scott Hill
• 2nd Vice President - Rudy Swanson
• Program - Dave Andrews
• Secretary - Mike deStefano
• Treasurer - Joe Chamberlain
• Publicity - Dick Sutphen
• Trips & Travel - Herb Baldwin

1981-1982

• President - Dick Shirey
• 1st Vice President - Ray Babcock
• 2nd Vice President - Dave Andrews
• Program - Dave Andrews
• Secretary - Mike deStefano
• Charles Curtiss
• Treasurer - Ray Martin
• Publicity - Dick Sutphen
• Trips & Travel - George Maplesden

1982-1983

• President - Ray Babcock
• 1st Vice President - Dave Andrews
• 2nd Vice President - Bill Lindenmuth
• Program - Bill Lindenmuth
• Secretary - Leigh Doorly
• Publicity - Dick Sutphen
• Trips & Travel - George Maplesden

1983-1984

• President - Dave Andrews
• 1st Vice President - Jack Coplen
• 2nd Vice President - Bill Lindenmuth
• Program - Bill Lindenmuth
• Secretary - Jim Sweeny
• Publicity - Dick Sutphen
• Trips & Travel - Joel Greene

1984-1985

• President - Jack Coplen
• 1st Vice President - Warren Smith
• 2nd Vice President - Joel Greene
• Program - Joel Greene
• Secretary - Jim Sweeny
• Assʼt Secretary - Gardiner MacKinnon
• Treasurer - Dick Pitkin
• Assʼt Treasurer - Dick Price
• Publicity - Dick Sutphen
• Trips & Travel - Jim Sendecke

1985-1986

• President - Warren Smith
• 1st Vice President - Jim Sweeny
• 2nd Vice President - Joel Greene
• Program - Joel Greene
• Secretary - Jim Smith
• Treasurer - Dick Pitkin
• Assʼt Treasurer - Dick Price
• Publicity - Jack Ryan
• Trips & Travel - Jim Sendecke

1986-1987

• President - Jim Sweeny
• 1st Vice President - Leigh Doorly
• 2nd Vice President - Bob Dore
• Program - Bob Dore
• Secretary - John Sibley
• Assʼt Secretary - John Howell
• Treasurer - Dick Pitkin
• Assʼt Treasurer - Sett Setterling
• Publicity - Jack Ryan
• Trips & Travel - Gabe Misarti

1987-1988

• President - Leigh Dooly
• 1st Vice President - Joel Greene
• 2nd Vice President - Jim Smith
• Program - Jim Smith
• Secretary - Pete Kelly
• Assʼt Secretary - John Allen
• John Howell
• Treasurer - Henry Dart
• Assʼt Treasurer - Sett Setterling
• Newsletter & Publicity - Jack Ryan
• Directory - Andy Wolfson
• Trips & Travel - Gabe Misarti

1988-1989

• President - Joel Greene
• 1st Vice President - Jim Smith
• 2nd Vice President - Ford Cramer
• Secretary - Bob Allen
• Assʼt Secretary - John Allen
• John Howell
• Treasurer - Harry Dart
• Assʼt Treasurer - Sett Setterling
• Newsletter & Publicity - Jack Ryan
• Directory - Andy Wolfson
• Trips & Travel - Gabe Misarti

1989-1990

• President - Jim Smith
• 1st Vice President - Ford Cramer
• 2nd Vice President - Bob Allen
• Secretary - Bud Boynton
• Assʼt Secretary - John Allen
• Pete Kelly
• Treasurer - Harry Dart
• Assʼt Treasurer - Sett Setterling
• Newsletter & Publicity - Jack Ryan
• Directory - Andy Wolfson
• Trips & Travel - Gabe Misarti
• Membership - Dick Hazard

1990-1991

• President - Ford Cramer
• 1st Vice President - Bob Allen
• 2nd Vice President - John Howell
• Secretary - Warren Rossell
• Assʼt Secretary - Pete Kelly
• Howard Klarman
• Treasurer - Robert Gralley
• Assʼt Treasurer - Sett Setterling
• Newsletter & Publicity - Jack Ryan
• Directory - Walter Pitkin
• Trips & Travel - John Sachs
• Membership - Dick Hazard
• Kurt Rosenfeld 

1991-1992

• President - Bob Allen
• 1st Vice President - John Howell
• 2nd Vice President - Ray Orr
• Secretary - Walt Sundheimer
• Assʼt Secretary - Pete Kelly
• Howard Klarman
• Treasurer - Robert Gralley
• Assʼt Treasurer - Sett Setterling
• Community Service - Neil Croarkin
• Newsletter & Publicity - Stu Bernard
• Directory - Walter Pitkin
• Trips & Travel - John Sachs
• Membership - Dick Hazard
• Kurt Rosenfeld

1992-1993

• President - John Howell
• 1st Vice President - Ray Orr
• 2nd Vice President - Stu Bernard
• Secretary - Austen Doolittle
• Assʼt Secretary - Pete Kelly
• Treasurer - Warren Cerrone
• Assʼt Treasurer - Dana Kennedy
• Community Service - Neil Croarkin
• Newsletter & Publicity - Larry Aasen
• Directory - Walter Pitkin
• Trips & Travel - Warren Rossell
• Membership - Kurt Rosenfeld
• Dick Hazard

1993-1994

• President - Ray Orr
• 1st Vice President - Stu Bernard
• 2nd Vice President - Bob Gralley
• Secretary - Austen Doolittle
• Treasurer - Warren Cerrone
• Assʼt Treasurer - Sett Setterling
• Community Service - Neil Croarkin
• Newsletter & Publicity - Fred Wetzler
• Directory - Walter Pitkin
• Trips & Travel - Warren Rossell
• Membership - Kurt Rosenfeld
• Dick Hazard 

1994-1995

• President - Stu Bernard
• 1st Vice President - Bob Gralley
• 2nd Vice President - Steve Tate
• Secretary - Austen Doolittle
• Treasurer - Carl Frey
• Assʼt Treasurer - Bill Murray
• Community Service - Neil Croarkin
• Newsletter - Bernard Hodes
• Publicity - Fred Wetzler
• Directory & Data Processing - Ford Cramer
• Trips & Travel - Frank Evans
• Membership - Kurt Rosenfeld
• Dick Hazard

1995-1996

• President - Bob Gralley
• 1st Vice President - Austen Doolittle
• 2nd Vice President - Steve Tate
• Secretary - Tom Hunter
• Treasurer - Carl Frey
• Assʼt Treasurer - Bill Murray
• Community Service - Neil Croarkin
• Newsletter/Publicity - Bernard Hodes
• Directory & Data Processing - Ford Cramer
• Trips & Travel - Frank Evans
• Membership - Kurt Rosenfeld
• Dick Hazard

1996-1997

• President - Austen Doolittle
• 1st Vice President - Warren Rossell
• 2nd Vice President - Carl Frey
• Secretary - Tom Hunter
• Assʼt Secretary - Bruce Allen
• Treasurer - John Lomartire
• Assʼt Treasurer - Jan Van Laer
• Community Service - Neil Croarkin
• Newsletter - Bernard Hodes
• Publicity - Howard Klarman
• Directory & Data Processing - Ford Cramer
• Trips & Travel - Frank Evans
• Membership - Kurt Rosenfeld
• Dick Hazard
• Directors - Tom McCaffrey
• Mike Stashower
• Bill Barlow

1997-1998

• President - Warren Rossell
• 1st Vice President - Carl Frey
• 2nd Vice President - Neil Croarkin
• Secretary - Tom Hunter
• Assʼt Secretary - Bruce Allen
• Treasurer - John Lomartire
• Assʼt Treasurer - Jan Van Laer
• Newsletter - Bernard Hodes
• Publicity - Howard Klarman
• Directory & Data Processing - Ford Cramer
• Trips & Travel - Frank Evans
• Membership - Kurt Rosenfeld
• Directors - Arnold Berke
• Dick Eldh
• Robert Seskin

1998-1999

• President - Carl Frey
• 1st Vice President - Neil Croarkin
• 2nd Vice President - Jan Van Laer
• Secretary - Tom Hunter
• Treasurer - John Lomartire
• Assʼt Treasurer - Jan Van Laer
• Public Relations - Howard Klarman
• Trips & Travel - Bill Reynolds
• Membership - Kurt Rosenfeld
• Community Service - Dick Webb
• Directors - Bob Curtis
• Ed Fisher
• Bill Mostad
• Past President - Warren Rossell

1999-2000

• President - Neil Croarkin
• 1st Vice President - Jan Van Laer
• 2nd Vice President - Paul Heilman
• Secretary - Tom Hunter
• Assʼt Secretary - Frank Evans
• Treasurer - Clem Hipkins
• Assʼt Treasurer - Bill Murray
• Public Relations - Howard Klarman
• Trips & Travel - Bill Reynolds
• Membership - Kurt Rosenfeld
• Community Service - Dick Webb
• Directors - Bruce Allen
• Harrison Valente
• Bill Mostad
• Past President - Carl Frey

2000-2001

• President - Jan Van Laer
• 1st Vice President - Steve Tate
• 2nd Vice President - Bill Reynolds
• Secretary - Tom Hunter
• Treasurer - Mike Stashower
• Assʼt Treasurer - John Luscombe
• Public Relations - Howard Klarman
• Len Egol
• Trips & Travel - Dave Rosenau
• Membership - Kurt Rosenfeld
• Community Service - Dick Webb
• Directors - Budge Atterbury
• Jim Goodenough
• Ed Van Gelder
• Past President - Neil Croarkin

2001-2002

• President - Bill Reynolds
• 1st Vice President - Roy Dickinson
• 2nd Vice President - Pete Wolgast
• Secretary - Tom Hunter
• Treasurer - Mike Stashower
• Assʼt Treasurer - John Luscombe
• Public Relations - Barry McCabe
• Trips & Travel - Dave Rosenau
• Membership - Kurt Rosenfeld
• Community Service - Dick Webb
• Directors - Bob McGrath
• Dave Kidney
• Harry Audley
• Past President - Jan Van Laer

2002-2003

• President - Roy Dickinson
• 1st Vice President - Pete Wolgast
• 2nd Vice President - Bob McGrath
• Secretary - Austen Doolittle
• Treasurer - Mike Stashower
• Assʼt Treasurer - Craig Heatley
• Public Relations - Barry McCabe
• Assʼt Public Relations - Tom Hunter
• Trips & Travel - Elliott Netherton
• Assʼt Trips & Travel - John Luscombe
• Membership - Kurt Rosenfeld
• Community Service - Tom McBride
• Directors - Frank Michels
• Tony Valenti
• Dave Rosenau
• Past President - Bill Reynolds

2003-2004

• President - Pete Wolgast
• 1st Vice President - Bob McGrath
• 2nd Vice President - Bill Meyer
• Secretary - Jon Fox
• Assʼt Secretary - Austen Doolittle
• Treasurer - Mike Stashower
• Assʼt Treasurer - Mike Belaga
• Public Relations - Barry McCabe
• Trips & Travel - Elliott Netherton
• Assʼt Trips & Travel - John Luscombe
• Membership - Kurt Rosenfeld
• Community Service - Bruce Allen
• Directors - Otis Crawford
• John Washburn
• Dick Eldh
• Past President - Roy Dickinson 

2004-2005

• President - Bob McGrath
• 1st Vice President - Bill Meyer
• 2nd Vice President - Jon Fox
• Secretary - Austen Doolittle
• Assʼt Secretary - Roy McKay
• Treasurer - Mike Stashower
• Assʼt Treasurer - .
• Public Relations - Barry McCabe
• Trips & Travel - Elliott Netherton
• Membership - Kurt Rosenfeld
• Community Service - Bruce Allen
• Past President - Pete Wolgast

2005-2006

• President - Bill Meyer
• 1st Vice President - Jon Fox
• 2nd Vice President - Bob Fatherley
• Secretary - Roy McKay
• Assʼt Secretary - Austen Doolittle
• Treasurer - Mike Stashower
• Assʼt Treasurer - Elliott Netherton
• Public Relations - Barry McCabe
• Trips & Travel - Mike Belaga
• Membership - Kurt Rosenfeld
• Community Service - Bruce Allen
• Directors - Will De Voll
• Andy Lozyniak
• Bill Sorenson
• Past President - Bob McGrath 

2006-2007

• President - Jon Fox
• 1st Vice President - Bob Fatherley
• 2nd Vice President - Bill Balch
• Secretary - Roy McKay
• Assʼt Secretary - Austen Doolittle
• Treasurer - Mike Belaga
• Assʼt Treasurer - John Luscombe
• Public Relations - Barry McCabe
• Trips & Travel - Elliott Netherton
• Membership - Bill Meyer
• Directors - Ed Van Gelder
• Roger Eickoff
• Neil Coleman
• Past President -Bill Meyer
• Refreshments - Ted Garrity
• YMCA Liaison - Bob Allen
• John Luscombe
• Senior Center Liaison - Ralph Hymans

2007-2008

• President - Bob Fatherley
• 1st Vice President - Bill Balch
• 2nd Vice President - Neil Coleman
• Secretary - Roy McKay
• Assʼt Secretary - Marty Yellin
• Treasurer - Mike Belaga
• Assʼt Treasurer - John Luscombe
• Public Relations - Barry McCabe
• Trips & Travel - Elliott Netherton
• Membership - Bill Meyer
• Community Service - Bruce Allen
• Directors - Peter Nathan
• Rick Towers
• Stan Groner
• Past President - Jon Fox
• Historian - Austen Doolittle
• Publications - Steve Raffel

2008-2009

• President - Bill Balch
• 1st Vice President - Neil Coleman
• 2nd Vice President - Mario Sá Couto
• Secretary - Marty Yellin
• Assʼt Secretary - Peter Knight
• Treasurer - Mike Belaga
• Assʼt Treasurer - John Luscombe
• Public Relations - Mike Guthman
• Trips & Events - Ernie Arnow
• Gus Porter
• Membership - Bill Meyer
• Community Service - Bruce Allen
• Directors - Chuck Greenlee
• Shelly Lipsett
• Peter Sternbach
• Past President - Bob Fatherley
• Historian - Austen Doolittle
• Publications - Steve Raffel 

2009-2010

• President - Neil Coleman
• 1st Vice President - Mario Sá Couto
• 2nd Vice President - Jeff Hare
• Secretary - Marty Yellin
• Assʼt Secretary - Peter Knight
• Treasurer - Mike Belaga
• Assʼt Treasurer - John Luscombe
• Public Relations - Mike Guthman
• Trips & Events - Gus Porter
• Membership - Bill Meyer
• Community Service - Bruce Allen
• Directors - Barry Cregan
• Mort Feldman
• Larry Untermeyer
• Past President - Bill Balch
• Historian - Austen Doolittle
• Newsletter Editor - Steve Raffel

2010-2011

• President - Mario Sá Couto
• 1st Vice President - Jeff Hare
• 2nd Vice President - Peter Garcia
• Secretary - Marty Yellin
• Assʼt Secretary - Peter Knight
• Treasurer - Mike Belaga
• Assʼt Treasurer - John Luscombe
• Publications - Bill Balch
• Trips & Events - George Underhill
• Membership - Bill Meyer
• Community Service - Bruce Allen
• Directors - Brian Strong
• Malcolm Davies, Woody Bliss
• Past President - Neil Coleman
• Historian - Austen Doolittle

2011-2012 

• President - Jeff Hare
• 1st Vice President - Roy McKay
• 2nd Vice President - Woody Bliss
• Secretary - Peter Knight
• Assʼt Secretary - Vince Gallogly
• Treasurer - Elliott Netherton
• Assʼt Treasurer - Lou Rolla
• Communications - Bill Balch
• Trips & Events - John Skinner
• Membership - Brian Strong
• Community Service - Peter Powell
• Directors - Sal Mollica, Keith Brooks, Peter Kolbrenner
• Past President - Mario Sa'Couto
• Historian - Peter Sternbach

2012-2013 

• President - Roy McKay 
• 1st Vice President - Woody Bliss 
• 2nd Vice President - Brian Strong 
• Secretary - Marty Yellin 
• Assʼt Secretary - Roy Fuchs 
• Treasurer - Elliott Netherton 
• Assʼt Treasurer - Tom Douglas 
• Communications - Bill Balch 
• Trips & Events - John Skinner 
• Membership - Bill Blaufuss then Larry Hirsch 
• Community Service - Peter Powell 
• Directors at Large - Art Greenberg, Kirk Gillies, Chris Lewis 
• Past President - Jeff Hare 
• Historian - Peter Sternbach

2013-2014 

• President - Brian Strong 
• 1st Vice President - Marty Yellin 
• 2nd Vice President - Art Greenberg 
• Secretary - Chris Lewis 
• Assʼt Secretary - Roy Fuchs 
• Treasurer - Elliott Netherton 
• Assʼt Treasurer - Les Wolf 
• Communications - Bill Balch 
• Trips & Events - John Skinner 
• Membership - Larry Hirsch 
• Community Service - Peter Powell 
• Directors - Peter Shih, Ted Voss, Dan Wilder 
• Past President - Roy McKay 
• Historian - Peter Sternbach 

2014-2015 

• President - Marty Yellin
• 1st Vice President - Art Greenberg
• 2nd Vice President - Chris Lewis
• Secretary - Ted Voss
• Assʼt Secretary - Les Wolf
• Treasurer - Joel Wasserman
• Assʼt Treasurer - Fred Rosen
• Communications - Sal Mollica
• Trips & Events - Jeff Hare
• Membership - Tom Douglas
• Community Service - Peter Knight
• Directors - Jay Dirnberger, Sean Jackman, John Weiss
• Past President - Brian Strong
• Historian - Bill Balch

 2015-2016 

• President - Art Greenberg 
• 1st Vice President - Mike Guthman 
• 2nd Vice President - Hal Foodman 
• Secretary - Ted Voss 
• Assʼt Secretary - Les Wolf 
• Treasurer - Joel Wasserman 
• Assʼt Treasurer - Bob Fox 
• Communications - Sal Mollica 
• Trips & Events - Bill Blaufuss 
• Membership - John Weiss 
• Community Service - Peter Knight / Jay Dirnberger 
• Directors - Mike Boyle, John Brandt, Seth Kaye 
• Past President - Marty Yellin 
• Historian - Jeff Hare

2016-2017

• President - Mike Guthman
• 1st Vice President - Jay Dirnberger
• 2nd Vice President - John Brandt
• Secretary - Ted Voss
• Assʼt Secretary - Les Wolf
• Treasurer - Joel Wasserman
• Assʼt Treasurer - Bob Fox
• Communications - Sal Mollica
• Trips & Events - Bill Blaufuss
• Membership - John Weiss
• Community Service - Joe Hawley
• Directors - Win Allen, Don Bancroft, Preston Koster
• Past President - Art Greenberg
• Historian - Jeff Hare

2017-2018

• President - Jay Dirnberger
• 1st Vice President - John Brandt
• 2nd Vice President - Ed Bloch
• Secretary - Roy Fuchs
• Assʼt Secretary - John Misa
• Treasurer - Joel Wasserman
• Assʼt Treasurer - Phil Johnson
• Communications - Ed Bloch
• Trips & Events - Bill Blaufuss
• Membership - John Weiss
• Community Service - Don Roth
• Directors - Peter Chelico, Brian Fradet, Blair McCaw
• Past President - Jay Dirnberger
• Historian - Jeff Hare
  

  2018-2019

  • President - John Brandt
  • 1st Vice President - Ed Bloch
  • 2nd Vice President -  Peter Chelico
  • Secretary - Roy Fuchs
  • Assʼt Secretary - Bob Mitchell
  • Treasurer - Phil Johnson
  • Assʼt Treasurer - Ross Burkhardt
  • Communications - Ed Bloch
  • Trips & Events - Bill Blaufuss
  • Membership - Randy Abrams
  • Community Service - Don Roth
  • Directors - Neil Goodkind, Alan Nevas, Maury Wind
  • Past President - Jay Dirnberger
  • Historian - Jeff Hare