1986
A New Year’s Day brunch at Louise Davy’s started January, 1986, in fashion. Elaine Richman brought everyone out for a “cabin fever” party in Brookline, Monika Hoehn hosted at “Steak Out” in Saugus, Brian O’Malley roller-skated his way in Dedham, Diane Barrows held a “hot tub” party in Grafton, Donna Gould socialized in Braintree at El Torito, and Patrick Squires bet on games at his house in Arlington. Members’ January birthdays were listed for the first time. The first BBTC Super Bowl party XX was held at Rich Kubin's in Canton. Over 227 tall people celebrated the Third Anniversary Dance at Heritage Hall in Lexington where a year’s free membership went to Diane Barrows at 6’7” and Eric Peterson at 7’ for being the tallest woman and man at the dance.
February, 1986, began with a “generic” dance for members only hosted by Rich Kubin in Westwood. Tall folks braved the cold weather with a sleigh ride in Sudbury with Lee Michaels, contra dancing with Sally Fessler in Cambridge, cross country skiing with Bill O’Donnell in Carlisle, and ice skating with Anne Burke in Brighton. Tall members mixed at several house parties: Basil Dixon in Hudson, NH, Louise Davy in Lincoln, and Robert Fricke tried his hand at a four foot “hero” sandwich. After Candy Wooney took a short break, she returned to harass tall members. Beanies celebrated Valentine’s Day with a 7’ valentine tree at Louise Davy’s in Lincoln, bowled with Melon Labonté in Boston, socialized with Marty Reuman at the Commons in Copley Place and danced the night away at the Gaslight Tavern at Pages Restaurant in Wakefield with John McNear.
“In memorium Challenger” was submitted by Pat Allen for the March, 1986, newsletter. Also included were notes from Candy Wooney who voted for shorter commercials, shorter men and shorter speeches; cartoons about being tall; and an “apology” to the Chicago Tall Club for the Patriots losing to the Chicago Bears in the Super Bowl XX. Cocktails were held in several locations: the Newton Marriott with Barbara Lampkin, Checkers in Canton with Fred Appel, the Purple Shamrock in Boston with Paul Conley, and The Ship in Lynnfield with Julianne Flosman. Dancing at Mosley’s in Dedham and at Heritage Hall in Lexington had members hopping. Melon Labonté had a “BYOI” party: members dressed as their favorite island. The month was completed with a second annual ski trip, this one to Smuggler’s Notch in Vermont organized by Rick Egan.
Holly Nylander began April, 1986, with an April Fool’s Day party, Patrick Squires held another “games” night in Burlington, Marty Reuman hosted at Commons in Copley Place, while Dave Buckwalter did so at the Newton Marriott, Michele Pearlman held a Koffee Klatch at Shelly’s Tall Shop in Braintree and Kathy Hizer hosted at Chevy’s in Quincy. The Beanies held a road race around Boston where “you will go on a nice Saturday afternoon drive, follow some (simple) directions, and answer some (simple) questions” devised by Rich Kubin.
The first Members’ Meeting was held in May, 1986, which 25 members attended. Hiking in the Blue Hills with Brian O’Malley, movie going with Ed Spadafora in Medford, the paper put-out in Lincoln at Louise Davy, and the bi-monthly spring dance rounded out the month. Membership totaled 245 and members’ birthdays, renewals and new members are noted each month in the newsletter. To encourage people to run for elections, a “Special Edition” newsletter declaring the BBTC had “expired” was mailed to all. Marty Reuman, Susan Webster, and Catherine Hughes marched for hunger and raised $350. Brian O’Malley organized his second Baker river canoe trip to Old Colony Ski Club in North Woodstock, NH.
By June, 1986, membership topped 252 and continued to grow. Publicity was promoted in 60 newspapers, dances were scheduled bi-monthly and a new telephone number, HUB-TALL, was established as an information line. Jim Scott hosted at the Newton Marriott, Carol McRea held a tennis/cookout tournament in Brockton, Mark McKay biked along the Charles, Ann Mehrhoff and Bill O’Donnell had cocktails at Harry’s Tavern in Boxborough, Rick Egan took to the links in miniature golf in Saugus, and Bob Rosenberg teamed up for volleyball and a cookout in Sudbury with a repeat at Rich Kubin’s in Needham.
In July, 1986, the new Board members took office: Melon Labonté- President; Donna Gould- Vice-President; Rich Kubin- Treasurer; Marty Reuman- Membership; Catherine Hughes- Social; Brian O’Malley- Publicity; Andrea Corbett- Editor; and Robert Fricke- Secretary. Melon Labonté represented the BBTC as delegate to the TCI Convention in St. Louis. BBTC was the largest club at the time with 252 members, 102 men and 142 women. Cost of membership was $18 a single and $39 a couple. Rochelle Yuga, Houston, TX, was elected Miss Tall International. Warm weather brought out tall members to the Boston Pops on the Esplanade with Anne Burke, sailing in Marblehead with Lance McVay, rooting for the Red Sox with Kurt Hespler, polo watching at Myopia Hunt Club in Hamilton, playing volleyball in Westwood with Rich Kubin, and horse back riding with Chuck Crisafulli in Grafton. Members danced with Jon Reuman at the Jukebox in Boston, Rich Kubin at Duca’s in Framingham, and with Monika Hoehn and Catherine Hughes at the Newton Marriott.
August, 1986, had changes in the Board with Rick Egan becoming Treasurer and Diane Mathieson Social chair. Outdoor activities included a beach party at Horseneck beach with Brian O’Malley, miniature golf in Dedham with Diane Mathieson, a cookout in Lexington at Ken Waghorne's, a concert at Decordova Museum in Lincoln with Lyn Stinson, and a bike ride to Crane’s beach with Arnold Nadler. Nighttime activities included ballroom dancing at Mosley’s in Dedham, cocktails at Chevy’s with Robert Fricke in Quincy, dancing at Vibrations in Lowell with Monika Hoehn, and a Victorian Party at Lyn Rule’s in Newton. The first directory was completed listing 257 names and addresses.
In September, 1986, Bill Jewett was elected to continue “Dateline:TCI,” taking over for Rich Kubin. Robert Fricke stuffed members with his second pizza party. Mark McKay biked along the Charles, Anne Burke picked apples in Natick, Diane Barrows socialized in Worcester at the Marriott, and Susan Webster lunched in Providence, RI. The highlight of the month was the first “weekend” at the Regency Conference Center and Resort in Hyannis, a huge success. Among the 60 people attending were those from Texas, Long Island, New Jersey, and Philadelphia. Miss Tall International, Rochelle Yuga, added to the festivities. T-shirts with the slogan, “Tall People Have Higher Standards,” sold quickly.
Brian O’Malley led his third canoeing/hiking trip at the Old Colony Club in North Woodstock, NH, while Jeff Trubisz canoed the Concord river for his fifth trip. Other entertaining ideas for the month included cocktails at Checkers with Catherine Hughes in Canton, dancing at the Jukebox with Jon Reuman and Dave Vaneski, cocktails at Chestnuts in Nashua, NH, with Ginny Rambow and Kelli Kelley, a pajama style house party at Melon Labonté’s in Weymouth and a costume Halloween party in Quincy at Diane Mathieson’s.
November, 1986, offered house parties in Lincoln with Louise Davy, in Brookline with Sharon Gallagher, and social hours with Ken Waghorne at the Newton Marriott, Diane Barrows in Oxford at Manhattan’s, Paul Conley at Bull and Finch Pub in Boston, and lunch with Diane Mathieson at the Sheraton Tara in Braintree.
December, 1986, brought a fill month of activities from house parties in Ashland with Norman Linson, trim-a-tree in Beverly at Genna Parker’s, and a dressy Christmas affair at Sharon Gallagher’s. Patrick Squires held another wild “games” night in Arlington, Melon Labonté bowled in Boston, and Brian O’Malley led a train ride at Edaville Railway in Carver. Social hours continued with Donna Gould at Bombay Bicycle Club in Randolph, Ed Spadafora at the Ship in Lynnfield, Mark McKay at the Winery in Boston and Fred Appel at the Sheraton Tara in Braintree. Louise Davy and Blair Greene co-hosted the New Year’s Eve party in Lincoln. Club membership stood at 267 members by years’ end.
