Member Spotlight
Member Spotlight: The BonDurant Family – January 2022
You most likely have seen Maria working the front desk on Wednesdays and Thursdays or on the tennis courts and in the yoga classes. Austin is a regular in the strength room and even baby Theodore spends a lot of time in the pool. The BonDurant family consisting of Maria, Rick, Rick Jr.,Joseph, Becca, Austin, Lucas, Rasche, Sarah,and Theodore is not only large but very talented. About 6 years ago Maria started baking with Einkorn flour to alleviate tummy issues-bread, baked good and even pasta. Maria loves to bake and spend time in the kitchen and found this was a great way to bless others. The response from her family was so positive, Maria turned it into a business. Einkorn flour is a non GMO wheat grain that is higher in protein and lower in gluten making it a much healthier flour alternative. And I can speak from personal experience, Maria’s baked goods are out of this world! She overheard me say one day that Cheezits are my favorite snack of all time. Maria told me she was going to bring me cheese crackers that were healthier and just as delicious. By the time I ordered my 5th container, I was addicted. Helios Grain has become a family business and has partnered with the delivery service, Market Wagon delivering to families in the St. Louis and Illinois regions. All are homemade, delicious and filled with high quality ingredients. They can be found at: https://sites.google.com/einkorntreats.com/helios-grain.
Earlier this year Maria became a Certified Sound Healer playing Himalayan Singing Bowls to offer a new modality to help her clients. She has partnered with Maury Jackson in his yoga class, offering members a different way to de-stress.
Yoga with Sound Healing encompasses practicing yoga poses to deeply stretch and relax the body, including the nervous system. Yoga with the singing bowls complement each other and provides an environment to completely relax and return your body to a harmonic state. The practice of sound healing uses sound waves and vibrations that the body absorbs for therapeutic benefits through different tones. Each bowl has a frequency for the 7 energy centers (known as chakras). The bowls are played according to the pose and movement with each frequency affecting the body differently. Yoga, sound and breath work provide a healing experience leaving you centered and recharged, all while subconsciously opening up energy channels returning your body to a natural state of harmony.
The next class will be held on January 14th at 6pm and you have an invitation to take time out of your busy life and try the class with an open heart and mind. The class is open to all skill levels.
For more information about the sound therapy with the singing bowls, contact Maria @ https://www.mariavictoriastl.com
Member Spotlight: Lori Gambill – December 2020
Lori has been a member at CAC for almost 8 years. She has written a remarkable book and she shares its genesis and her writing journey below. Thank you Lori for telling your story.
Written by Lori:
I am in the publishing phase of getting my first book out. The name of it is “One Last Trip”. It’s an inspirational memoir about my dad. He passed away on New Years Eve, 2017. He had fought a long 24-year battle with Parkinson Disease, but we believe he died from a massive stroke.
He was a humble, quiet man, but touched many people’s lives. He was also a strong man of faith, and made it a goal to share that faith with as many people as he could, through conversations and actions.
While I was growing up, we vacationed every summer in Colorado. We stayed in a rustic log cabin in a little town named Tincup. Tincup was a gold and silver mining town during the heyday of the gold rush in the late 1800’s. We had so much fun there and made so many special memories together, so it was a no-brainer for me that I take his ashes there to bury in the old cemetery right outside of town.
I also knew it had to be a trip that was just for me and Dad. The journey took me to several of his favorite places, including visiting his grandson, his brother and his best friend at different stops. Each day I recorded a voice journal, took tons of photos and wrote my trip diary on Facebook to share with my friends and family.
Several people were so touched by these entries, that I was told I need to write them into a book. After some thought, I knew that was exactly what I had to do. As I started to write, I realized that in order for the reader to genuinely understand the reason this trip was so important, I needed to write Dad’s biography so they grow to know the man he was.
So it’s really two books in one – I intermingled the chapters so by the end of the book, the reader feels that they know him personally and understand why this trip was necessary. They will have met a truly special man, and they will also call him their friend.
Member Spotlight: Valerie Geile – January 2020
Valerie is one of the people with a quick smile and a friendly hello every time you see her. She began volunteering at the Wild Bird Sanctuary after she took her 6th grade girl scouts there to work on their bird badge. The more she learned about the birds there, the more she wanted to know and in her words, “got hooked on birds.” The World Bird Sanctuary is an amazing non-profit that seeks to support bird populations thru education, conservation and rehabilitation. They have some really cool events like the Owl Prowl from November – March where you meet these fabulous birds and take a night hike through the grounds. For you Harry Potter fans, they even have HP themed nights. Or you can check out the Eagle Days events throughout the region where you learn more about these majestic creatures. Val has learned how to handle wild birds, remove them from the study nets and band them.
Bird banding is important because it provides the important data regarding migration, longevity and impacts after natural disasters like hurricanes. Val has invited friends and acquaintances to visit the banding sessions and guests can assist in the release of the birds which is a huge hit with the kids. Because WBS is nonprofit, they solicit help from corporate partners and the public. These donations go a long way to help with the feeding and medical costs of the birds. Check out their website: www.worldbirdsancturay.org for more information and when you see Val give her a high five for making a difference in preserving the health and beauty of these amazing creatures.
Member Spotlight: Laura Baetz – November 2019
You might recognize this member around the club
, down on the tennis courts or up on a treadmill. She and her husband Al, have been members since 1999. They are pretty low-key, and Laura is quiet and unassuming-until she gets on a tennis court. For the past 20 years Laura has won more matches for CAC than any other player. Paul says when Laura joined the club there were no spots on the Gold-Silver interclub team, so she played Red-Blue 1 and much to the chagrin of her opponents, she won every one of her matches. She moved to Gold-Silver 1 and continued to defeat the majority of her opponents. Just this year Laura has won two bronze balls at Nationals 75 doubles tournament with her partner Carolyn Clark. She and Carolyn are ranked #3 in the nation in 75 doubles. She also won the 70s silver medal in the National Senior Games with partner Judy Mc Gaugh. What a champion!
Paul says that Laura is an extremely smart player that always hits the ball to the correct spot and just comes up with ways to win. At CAC, Laura has won so many MVP trophies, that she told Paul to stop giving them to her-she ran out of room in her house! We are very fortunate to have Laura represent our club. Not only is she a championship tennis player, she is extremely humble and down to earth.
Thank you Laura for all you have done at CAC!
Member Spotlight: Meridith Perkins – October 2019
You might not see this smiling face a lot in the club anymore-she was just named Executive Director of Forest ReLeaf of Missouri and that will keep her pretty busy. ForestReleaf is the only nonprofit community assisted tree nursery in the region. Since their beginning in 1993, over 200,000 trees have been planted in the Missouri and Illinois region. Forest ReLeaf efforts have increased tree canopy in low-income areas and assisted in reforestation after major weather disasters. “Forest ReLeaf is a catalyst for restoring and sustaining our urban forests, with the help of thousands of volunteers. Our mission statement boils it down: we are planting trees and enriching communities.
Meridith began her career in urban forestry management as a high school volunteer with Forest ReLeaf. When she and her husband Steve lived in Utah, Meridith was an Urban and Community Forestry Coordinator for Utah’s Division of Forestry, leading workshops, teaching and delivering keynote presentations focused on advocacy for healthy connected woodlands and forests. In addition to her passion for promoting healthy urban forest management to enrich the local population, Meridith is the busy mom of Nathaniel, age 9 and Flora age 5. Of course you might also know her as the daughter-in-law of Benita Perkins, our avid cycle and trekking instructor. Congratulations Meridith! You are truly making a difference in our community.
Member Spotlight: Brent Meyer and Len Patton – September 2019
What do these two gentlemen have in common? No, they aren’t twins but good guess.
They are co-writers in Conservation Federation Magazine which is the voice for Missouri outdoors. Len has written several articles for outdoor magazines lending his expertise in shooting sports. For many years Len was a school counselor and baseball coach and coached a rifle team and one of the first high school trap and skeet teams in St. Louis. After retiring he volunteered his time to work with young people through the Missouri Department of Conversation. He noticed that the younger shooters lacked the upper body strength to be successful especially in skeet shooting. So he called on Brent Meyer, our esteemed personal trainer, for some exercises he could share with his group. Together they penned the article” Youth Fitness and Shooting Sports” which gives people of all ages exercises to build their core and upper body for all types of activities. If you interested in learning more, take a few minutes to talk to Len or pick up the July issue of Conservation Federation (there is one in my office.) It is pretty awesome to have our members and staff collaborate-keep it up!
Member Spotlight: Stan & Audrey Lourie – August 2019
Many years ago Stan and Audrey heard about a new club called Castle Oak opening in Chesterfield and they were thrilled! They wanted somewhere to take their family and Castle Oak was the place. Audrey took lessons with Paul,
enjoyed the fitness classes and their children Brian and Julie enjoyed tennis, swimming and ice skating. Stan and Audrey enjoyed Friday night tennis and all the holiday parties in Racquets.
Castle Oak became CAC and their kids got married and had children of their own making Stan and Audrey proud grandparents. Now they spend most of their time in Florida but always look forward to returning to Summer Splash with DJ Reggie. This year was extra special because the couple celebrated their 60th anniversary with their family and in Audrey’s words “also their CAC family.”. We thank Audrey and Stan for many many wonderful years at CAC!
Member Spotlight: Greg Livingston – July 2019
‘Hit me with Your Best Shot’ is how the New York Post article began about Ron Hunt, who is part of the CAC Mind in Motion family. Ron, a high school football and baseball player from Ritenour High School, signed with the Milwaukee Braves in 1959 in the minor leagues before the Mets acquired him in October 1962 and subsequently put him on their big-league squad.
In 1964 Ron was a young second baseman playing for the Mets, a terrible team at the time, who was playing the Cardinals, the team who went on to win the World Series that year. Bob Gibson, notably one of the best pitchers in baseball history, was on the mound and needed just 2 more outs to bag a complete-game win. Up to bat was Ron, the best hitter on the team, who knew nothing about Gibson’s fastball or his ability to intimidate batters into submission. Ron recalls messing with his
shoelaces stalling for time to either break Gibson’s concentration, aggravate him or both. Sure enough, Gibson’s pitch hit him. Shaking it off, Hunt spotted the ball coming to rest near his feet, he picked it up, turned to Gibson and threw it right back to him before trotting to first base. Ron continued to do this nearly every time after getting hit by a pitch.
Ron’s hitting style was that he crowded the plate, and at that time, pitchers pitched inside a little more than they do now. When the pitch came inside, he didn’t budge, he just let the ball hit him. The ball would be headed toward his elbow or his ribcage and he would turn his back away from the pitcher deflecting the ball with that spin move so that he avoided those direct hits. To the average person, it would look like he was trying to get out of the way of the pitch, when, in fact, he just wanted to stand in there and take it.
Retired since 1974, this 77 year old former baseball second baseman became best known for his time with the NY Mets. Ron played 12 seasons in Major League Baseball from 1963 to 1974 for the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, Montreal Expos and the St. Louis Cardinals. In fact, he is the modern-day major league leader in getting hit by a pitch, taking one for the team 243 times over his 12 seasons. Ron still holds the single-season record of 50 HBP with the Expos; the highest total for anyone after 1900. On average, he got hit by more than 20 pitches per season, and has had a total of 15 baseball-related surgeries.
All that abuse took its toll over the years. He is coping with Parkinson’s disease, the well-known, incurable neurodegenerative disorder that, new studies show, very well may have resulted from the damage Hunt incurred during his career. Ron’s daughter, Tracy Hunt says, “I can tell you, considering what he did for a living and looking at him now, it’s really hard to stomach. Because he’s a shell of the man that he once was.” Ron says “I don’t know what I’ve got but my memory’s shot and I get the shakes in my left hand.” Jackie Hunt, Ron’s wife of 57 years, said Ron’s physical problems began early on when he suffered a number of concussions while playing high school football. Four more concussions came during his major league career. After having a valve replacement procedure a few years ago, Ron’s cardiologist, Dr. Sam Bishara, notified the family that he saw early signs of Parkinson’s. He theorized, according to Jackie Hunt, that the condition could have resulted from the injuries Hunt suffered as an athlete.
Ron came to the CAC in April and signed up for the Mind in Motion program to work on his balance and fine motor skills while also enhancing his thought processes and mental alertness. CAC personal trainers, Brent Meyer and Jerry Morrison, provide a fun, welcoming environment with strength and flexibility exercises which helps boost his mood and reflexes. Due to a recent fall at home, Ron is currently dealing with a bum knee but hopes to return soon. In the meantime, Ron is looking forward to returning to his old stomping ground with the Mets honoring him on the field August 9-10 in New York.
Member Spotlight: Greg Livingston – June 2019
CAC member Greg Livingston’s bucket list may appear frightening to some while others may find it JAWSOME.
After suddenly losing his mother and father, Greg realized that life is fleeting and it was time to pursue one of his dreams. His father had him diving when he was 8 years old and then an interest with sharks developed 4 years later with the release of the movie Jaws. He talked his parents into taking him to see the movie and would spend Saturdays staying in the theatre watching it – (over 15 times at just the movies!) He had been on many dives but had not experienced any sharks of great magnitude. Along with having a library full of shark books, Greg also had the chance to spend time with Jean Michael Cousteau (Jacques’ son) back in the 90’s discussing his book on Great Whites and gathering even more information on this mesmerizing fish. Greg’s love of the ocean and sharks made him pursue his NAUI instructor card, become a shark specialist and a frequent visitor to the Bahamas where he received his shark training.
It wasn’t hard to guess what was at the top of Greg’s bucket list. The inevitable booking of his trip last fall to swim with the sharks – traveling by air to San Diego, boarding a bus to Ensenata Mexico for a two hour ride, then boarding a 100 foot boat for a 21 hour ride on the open sea to Guadelupe Island, home of the Great White. The seas were ebbing and flowing and the price of admission was usually becoming sick, which he was spared. The close-up picture of the shark here looks like one you would see during Shark Week on the Discovery Channel, but it is one that Greg personally took on this trip. The other photo is of Greg in the cage while the Great White approached him.
Back home on dry land Greg has his own wealth management firm, Livingston & Associates Ltd., and has been doing that professionally for close to two decades. He and his wife, Brenda, are celebrating 25 years and have two beautiful daughters, Alexis – a Junior at Mizzou, and Aleah – Sophomore at Parkway Central.
When asked what is next on his bucket list, Greg said it would probably be to do this again as nothing catches the shock and awe of this magnificent specie. He added that he would like to see it again and spend more time in just watching its grace versus trying to capture it on film. In his own words, “This shark is by far the most agile, strong, and respected creature God has put in the ocean, with a purpose in the ecosystem, which is not to harm us but to keep the oceans clean.” He added, “I want people to understand that if you invest the time to study this fish you would realize it has a purpose and is harmless to most. I was moved to tears on the last dive knowing I had just experienced in real-time such a spectacular fish after just spending about 15 hours underwater in 3 days bouncing around in a cage like a cork, but safe and in awe for a positive sight and memory etched for life on my brain.”
Member Spotlight: Olga Barnes – May 2019
In 1989 Ukraine, 13 year old Olga Barnes’ beautiful figure skating was capturing hearts as well as Ukrainian National Championships. In 1997/1998, she toured all over the world with Disney on Ice and performed in Disney’s Wizard of Oz Japan tour.
Fast forward to 2008. At only 34 years old, Olga was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lymphoma. This grim diagnosis was not found easily though. It took months before doctors were able to determine what was making her sick. It began with severe night sweats and extreme changes in body temperature during the day. Then her weight dropped suddenly – 30lbs within 1½ months. Doctors ran numerous tests but were baffled. Three trips to the emergency room proved fruitless with mere prescriptions for pain relief. Her symptoms worsened – eating became difficult, frequent fevers with night sweats became worse and they were accompanied by agonizing body aches and joint pain. Then, when breathing even became difficult, her husband took action – taking her to the hospital once again, insistent for answers.
The attending ER physician at St. Joseph knew something was seriously wrong, and his instincts were correct. Although much of it was a blur, she recalls numerous blood transfusions and many visits with the oncologist. Ten days in the hospital with more blood tests and the oncologist finally determined it was cancer. The PET tests confirmed it was Stage 4 Lymphoma.
The advanced treatments she needed would prevent her from having any more children, but they knew this was what she had to do. Six months of painful chemo treatments and complications proved to be successful. To the doctor’s surprise her cancer was gone! Although she was very weak and fighting to recover, she was happy she was alive. A year later, to their surprise, she found out she was pregnant! The doctor was shocked as well and advised it would be a high risk pregnancy, but her motherly instincts told her it would be just fine. And it did, and he is! Michael is now a happy and healthy active 6 year old!
Olga continues to go once a year for her checkup, and thankfully the cancer has remained in remission. It took a long time to get her energy back after cancer, but she never gave up. She is still trying to get back into her athletic shape by walking and slowly running. She’s never lost hope and attributes her healing to faith, family and friends. Her advice is to never give up hope, trust your instincts and when something isn’t right, keep pursuing answers.
Now Olga and her family are happily looking forward to the summer at the Club at the pool, in the fitness center and on the courts. Olga is pictured with her family: husband, Rich, and children, Andrew, Cassidy, Al, Michael and Jakob.
Member Spotlights Then & Now: Cory & Kyle – April 2019
Flashback to the early 2000’s! These talented twins were lifeguards at the pool and worked in fitness here while they were in high school and college. You might wonder, where are they now?
Cory anchors News 4 This Morning every weekday from 4-7 a.m. with Marissa Hollowed. As a St. Louis native, Cory cares about the people & places in our local communities and feels blessed to be able to share the stories that impact our communities every day.
Cory joined KMOV in 2013, since then he has uncovered and reported numerous stories that have led to positive change in St. Louis. In 2016, his series of reports targeting safety concerns at a downtown parking garage led to surveillance cameras being installed and the business implementing tighter security.
Cory is passionate about watching out for the little guy. He’s equally as passionate about volunteering and getting involved with non-profit organizations in the St. Louis area. From helping to build houses with Habitat for Humanity St. Louis, to helping with the fundraising efforts for organizations like Annie’s Hope, Neighborhood Houses and St. Louis Crisis Nursery, Cory gives hours of his time to support the important work happening in St. Louis.
Cory graduated from Marquette High School in Chesterfield. He’s a proud Butler University alum and a huge Bulldog Basketball fan! Cory loves spending time with his wife, Sarah, and son, Carson, and one on the way!
Kyle is the Director of Content & Technology/Partner at the Chicago office of OrgStory. Spending his career working with some of the largest brands in the world, Kyle brings his strategic focus to helping nonprofits communicate the right stories to their constituents. Prior to joining OrgStory, Kyle worked at Groupon (GRPN) where he supported and developed Groupon Grassroots, a digital fundraising platform for nonprofit organizations in Midwest markets. In addition, he has volunteered with several nonprofit organizations at various capacities. Over the last seven years, his creativity & contagious energy has helped elevate organizations to their fullest potential.
At OrgStory, Kyle manages all client partner projects, internal marketing initiatives & assists with research and strategy for nonprofit organizations across the United States. He is a frequent speaker on marketing & communications at college forums and often writes on marketing strategy. Kyle is also an active board member & organization advisor.
Kyle holds a B.S. in Marketing from Miami University’s Farmer School of Business. He resides in Chicago with his wife and their 2 boys, ages 3 years and 9 months.
Member Spotlight, Annette Keller – March 2019
This month’s member spotlight, Annette Keller, shared with us her life-changing experience from 2000. She went to Michigan to care for her grandpa who was having cataract surgery. After surgery he had some heart issues so she took him to the doctor where they discovered he had bad diabetes. After the doctor finished caring for her grandpa, the doctor turned to Annette, inquiring as to her relationship to his patient. Upon learning she was related, he exclaimed loudly “Oh my God you, you are so fat.” This was the first time she had met this doctor. Shouting, he interrogated her about her education and what she did for a living. Shocked, she replied by telling him about her St. Louis University double major in Human Resources and Marketing and the successful career as an HR professional at a pharmaceutical company. The doctor continued to berate her saying how she should know better, how obese she was and didn’t she know she was killing herself. His belittling was so loud in fact, that others in the office came to see what was wrong and patients in the lobby also heard his ranting insults. She was devastated and had to walk out of the office in front of everyone. Even worse, after thinking about it she realized his concerns for her health were correct even though his behavior was inexcusable.
Annette left that day though determined to never experience something like that again, and was determined to make a change. And that she did. At 300 lbs. she was getting shin splints just trying to walk into work, so a Richard Simmons’ stretching video at home is where she began. She consulted with her brother, who is a protein biochemist, and he helped her put together a well-balanced diet plan. She also drank, & continues to drink, a lot of water – around a gallon per day! Once she was able to walk a bit easier, she added Campbell’s soup can curls & leg lifts until progressing to using a recumbent bike. With her dedication and commitment, she had lost 98 lbs. by the following summer! She recalls waking up one morning with an energy running through her like nothing she had felt before. She could not believe how much better she was feeling and what a significant improvement this change was making on her health. She persisted and a year and a half later, she had lost 150 lbs.
In Annette’s words, “At 300 lbs., it was like I was invisible to the world – no one sees you. The most surprising thing is how differently people ‘see’ you and recognize your value when you are physically fit.” She continued exercising regularly until severely tearing the labrum of her hip in 2013. Complications from surgery made it difficult even to do her grocery shopping without using a wheelchair. Doctors told her she would likely never be able to run again. While this setback could have sent her into a downward spiral, Annette took on the challenge and fought back. She persisted, finding other ways to exercise such as using the pool. She also saw Dr. Mike Murphy, Doctor of Chiropractic with a specialty background in sports injuries and active release therapy, who helped her get back on her feet and begin her road to recovery. Ready to progress to the next level in her rehab, in 2015 Dr. Murphy referred her to the CAC’s personal trainers, Jason Rulo and Keri Morgan, who have been instrumental in helping her regain her strength and return to her physical fitness activities. Since that time, they have rehabbed her through several surgeries, including shoulder surgery, adapting her exercise routines to incorporate her therapy exercise, and keeping her exercising during the recovery periods. She has progressed to training with them three times a week and is no longer held back by her physical condition or injuries. Not only has she returned to a healthy, active lifestyle, she is excited to be participating in her first 5K since her hip injury, the Wine Wobble, in April. And we cannot wait!
The ‘before’ picture of Annette was taken with her Grandpa on the day of the encounter with the doctor. Her ‘after’ picture was taken recently with her husband of nearly 13 years, Brad Keller.
Member Spotlight, Edwards & Clark Families – February 2019
If you’ve been here on one of our vendor Fridays when sweet Ann Edwards was selling ‘Harry’s Honey’ you know it’s the Best. Honey. Ever. There’s so much more to this lovely lady, a retired hair stylist for 53 years, who will be celebrating her 85th birthday in March in excellent health. She says it is all thanks to her regular exercising at the CAC which she’s been doing since the Castle Oaks days in the 70s. The matriarch of the family, Ann, and her husband, Harry Jr., enjoyed the club with their 3 children, Bill, Harry III, and Teresa. A competitive figure skater, Teresa is pictured here on the club’s old skating rink where the indoor pool is today. Bill now lives in Texas but Harry & Teresa are both in Chesterfield and members of the club with their children.
Harry III took an interest in honey when he was younger and eventually started his own hives over 10 years ago. He married his high school ‘honey’, Cindy, and together they started their own business, Tri County Landscape Services in Chesterfield which provides landscape services of all kinds from retaining walls, driveways/pavers, mulching and lawn maintenance to snow removal. Their oldest son, Matt (36) lives in Lake St. Louis and is a compliance risk manager for Citibank, their younger son, Harry IV (17) is a junior at Barat, and daughter, Alyson (26), assists with the family business.
Teresa met her husband, Marvin Clark, in Dallas playing sand volleyball & they returned to her home town of Chesterfield in 2006. Teresa, featured in this month’s business spotlight, is VP of HR for Missouri Botanical Gardens and Marvin is a Financial Analyst at RGA. Ella, their oldest daughter is studying Neuroscience and playing softball for Macalester College in St. Paul Minnesota. Their younger daughter, Katie, a senior at Duchesne High School, plays softball for St. Louis Chaos where her team placed 2nd in the Junior Olympic Cup in 2018! You may also recognize Katie from lifeguarding at the pool during the summers. Their son, Spencer, is a senior at Duchesne high school and enjoys mountain biking & cross country and has participated in Pedal for the Cause the last 2 years.
What makes the CAC so special is that it is full of families like this, and we are so happy to have them as part of our CAC family!
Member Spotlight, Erin Slutzky – January 2019
CAC Member, Erin Slutzky, a Junior at Parkway West High School, had a pretty exciting year in 2018. After winning runner-up in June at the National Junior Olympic Racquetball Championship in Des Moines, she qualified to play for Team USA in the Junior World Championships in Mexico which she competed in last fall. Pictured here with her doubles partner, Annie Roberts, from Oregon, and below with Team USA. Erin won two out of four games in both singles and doubles; the USA girls’ team placed second out of 14 countries, with the USA team taking third overall when the boys’ results were added.
With her father, Steve, and older brother, Ethan, being avid racquetball players, it inspired Erin to begin playing over 8 years ago. Once she learned the sport, with the help of her coach, Ethan, she was hooked. In her own words, “having Ethan as my private coach was really an amazing opportunity because not only did he know my game really well and have great advice, it was also a chance for us to bond over a sport that we both love.” (How cool is that!)
Erin shared that she learned a lot from playing in the World Championship, “You’ve got to put in the work including the stuff that you aren’t really comfortable with, there’s always going to be someone better than you, so even if you’re having success you have to keep working just as hard.”
In her free time, which is very limited, Erin enjoys watching Netflix, reading and hanging out with friends. Soon, over spring break, she will be looking at colleges and is leaning towards staying 
in the Midwest. She doesn’t want to base her decision solely on playing racquetball because it would limit her options, but she definitely would like to continue playing and compete in as many world championships as she can which would be through her sophomore year of college. Way to go, Erin!
Member Spotlight, Michael Haddad – December 2018
CAC member, Michael Haddad, grew up in Ballwin and after graduating from Marquette High School, he went on to receive his degree in international business from Missouri State University. At that time, Michael had no intention of entering the family business, The Diamond Family, featured as this month’s business spotlight founded by his father in 1978. Instead, Michael wanted to travel, and he spent some time in Egypt where his parents were both born (his father, Rocky, is from generations of jewelers and Nahed, his mother, was a special education teacher in Rockwood.) It was at the end of 2007 when Michael’s father asked for his help, and so he returned.
Michael has an incredible ability to make friends & co-workers feel like family, and he wanted to make sure their store made people feel the same. He continued his education by earning Gemological Institute of America certifications and helped the business join the Independent Jewelers Organization (IJO) where he now sits on the millennial board. As the president of the family business, Michael is in charge of sourcing stones and sales training, and he helps with marketing. His brother, Alex, is the vice president and designer who manages & trains their staff. Most of their marketing is handled by his youngest brother, Anthony, who owns Yummy Image Media, a digital marketing firm.
The holidays keep Michael very busy at the store, and when he is not working there or workout out at the club, he enjoys spending time with family and friends. Michael lives in Creve Coeur with his girlfriend Erica, their 2 year old daughter, Lively, and dog Hardie.
Member Spotlight, The Rigman Family +1 – November 2018
The Rigman family has been a part of the CAC family since 1993 (pictured: Tyler, Jacque, Jim & Tori.) Tori & Tyler enjoyed being on the swim team during their younger years, and Tori 
worked as a lifeguard during high school.
In their own words, Jacque & Tori express that they “love all the fitness classes at the club, and the instructors are great! The classes are challenging but they also provide an alternative exercise for you if you need it.” Both Jacque & Tori have been taking 3-5 fitness classes weekly, but due to a recent stress fracture, Jacque has to take it easy for a while to recover. But she has a few other things going to keep her busy… helping Tori plan her wedding!
If you follow baseball, you may have heard of Tori’s fiancé, Luke Voit, who played for the STL Cardinals before being traded this summer to the New York Yankees. Luke and Tori have known each other since middle school but went away to separate colleges and reconnected by mutual friends after graduation. They hit it off right away and have been together for almost four years. A perfectly romantic proposal caught her completely off guard when Luke proposed last year at Montelle Winery with some of their best friends in town. They are getting married December 15th and cannot wait!
St. Louis will always be their home, but eventually they will live in New York. Luke has been enjoying playing for the Yankees, and they have both fallen in love 
with the city and all it has to offer. During all the baseball craziness, Tori is in her fifth year teaching 5th grade in the Parkway School District and loves it – each day is a new adventure! For now, Tori & Luke are having fun during the offseason entertaining friends & grilling out, but also trying to get some rest and relaxation in before the big day.
Congratulations, Tori & Luke!
Member Spotlight, Anne Allred – October 2018
Not only is this month’s member spotlight a familiar face at the CAC, Anne Allred is also Anchor of KSDK evening news. It was just a couple years ago that Anne was busy balancing life as a successful career woman while preparing to have a baby. Then everything changed when she faced an emergency C-section and the premature birth of her daughter, Nora, born 3 months early and weighing only 1 pound 15 ounces. While Nora was at the NICU of St. Louis Children’s Hospital for an extended stay, Anne learned she was suffering severe renal failure due to a rare blood disease triggered by her pregnancy. Anne was initially unaware her kidneys were failing and when they realized the problem she had to start emergency dialysis immediately and an eventual kidney transplant.
“When you’re faced with those kind of things, you don’t have any choice but to keep going,” Allred said. “That’s what I told myself. I had my daughter to keep going for.” Early into her prognosis, Anne was tested and placed on the list for a kidney transplant at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, one of four hospitals in the region that perform organ transplants. She found out she was on the list with 1,000 other people waiting for a kidney at that hospital alone. A long-time friend stepped forward, and after months of testing to find out if the organs would match, she finally had the surgery and was given her life back.
Something else changed in her then too – her desire to help others in need of life-saving organs. Anne became an advocate for organ donation and hopes to raise awareness through sharing her own story and highlighting the stories of others. Anne emphasizes that we are in dire need of organs with over 100,000 people in need, and recommends that those interested in organ donation and want to learn more should visit https://www.midamericatransplant.org/, Mid-America Transplant, featured as this month’s business spotlight for more details. Please join the Mid-America Transplant 5K Walk on October 14, 2018.
A native St. Louisan, Anne joined 5 On Your Side in January 2013. She anchors the 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts. She’s traveled extensively to cover some of the biggest new stories including content for the Olympics Games in Beijing, Vancouver, and London. Prior to that she was with WHDH, the NBC affiliate in Boston, where she worked for six years and served as the weekday morning and noon anchor which resulted in a 2012 Emmy nomination for best news anchor. She also won the Mid-America Emmy award for best news anchor for her coverage of the 2014 unrest in Ferguson, Missouri.
Member Spotlight, Joey and Cara Heitz – September 2018
It was love at first dive. Joey Heitz and Cara Amundson met on the CAC swim team in 2008 when Joey was 15 and Cara 13. At that time, they were attending different schools and didn’t even know each other prior to the summer of swim team. Fall came and they continued to date all through high school. Then Joey, being two years older, graduated and went away to college at Mizzou. Their love prevailed, and when Cara graduated, she went away to Mizzou to join Joey.
Joey graduated from Mizzou and moved to Philadelphia while Cara was still in college. After
a year apart and missing each other like crazy, Joey moved back to St. Louis and Cara returned home after she graduated from Mizzou.
Now the newly-weds reside in Clayton, Missouri, where they have made their home. Joey worksfor Brenntag Solutions as a food additives sales rep, and Cara just began her career as an occupational therapist for the Special School District in Hazelwood school district.
Congratulations, Joey & Cara!
Member Spotlight, Larry Winner – August 2018
You might have seen this month’s member spotlight, Larry Winner, working out in the weight room or taking one of Denny or Jerry’s fitness classes. Larry’s smile and sense of humor are one-of-a-kind, and his friendly demeanor is welcoming to all. This St. Louis native was part of the last graduating class of Parkway High School before its name was changed to Parkway 
Central High School. At that time, he was living life to the fullest, taking classes at University of Missouri St. Louis and didn’t have a care in the world. Then, in 1969, everything changed – it was the Vietnam War. At 25 years old, he received his draft notice and became part of the Naval Reserves where he spent the next 6 years and received extensive training attending Radar “A” School and NTDS/ATDS (Naval & Air tactical data systems). He went on to what is known as Elint (Electronic Intelligence) which included training on electronic warfare, countermeasure, search measures and counter-counter measures followed by anti-air warfare & anti-sub warfare. He was able to put these skills to use when fully assigned to the USS Gridley (DLG 21) working in CIC (Combat Information Center) where they gathered data along with supporting operations into North Vietnam with the US Marines forward post on Monkey Mountain. They conducted those operations off Vinh, Hon Lai, and Cambodia. The rest he cannot talk about.
When returning home, for many it was not a warm welcome but rather rejection they faced from the public who did not support the Vietnam War. For these veterans though, it was not a choice they got to make. Years later the memories still haunt him, but he has learned how to stay healthy both mentally 
and physically. Since he joined the CAC 8 years ago, Larry has lost 54 lbs. which he attributes to both exercise and maintaining a better diet (thanks, Denny). His workouts at the CAC with his friends and family are motivating for him and he enjoys the comradery he has with the fellow members. Now, after having his own business for many years, he is semi-retired and works part-time driving new cars to dealers. His son, Ryan, resides with him. When not at the club working out, he likes to go to the Muny, Fox and Stages. Next time you see Larry at the club, give him a high five and say hello!
Member Spotlight, David Bass – July 2018
If you see this month’s member spotlight, David Bass, working out in the weight room, you might think, ‘wow, this guy should be playing professional football!’ And you’d be right, because this 6’4” 267 lb. 27 year old is the linebacker for the New York Jets. This weekend, however, he’s playing on a different field, providing a free youth football camp for kids ages 7-15. Camp participants will spend the day training with NFL players in addition to learning the value of dedication, hard work and perseverance. David is proud to be a St. Louis native and wants to bring a positive light to his hometown while helping kids fulfill their dreams in the process.
A standout football player & captain of his team at University City High School, David became an all-metro selection and was awarded the Fab-25 Demetrius Johnson Award, given to the top defensive linemen in Missouri and Illinois. His high school success earned him a football Scholarship to Missouri Western State University where had an illustrious career, breaking the school record with 40.5 career sacks and 50 consecutive starts. In his senior year, Bass was a finalist for the Gene Upshaw Award and played in the East-West Shrine Game.
Drafted by the Oakland Raiders in 2013, David has also played for the Bears, Titans and Seahawks and the New York Jets just re-signed David for another year. He is tied for second on the team with 3½ sacks, and also had 33 tackles, 12 quarterback hits and seven tackles for losses. He’ll provide depth on New York’s defense and help the team’s pass rush. David has nine career sacks and two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, in 64 NFL games.
Member Spotlight, The Oliver Family – June 2018
Rich, Kim, Luke, Will, Maddy and Joey Oliver have been members of the CAC since 2015. When they joined, Kim & oldest son, Luke, began working out regularly with Jerry Morrison, CAC personal trainer, to improve their strength & endurance. The other Olivers were soon actively involved at the club as well.
Raised on the Hill in St. Louis, Rich moved to Chesterfield in 1995 and has worked for 25 years at Kennedy Capital Management in Creve Coeur. He enjoys working out on the weight machines & in the cardio room, and he especially loves being able to spend time with his kids by going along with them to the club.
Kim, a former teacher in the Rockwood School District & preschool teacher at King of Kings Lutheran Church in Chesterfield, now enjoys being a stay-at-home mom. Her kids have inspired her to begin working out and she, too, works out with trainer, Jerry Morrison. Luke is a junior Cybersecurity major at Maryville University and also a very talented violist – he recently played for tennis pro Donna Austin’s wedding. A regular client of Jerry’s, he keeps a challenging strength training & cardio workout routine and you might often see him swimming laps in the pool. A recent De Smet Jesuit High School graduate, Will has been actively involved in many St. Louis hockey organizations including De Smet hockey, AAA blues hockey and Affton St. Louis AIC Prospects. He is looking forward to playing junior hockey this fall and works out at the CAC to enhance his strength and stamina on the ice. Maddy will be a junior at Parkway Central High School where she is actively involved in the school’s Dance Team, student council and National Honor Society. Most of her free time she spends with the Renee Johnson Dance Floor competition dance team, and she works out with Jerry to build the strength she needs for dance such as stabilizing for long periods of time on one foot, strengthening her muscles for high leaps in addition to keeping her flexibility. The youngest Oliver, Joey, will be in the 8th grade at Parkway Central Middle School, and he is active in Chesterfield Hockey. In his free time, Joey enjoys playing basketball and swimming at the club.
The Olivers are members of Incarnate Word Church in Chesterfield and enjoy traveling to Italy & Belize to visit friends and family. They love using the CAC and enjoy seeing each other at this great one-stop-have-it-all facility—including great food, snacks and drinks. They have already made lifetime friends here at the CAC, in particular, Jerry Morrison, who has introduced new healthy lifestyle habits for their family. (For the record, Jerry did not pay them for the accolades!)
Member Spotlight, Greg Burton – May 2018
Greg Burton has been hanging around CAC and playing tennis a long time. He has played tennis for over 50 years! That still leaves him a decade and thousands of tennis balls behind Paul and Jack. Ask him about his traumatic experiences playing tournaments with those two in the 1970s. (Yikes!)
Now working on his second retirement, Greg decided to get certified as a USPTA Tennis Professional. To get this certification, he had to take online courses, a written test and a full day of on-court testing that included demonstrating a wide variety of tennis skills, feeding balls for different situations, giving a group lesson and giving a private lesson. He prepared by helping with various clinics at CAC and a lot of on court practice. Greg says, “It allows me to give back to the sport that has been very good to me and to learn new things.” Greg is active in interclub and USTA leagues, as well Senior USTA tournaments. He is also a board member at Dwight Davis Memorial Tennis Center.
In his previous life, Greg spent 40 years in the aerospace business with Boeing (McDonnell Douglas) and Astronautics Corporation of America. After eight moves and two retirements, he is back at CAC.
The Burtons first joined CAC 1999; Sharon joined ladies interclub and played on one of the many ladies teams at the time. Children, Lexa and Greer, participated in clinics and lessons with Paul, Tracy, Jack, Winn and Craig, then eventually became helpers in the kids clinics. Lexa and Greer went on to college in California. Now, Lexa lives in Brooklyn where she teaches and develops chess and music classes for preschoolers. Greer owns a sustainable farm in upstate New York. Sharon is a serial rehabber and fixing up a 175 year old second home near Greer, along with a place in Wildwood.
If you see Greg at the club, give him a high five!
Member Spotlight, Jim and Grace Long – April 2018
You may have met members Jim and Grace Long in a Yoga or foam-rolling class or playing pickle ball in the gym where they’re regulars and they’ve become pretty good at it! But they’ve been coming to the club much longer than pickle ball has been around here. When they joined in 1983, Grace was mostly in the pool swimming laps and Jim exercising in the weight room or on the tennis courts.
The happy couple met at the University of Illinois; Jim was getting his PhD in Electrical Engineering and Grace was one of only 5 women in her graduating class of the College of Veterinary Medicine. Grace also holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Pathology and later went on to receive her MBA from Webster. She recently retired from Purina, but still works part time at Heritage Veterinary Hospital (see business spotlight below.) She is from Bloomington, Illinois, and Jim from Oakley Kansas, but McDonnell Douglas was what brought them to St. Louis which is where they call home. Jim is now retired from FlightSafety International after spending many years developing their flight simulators.
This summer will mark their 49th wedding anniversary and they have 3 grown married children and 4 grandchildren to help them celebrate. Other than her favorite hobby of playing pickle ball, in her free time, Grace also enjoys watercolor painting and playing the piano at Incarnate Word. And Jim is studying up on his pickle ball skills on YouTube! Come join them for one of our open pickle ball days and say hello!
Member Spotlight, Diane Gibbs – March 2018
After a couple of nudges from a coworker, Diane reluctantly tried out the CAC as a guest in January 2017; not sure what she was expecting, she was pleasantly surprised. She thought she had walked into the “grande dame” of athletic clubs. Diane described her first impression as, “an older, yet well-maintained beautiful club with a very dignified presence.” Diane joined within the week. After a couple of visits she talked herself into trying a SPIN and TREKKING class, and that’s where she ran into Personal Trainers/Instructors, Benita Perkins and Jerry Morrison. In her own words, “These two may be small in stature but what they carry in character and personality is nothing short of amazing. They are both fun, supportive and sincerely make you want to be your best. My confidence level has tripled since joining the CAC, and I will be participating in “Pedal the Cause” as a member of the CAC Team for my 2nd year this September. I can honestly say without a doubt I would have never tried anything like that prior to CAC.”
When Diane is not working at Heffernan Insurance Brokers, you will typically find her volunteering or participating in events for their non-profit clients. Volunteering offers vital help to people in need, worthwhile causes and the community. Diane has found that volunteering and helping others can help reduce stress, combat depression and keep her mentally stimulated. She also found a sense of purpose from a most humbling weekend in Houston helping out after the floods. Diane spends a lot of time working with Operation Food Search who feeds over 200,000 people in the St. Louis area each month, one-third of which are children and volunteers with the Pujols Family Foundation whose mission is to promote awareness, provide hope and meet tangible needs for children and families who live with Down syndrome. Next up for Diane is the Lung Cancer Connection’s annual “RUN.WALK.BREATHE” and the “Walk To End Lupus Now – Saint Louis” which you can learn more about below.
Member Spotlight, Emily & Owen Hasson & Family – January 2018
The Hasson family have been CAC members since 2015, and over the past year we’ve been seeing a lot less of Owen…145 pounds less that is! All of Owen’s numbers were high – blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and diabetes runs in his family. It was no surprise to him when the doctor advised him he had to make some changes. He started by attending a healthy lifestyle class, purchased a Garmin fitness tracker and downloaded the ‘My Fitness Pal’ app. While using portion control and watching his carbs, Owen began exercising by walking around the block, which exhausted him at first but that didn’t stop him.
Emily suggested they get back into playing tennis which they hadn’t done since high school, and once they started playing again they wondered why they hadn’t done it sooner! Owen could also see the positive impact exercising had on Emily and how much she enjoyed the club. So he began taking a few fitness classes such as Benita’s Trekking and Kristina’s Tabata, and found how motivating they are. He kept walking, and together the family completed their first 5k together in April 2016 (see pic). Although he finished close to the end, he didn’t give up. After that time, Owen gradually increased his speed and distance, and on August 26, he ran his first half marathon! It’s since become a family affair – they’ve completed two 5Ks together with their children, Max (15) and Samantha (11).
Owen’s numbers are now in line, he’s off all the meds and no longer has sleep apnea. His energy level has increased and he says he feels better than ever, with one exception – he was diagnosed with Parsonage Turner Syndrome, a rare peripheral nerve disorder causing pain and weakness in his shoulder. While this has been temporarily preventing him from playing tennis, he has kept his spirits up and staying active on the fitness side of the club. His advice is: “To begin, begin.” And above all else, never give up.
As for the rest of the family, Emily has completed 2 half marathons and a Tough Mudder, and she enjoys taking the fitness classes & playing tennis at the Club. Max plays tennis and Samantha is looking forward to her 3rd year swimming on the CAC swim team. If you see them at the club, give them a high five!
Arina Lanis & Family – December 2017
We love it when members come back! Arina Lanis and her family were CAC members but had to leave in 2009 when her family relocated to Kansas City.
A graphic designer, photographer & marketing strategist, Arina spent her first seven years in Kiev, Ukraine, before moving to the US with her parents. Since she’s been in St. Louis, she’s implemented branding & marketing campaigns for some of the area’s most prominent businesses and even published her own magazine. In KC, she was a regular on TV’s, Better Kansas City, where she inspired viewers with tips & ideas on entertaining & party recipes. Now, she’s writing a book about entertaining, real parties for real people; stay tuned for more details!
The need to be closer to her parents arose, so Arina set up a second home in St. Louis and has been commuting back & forth with her sons for the past few months. “There’s no question that dividing time & managing family between two cities is difficult, but the CAC has been a beacon of light for me & my family,” Arina adds, “Both boys (ages 10 and 14) are regulars at the club and love tennis & swimming.” And although Arina says she NEVER considered herself a morning person who exercised in the morning, she has now become addicted (her words exactly) to the morning line-up of classes taught by CAC instructors Diane, Renee, Heather, Benita, Kristina, and Chris. “No matter how stressful my day looks or how many items I have to check off my ‘to do’ list, I know each class will fuel me for the day’s challenges!” Arina adds, “Working out at the CAC has truly become one of the best parts of my day!”
But Arina and her boys aren’t the only ones in her family who’ve been seeing positive results. Arina signed up her 80-year-old mother, Lucy, for the Mind in Motion class taught by personal trainers, Brent & Jerry. Although Lucy had a lot of anxiety leaving the comforts of her home to exercise at the club, she quickly realized the friendly & supportive atmosphere was just what she needed. Arina added, “It has been such a great experience and I saw improvements in my mom’s mood & outlook since the very first class. Plus, she just loves Brent and Jerry!”
The Ulett Family – November 2017
When you hear John Ulett’s voice at the Club, you may think there’s a Cardinal game on the radio. That’s because John “U-Man” is one of the most recognized voices in St. Louis – he’s been broadcasting at KSHE Radio for 41 years, 33 of which as the Public Address Announcer for the St. Louis Cardinals!
John, Ruth and their 3 beautiful daughters have been enjoying the club since 2003 when they joined the CAC for their girls to be on Swim Team. Olivia, their oldest, was part of the CAC Sharks Swim Team from 2003-2009 serving her last year as assistant coach; now she is a Physician Assistant at MO BAP and recently became engaged to Jordan Stretch (congrats, Olivia!) Abby, a senior at Mizzou studying Business & Fashion, was part of the Swim Team from 2003-2014 and is quite a volleyball player! When she is home from college, she and their youngest, Sophie, will either be in Heather’s Spinning Class or working out in the weight room to stay in shape. Now a senior at Marquette High School, Sophie is quite an athlete – a part of the Swim Team from 2003 to 2016, high school volleyball player and club/high school soccer teams. Sophie is also headed for Mizzou next fall! (Go Tigers!)
Ruth adds that working out, relaxing at the poolside cabanas and playing pickleball are some of the family’s favorite things to do at the Club. And John & Ruth have picked right up on pickleball – taking Silver in a Mixed Doubles Pickleball Tournament in October! When you see them at the club, give them a shout out or a high five! They plan on playing more pickleball in the future and have been enjoying the new outdoor pickleball court, too – they have definitely caught the pickleball fever!
Dave Bates – October 2017
After getting his biometric screening in May 2016 for his company’s health insurance, Dave reviewed his results with his doctor who expressed grave concern. His numbers were terrible, and at the time, he really didn’t work out. His diet was horrible and he was eating all the wrong foods – it was no wonder he had such a low energy level. Dave knew he had to make some significant changes. The thought of not living to see his 3 year old son grow up and missing time spent together with his wife was too much to bear.
At 285 pounds, Dave had to both improve his eating habits and start a fitness routine. With the support of his family, he drastically changed his diet to include smaller portions with more proteins such as chicken, fish and yogurt. He started walking on the treadmill to get in shape, and little by little, he progressed to jogging and then on to running. As his endurance gradually increased, so did his confidence. To continue challenging himself, he started running long distances outside. With his energy level improving, he was able to work out longer and run further while gaining muscle mass in the process. The pounds started to shed, and fast forward to today, he’s lost 90 pounds and feeling better at 195 pounds than he has in years. So much so, he decided to run his first half marathon on October 1!
Dave shared his before and after pics to encourage others that it’s never too late to start. If you need help, just ask one of the CAC trainers or fitness instructors to point you in the right direction. They truly care about the members’ health & well-being and will go the extra mile to get you there.
The Carter Family – September 2017
This month marks the 20 year anniversary the Carters have been members of the CAC. David and Sandy joined originally to play tennis then found they enjoyed the fitness side of the club equally as well. David, a financial analyst, plays on Paul’s men’s Saturday Doubles, enjoys working out and taking fitness classes. Sandy plays on Paul’s Ladies Interclub team and participates in a fitness class almost daily. Originally from Milwaukee, they had no family here when they moved; but since they’ve been at the club, they have made so many close friendships with fellow members they now consider them as their extended family.
Their kids, Christian and Abby, grew up at the club – from tot drop to tennis – advancing through the various tennis programs and then on to playing at Chaminade and St. Joe. Christian also took up rugby and lacrosse; now he’s coaching rugby at CBC. Today, he is pursuing his Doctorate in Chiropractic at Logan which he will complete in December, and Christian also holds a master’s degree in nutrition. He realized not only did he need to eat well to stay healthy but exercising regularly was just as important. Christian works out in the weight room daily and does the evening trekking & cycling classes for his cardio. Abby, who also enjoys the evening fitness classes, recently completed her Master’s in Clinical Psychology and is now working at Agility (see this month’s business spotlight for more details.)
One thing is for sure, there’s no shortage of laughter and fun when the Carters are around! They recall some of their fondest memories at the Club’s social events – from the St. Patty’s Day Tennis Mixer to the “HalloWine” Party. They are some of the club’s biggest fans and they’re looking forward to this year’s wine tasting event on October 13 – this time with a 70’s theme – and we can’t wait to see what they have in store for us then!
Bruce McKay – August 2017
An active tennis and racquetball player, CAC Member, Bruce McKay, has been working out and playing court sports at the club since 2013. Maintaining a fit & healthy lifestyle has always been a priority for him, and he enjoys the camaraderie he has made with fellow club members.
He had been doing everything right – exercising & eating well – but following a routine physical last October, Bruce’s doctor found his PSA levels had risen from less than 1 to over 5 in less than a year. The diagnosis: Stage 1 prostate cancer.
After seeing a Urologist, Bruce underwent a biopsy which found two small areas of cancer on his prostate. His options were “watchful waiting” as these cancers are slow developing; or have it removed. Radiation was not recommended as he was considered too young (at 62) and it presents other collateral risks later in life.
Bruce opted for surgery which was completed laparoscopically in June at Mercy Hospital. Because the procedure was minimally invasive, he was up & walking two days later and resumed working two weeks later. And he was thrilled to be able to return to his normal fitness routine at the club in mid-July! He is convinced that his preparation & workout routine had a huge bearing on his rapid recovery. He did a lot of abdominal stretches & light-weight routines before the surgery which helped the muscles recover more quickly. That in turn minimized typical post-surgery complications such as incontinence.
Bruce joined Pedal for the Cause because it is widely recognized and combines two of his passions – fitness and beating cancer. He reached out to the CAC to form a Pedal for the Cause team because he considers us all as extended family. Not a day goes by that he doesn’t drop into the club at some point and has found everyone here friendly & accommodating and he knows most on a first name basis. (See below for more details on becoming part of the Pedal for the Cause team.)
Bruce has learned several lessons through his experience that he wants to share:
- Have that annual check-up. He felt great prior to his physical and never would have known anything was wrong without the PSA test
- Share the experience with others. There is a lot to know about the different treatment options and some of it can be confusing. The more you ask, the more you learn. And his type of cancer is very treatable with a high survival rate (99%), when detected early.
- Diet and fitness make a difference. Our diets are a major contributing factor to various types of cancer. Find out what is right for you.
An Executive Coach & Leadership Consultant, Bruce moved from Toronto to St. Louis in 2004 and became an American citizen in 2012. He is married with five children, all of whom are grown and living away – two in Florida, two in Canada and one in California, and he has three wonderful grandchildren, so he plans on doing a lot of travel in the future.
Debra Sartori – July 2017
CAC member Debra Sartori grew up in Durban, South Africa, and moved to St. Louis in 1993 while working for an international software development company. After a career in software development, she decided to pursue her first love, real estate, and she is now one of the top real estate agents in the St. Louis area representing Keller Williams.
When she is not working out at the Club or assisting clients, Debra is actively involved with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Team in Training raising money for cancer research. Most recently, Debra and her team completed a 100 mile bike ride around Lake Tahoe, America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride, raising $104,000 and the naming rights for a research grant! The overall event raised over $3.25M which will help to find a cure for Leukemia, Lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and Myeloma, and improve the quality of life for patients and families. Debra’s passion towards this cause started about 7 years ago when she signed up to do both a half marathon & a triathlon (the same year no less!) One of her friends had passed away from Leukemia and had children the same age as hers; she couldn’t imagine how hard that must have been for them to lose their mother at such a young age. Debra has also been inspired by the survivors who participate in the events. She was excited that this was her third event with TNT which was recognized as the Triple Crown.
For more information on Team in Training, contact: Rich Sloan at 314.578.6595, rich.sloan@lls.org. And, if you’re looking for an expert in real estate, contact Debra at 636-346-5367 or e-mail debra@DebraSartori.com.
The Tudtud Family – June 2017
Sometimes our children are the reason we are drawn into new places. Just ask Chris & Kelly Tudtud, who relocated from the Northern Suburbs of Chicago into Chesterfield 18 months ago. They attended an expo on kids’ camps hoping to find a place for their children to enjoy over the summer since they both work full-time.
Chris and Kelly chose the All Star Kids Camp at Chesterfield Athletic Club (CAC) for Seth, their 7 year old son, because it offered a variety of activities and sports for him to enjoy, and most importantly CAC offers a before & after child care that accommodated their work schedules. Seth spent several weeks of his summer vacation at the camp. He made new friends, he was exposed to many sports and group activities. Most notably Seth really enjoyed playing tennis – so much that he decided to continue in the fall after the camp was over.
With Chris and Kelly spending more time at CAC for Seth’s tennis lessons, they saw other great programs for the entire family to enjoy – like swimming for Mercy (their 5 year old daughter).
To experience all CAC had to offer, they became a platinum full club family and started working out with personal trainer, Jerry Morrison, who has been great at keeping them on point. An avid runner in the past, Kelly felt it was a good time to get back into it and found that Benita’s trekking classes have been just the inspiration she needed to regain her stamina.
What Chris and Kelly say they love most about the club is the family atmosphere and how there is truly something for everyone and added, “We are so blessed with CAC’s Amazing Staff!” They also like CAC’s community outreach programs like the DASA (Disabled Athletic Sports Association) and the Rock Steady program which helps people with Parkinson’s.
The Tudtud family is excited about spending their summer at CAC.
Carla Grumpke – April 2017
CAC Member, Carla Grumke, thrives on staying busy and loves meeting new people while she balances a hectic schedule being a performer, artist, avid tennis player and mom. Over the last decade at the CAC, we’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Carla both on the courts and on the stage.
Carla’s true passion is singing and she is the female vocalist of the Everyday People Band whom she’s been performing with for over five years playing at various CAC pool parties as well as summer concerts and private events. Everyday People is a 7-8 piece variety band with a brass section who can perform a wide selection of current pop hits as well as classic old time rock n’ roll favorites. For more details and to book an event with The Everyday People Band, visit their website at: https://everydaypeoplestl.com/. When she’s not performing or playing tennis, Carla works full time as a hair stylist at Tony Russo’s Hair Designs in Ellisville. She is always happy to meet new clients, and can be reached for appointments by text or calling 314-435-1873.
Susan Finn – March 2017
Working their way through college at Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlor in the 80s turned out to be much more rewarding than either of them imagined – it was a match made in heaven for Greg & Sue Finn. The two lovebirds moved to St. Louis in 1988 for Greg to attend Wash U Med School, and Sue was a clinical research nurse at WUMS.
Greg was born to be a pediatrician, and kids always gravitated towards him. His vision was to build a practice that could accommodate a variety of patients & families with an emphasis on the best medical practices in a compassionate, kid-friendly environment to help patients be their healthiest. In 1997, after child #3 came along, Sue became a stay-at-home mom while Greg built his practice, Bluefish Pediatrics. Today, Bluefish Pediatrics consists of 4 doctors, two female MDs and two male MDs, all who have been chosen as “St Louis Best Doctors” and listed in St. Magazine for the past 10 years!
In his free time, Greg enjoys woodworking, hiking, running, gardening, cycling and learning to play tennis at the Club. Sue enjoys the CAC fitness classes, reading, cycling, gardening, hiking, traveling and any kind of creative endeavor! And, they both love spending family time with their 3 children (+1 fiance’)!
Jim Baldanza – February 2017
February’s Spotlight member is none other than Jim Baldanza, aka ‘CAC Racquetball Guru’. Jim has been playing racquetball since 1978 when he played his first game in a New Jersey Club where they were preparing for the worst snow storm in over a decade. With already 4 inches on the ground & more coming down, their plan was to play until they were tired, then ride out the storm in the bar next door. They were about an hour away from part B of the plan when they heard a knock on the door – “You guys ever played this game before?” asked a guy wearing a NY Yankee hat. With their mouths still wide open they managed a “no sir Mr. Berra”! Jim would like to credit Yogi for teaching him how to play the game, but that would be stretching it a bit since he never did play Yogi on the courts.
Jim’s love of racquetball grew, and he’s been playing at the CAC since 1986. He enjoys teaching beginners about the sport and even offers a racquetball summer camp for kids. Jim’s also the ‘go to guy’ when it comes to coordinating round robins, mixed league play and welcoming new members. So if you’re looking to learn a new court sport, he’ll get you going in the right direction! Call Jim at 314.422.8804 or email jimdanza@gmail.com.
Dr. Cynthia Fleck – January 2017
January’s Member & Business Spotlight, Dr. Cynthia Fleck, has a long list of accolades, including being the reining Mrs. Missouri 2016 and 5th Runner-Up at Mrs. USA as well as Mrs. Chesterfield 2016. A Southeast Missouri State BS, Fontbonne University MBA, University of Texas, Houston Medical School and University of Monterrey PhD alumna, Cynthia is an advanced practice nurse & business owner of a medical/surgical/biotech/education/expert witness consulting firm and serves on the Board of Directors of the American College of Clinical Wound Specialists, is Assistant Chief Editor of their peer-reviewed journal, and is Scientific Co-Chair of the Desert Foot Medical/Surgical Conference. She recently kicked off a national campaign to increase the awareness of the importance of diabetic foot exams called, “Show Me Your Sole.” An activist for the American Diabetes Association, and the Save a Leg, Save a Life Foundation, Cynthia’s passion is to provide advanced skin care and prevention of wounds for those living with diabetes, and with her extensive knowledge of diabetic foot care, she is often sought out to lecture and publish globally. She has published close to 400 peer-reviewed articles, research, scholarly chapters and edited one book. “Diabetic foot care issues plague more than 11 percent of Missourians, along with many of my patients,” Cynthia added, “I am delighted to represent the great State of Missouri & City of Chesterfield while raising awareness for diabetic foot care & amputation prevention.” Mayor of Chesterfield, Bob Nation proclaimed 16 May “Cynthia Fleck Day” in the City of Chesterfield to honor the resident.
Cynthia enjoys working out almost every day at the CAC with her husband, Randall Barker, another local business owner and CEO of In10T, providing independent guidance to tackle the digitalization of agriculture with data science driven solutions to meet business and customer needs. They are both dedicated to fitness and wellness for life. For more information, contact Dr. Cynthia Fleck at Cynthia Fleck & Associates, LLC (314) 518-3846 or at cynthiafleck@sbcglobal.net