May 16th Skal Meeting at Historic Fenway Park Honored our Past Presidents

Wally the Green Monster welcomed Skal Boston members and guests to historic landmark, Fenway Park on Thursday, May 16.  The cocktail reception was held above 1st base and the large screen welcomed Skal Boston to the park.

The luncheon featured vegetables grown in the roof garden at Fenway.

Carrie Campbell, Skal Boston Secretary and VP of Sales of Boston Red Sox Fenway Enterprises,  gave the Skal Toast and welcomed everyone to the Park.

President Julie Doherty Pagano introduced 14 past presidents.  Karen Leaver, wife of Past President, Bruce Leaver helped unveil a portrait of Bruce that will be used as we raise additional funds for the Bruce Leave Scholarship Fund that was established last June and already has over $50,000 in the account. Bruce passed away May 5, 2014 and was a beloved Past President.

Was Bruce sending us a message from heaven??  When Bruce was club President he was responsible for the Clubs Treasure Chest which was a time capsule.  When Bruce left his position as General Manager of the Adams Inn about 8 years ago, the chest could not be found.  Bruce was devastated.  The club started another chest this past January to keep our Club of the Year video, photos and other mementos for the club.  As we sat down for this  lunch we saw two men coming around the corner with a large wooden treasure chest.  President Julie looked in shock as she thought the chest was stored at the Hyatt where we left it in January.  She worried about how she would get it out of Fenway Park and home.  Surprise, Surprise, it was not the new chest started in January but the original chest fount at the Adams Inn from years ago.  The son of Bruce’s former partner found the chest when the hotel was cleaning out a storage room and that very morning looked at the Skal Webside and found the May meeting was going on that day.  He decided to deliver it.  Bruce’s wife Karen had no idea it had been found and the delivery men had no idea we were going to honor Bruce that very day!  We think Bruce was watching from heaven and having a great laugh.