I hope you enjoy this page of memories associated with those early club members who are no longer with us. Some were instrumental in the early growth and development of the club, others, because of their love of the club and cycling, contributed in other less tangible ways but still helped the EBC become one of the most successful cycling clubs in Florida during the late 1970's and early 1980's.
I must admit, to this day I'm not sure if Max was part of the original group, though when I joined the club in the Spring of 1977 he and wife Evelyn were already well-established members.
Max was a tall, quiet-spoken man - someone from those days when manners meant more to folks. The club was invited to his Pinecrest home for more than one occasion, and I remember vividly the shade from those great-smelling pine and mango trees! A funny memory - in my days before auto ownership, Max and Evelyn were kind enough to have me as a passenger when attending a club function, and there we'd go, up the then near-empty Palmetto Expressway in Max's '77 Pontiac at a leisurely 45 mph - wow!
A photograph of Max can be seen by returning to the Home Page.
One of our more colorful original club members, Bart passed away in the late 1990's after a long illness.
Like many early club members, Bart was someone with many gifts - and though some may have disagreed with Bart's unique way of viewing life's issues, no one ever doubted Bart's love of cycling, and he showed this by his willingness to help any newcomer to the club.
While Henry was not a south Florida resident, he was very instrumental in the early success of the club, and in fact Henry and his wife Marion were given a honorary family membership in 1979. Henry, if not the founder, was for certain one of the founders of the Florida Touring Festival at Mount Dora.
Begun in 1974 by members of the Orlando-area Florida Freewheeler's Bicycle Club, the touring festival has grown from 150 or so cyclists to it's present-day 2,000. In fact, the FTF had grown so large that the Mount Dora Chamber of Commerce in 1999 had to require a ceiling on the number of cyclists attending.
A good example of this occurred just before the touring festival in 1982.
I had arrived in Mount Dora several days before the start, however, a personal crisis forced me to cancel my plans and return to Miami immediately. Without a complaint, Henry was kind enough to drive me to Orlando Intenational Airport (about 90 miles round trip) very late in the evening to help speed my return to Miami - I have always remembered his kindness and concern that day.
From what I have learned, both passed away during the mid-1990's, but their tireless work in the Mount Dora area is still bringing smilies to cyclists.
Although Kathy wasn't a founding member, or even a first- or second-year member, she was known to many club members as someone who didn't let her illness slow her down. In fact, not only did Kathy marry one of the club's founding members (that's Rene' on the left, who continues to live in Arkansas after he and Kathy moved from Miami in 1992), she grew from a novice cyclist at her beginning with the club in 1979 to become a tandem partner and ultra-marathon sag-wagon support member, accompanying club member Victor on his record-setting Miami to Portland, ME ride in 1989 (Sports Illustrated, Vol. 71, No. 13, September 25, 1989, pg. 89).
Kathy was also a good example of those early EBC members who began their cycling career as novices, but through the example and guidance of senior club members like Rene', became the backbone of many successful club activities in the years to follow.
Both newcomers to the EBC in the early 1980's, both quickly grew to enjoy their time spent leading the then-popular "FBR" rides, and volunteering in positions that ranged from President (Byron), to encouraging the start of another Mount Dora-type weekend - today known as the EBC Spring Brake weekend - to Miriam opening her Pinecrest home for a number of memorable club activities.
Though near 60 when their cycling careers began, both became very adept in their sport, and I spent many a ride with them just enjoying their company, and Byron's sometimes corny, but always good for a laugh, CPA jokes. A breakfast ride being their favorite, one always knew that we must be getting close to our destination since Byron was always heard to say "I can smell those bacon and eggs already!".
Miriam passed away in mid-1993 after a long illness, and from what I understand Byron passed away after a brief illness in late 1995.
Unfortunately I don't have a photograph of them - please let me know if you'd like to mail one for posting.
As of July, 2004, other early club members from the period 1976-1989 who are likely deceased (from Internet searches and personal knowledge) are:
Jack Ackerley (a regular on Saturday mornings and friend)
George Alberts (long-time member and friend to many)
Elaine Bean (early member, and one my earliest dear friends, and is seen
in the original group photo)
Bee Bird (club supporter and host)
Richard Cicurel (a dear friend who recently passed away)
Toni Cicurel (club supporter and host)
Jeffie Cobb (founding member and one of my earliest friends, and is seen
in the original group photo)
Jack Demmig (early member and friend, and is seen in the original
group photo)
Harrison Hale (long-time Everglades and Paul Dudley White member and friend)
Marion Hale (club supporter and host)
Skip Jarrett (later member and friend of many)
Howard Learner (founding member and friend of Jeffie Cobb)
Terry Loftus (our original club Treasurer)
Vivian Peters (early member, and is seen in the later Mount Dora group photos)
Tony Roberts (early member and good friend of Bart Bartholomew, and
is seen in the original group photo)
John Schmidt (one of our '80s breakfast riders and friend of Roland Mazzotti)
Raymond (Ray) Vega (early member and one of my dear friends, and
is seen in the later Mount Dora group photos)
George Vlk (a fine early member and is seen in the original group photo)
May their souls, and the souls of the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace, Amen.
Please e-mail me if you know of other deceased members, or have knowledge that the above information is incorrect.
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