SAVAGE VIEWS – 1986 A WONDERFUL YEAR

January 12, 2023

Mets fans are in universal agreement that 1986 was a great year.   For me and my family it was truly a spectacular year.  I had just been appointed Interim President of the Rockefeller Insurance Company, a captive insurance company domiciled in Vermont.   My office was in 30 Rock overlooking St. Patrick’s Cathedral.  My wife’s avocation as a Belly Dancer was at its peak with gigs on most weekends.  Eleanor performed mostly at house parties and special events.  It was my job to drive her and serve as bodyguard.

In March we took a family trip to Clearwater Florida and then onto Disney World.   We were able to attend a couple of Spring Training games in St. Pete.  Remember talking to Barry Lyons.  I thought he was going to be the next great thing.  Things did not quite work out that way.  In Disney World, we stayed at the Wilderness compound.  As a family we were left with nothing but fond memories.

Come April, Eleanor and I attended the Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) convention in New Orleans.   It was like being at a mini-Mardi Gras with a number of major insurance companies and brokerage firms sponsoring a weekend of events.  We enjoyed dinner at Commander’s Palace and brunch including Banana Forster at Brennan’s.   I Remember sitting by the pool on Saturday afternoon drinking a Hurricane and listening to the Mets win a game. 

The first week in August we took another family vacation.   Friends let us rent their eight-room house in Chatham on Cape Cod.  The Cape was a favorite destination and we made it a point to take an annual trip there during much of the eighties.  We loved the beaches, fine dining and shopping along Route 7.  Sometimes we were able to catch a Cape Cod baseball game.

During my tenure with the Rockefeller Family Office, I developed a close relationship with Rock Resorts since we insured most of their properties including The Woodstock Inn.  We were invited to stay at Caneel Bay in St. John’s.   From our villa we were able to step outside into the bay for some of the finest snorkeling you could imagine.  We shopped and dined in St. Thomas and went swimming in the Baths on Virgin Gorda.   Cannel Bay suffered major damages during two hurricanes in 2017 and is now closed.  When they decide to re-open I want to first in line to go back there. 

In October, the first annual meeting of The Rockefeller Insurance Company was held at The Woodstock Inn.  Woodstock, Vt is one of the most beautiful towns in America.  We had wonderful meals at the Prince and the Pauper, The Woodstock Inn and the Inn at Woodstock.   I was able to catch most of the game between the Mets and Houston at the Inn but as the game dragged on the way home listened to Jesse Orosco close out the win for the Mets.

Attended game # 2 of the World Series against the Red Sox with my sons.  Unfortunately, we lost with the “Doc’ getting hammered.

The year ended on a high note as the Giants and LT were on their way to winning the Super Bowl.  A wonderful year, indeed.

Now I have those memories and looking forward to celebrating 60 years of marriage in March.

 

Ray