Long-time Friends

Speaking of hardly aging, when I as in Ann Arbor to give the Cup talk in early December, we caught up with Frank and Judy Wilhelme for a late dinner at Gratzi and then some after-dinner drinks and pool across Main Street at Andy Gulvezan's Monkey Bar (formerly the Full Moon -- don't ask.).

Judy is still a senior librarian at the U of M, and Frank the very successful development director for the Business School. Back in the late 60's (!), Frank was Leslie's and my high school history teacher. Aside from losing the Fu Manchu mustache of the era, he's still the same Mr Wilhelme who stirred things up so nicely in Dexter with the advent of his controversial Symposium Club, and he's still lacing 'em up and playing once or twice a week with many of our, by now, older hockey-playing buddies.

Tom Sr., Judy and Frank Wilhelme on a cold winter's Friday evening, just "shootin' some pool" at the Monkey Bar which, rumours to the contrary, they do not often frequent.

Helber Clan

The Ehmans and Helbers go way back. Tom Sr and Paul (patriarch of the clan, front and center in the photo below) played hockey in Ypsilanti back in, what, the early 60s? In the 70s, Paul ran the adult hockey program in Ann Arbor while I was running the youth program, so we worked closely together coordinating ice time, officials, etc. And Paul and I played together on a number of teams in the same period, including the renowned Guenther Builders. All of Paul's and Diane's kids are sportif and most if not all played hockey, and some of their kids were teammates of brothers Paul and Martin. I also coached Paul's oldest son, Eric, on a team or two along the way.

There is a sailing connection as well. Paul and our mutual late friend and fellow hockey player, David Carstens, bought Grandpa Paul Ehman's sailboat back in the early 60s. They first sailed it on Portage Lake one windy, cold early Spring day, capsized, and as I recall thereafter Paul didn't spend a lot more time with that boat or sailing for that matter. David, however, with wife Heidi cruised a fair bit and had an Interlake for a time at PYC, and attended every America's Cup right up to David's passing, including the last one in NZL. Matt Helber and his wife Daisy also passed through NZL during the last Cup and we spent some most enjoyable time together.

We don't often see each other, but manage to keep in touch via email and the odd get together when in Ann Arbor -- and it always brings back fond memories.



Over the years the Helber clan has, well, grown like topsy. And they aren't even Catholic! This nice photo came via email from Paul, courtesy of his son Matt. Our very best wishes to the entire Helber family for the Holidays.