July 21, 2023
Splashing Into Summer
MAP’s 2023 Summer Picnic Filled with Friends, Family & Fun
As long-time Resident Dana Funk and her brother, Jeff, danced in the parking lot to the unmistakable sounds of Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline, it was as clear as a summer sky that our 2023 Summer Picnic & Hilltop Olympics would quickly become an exceptional day for everyone in our personal care community — Residents, employees, volunteers and guests — who gathered outdoors to celebrate the season. There was true joy in air as everyone enjoyed a traditional picnic lunch served up by John Marshall and our food service team, and the daring athletes of Team Mt. Assisi entertained everyone with their antics. There was much to clap, cheer and simply smile about on this special afternoon. Thanks to everyone who shared the day with us and, especially, to our team members and volunteers who helped to make the day possible. Please enjoy the many photos below, contributed by Joanne Osborn, Sister Roselyn Kuzma and volunteer shutterbug Maureen Newcamp.
Wheelchair Race
Gold: Aundrae “The Giant” O’Rourke
Silver: Tornado Tammy Towers
Bronze: Electric Elena (Elaine Chegas)
Water Balloon Toss
Gold: Coach Do-Rag & Aundrae the Giant (23)
Silver: Nitro Nuttall & Bossy Pants Brooks (14)
Bronze: Jen Krepps & Daughter (13)
Bronze: The Awesome O’s (13)
Water Bucket Relay
Gold: Team Brooks led by Bossy Pants Brooks and featuring Nitro Nuttall, Jeff Funk, Dana Funk, Aundrae the Giant, Hunka-Hunka Hunkele, Bill Oberst and Sizzlin’ Cindy McCullough
Click on any image below to view it in larger format.
Things got started early in the morning, as Dave Hunkele, Aundrae O'Rourke and Tom Steenbeke set up all the tents and tables.
Joanne Osborn and Tammy Towers collaborated to prepare more than 20 tables.
Soon, everyone was outdoors enjoying the sunshine.
Irene Schafers welcomed her family to the fun.
Tornado Tammy is introduced to an adoring crowd.
Elsie Thompson with volunteer, Julia Groll, the daughter of late Resident Travis Tadlock.
Karen Vevers -- known this day as Kooky Karen -- greets the crowd.
Carolyn Hunter -- competing as She-Rex -- joins her teammates.
Tom Steenbeke is introduced as Coach Do-Rag.
Sister Splash, none other than Sister Elaine Hromulak, makes her Olympics debut.
Tom Steenbeke and Joanne Osborn get ready to oversee the Water Bucket Relay.
Sassy Sabrina Haun enters the action.
Team Mt. Assisi parades past excited onlookers.
Sister Barbara Ann Lengvarsky leads an opening blessing.
Michelle Brooks -- competing as Bossy Pants Brooks -- had plenty to smile about as a medal winner.
Sizzlin' Cindy McCullough gets her giggling out of the way before defending her title in the Water Balloon Toss.
Alice Armany and family enjoy their picnic lunch.
Norma Gordon's daughter, Doreen, tries her hand in the Water Balloon Toss.
Jeff Funk, brother of Resident Dana Funk, tosses water balloons with a young family member.
Residents and family enjoy the shade on a sunny day.
Heat 3 of the Wheelchair Race -- featuring Coach Do-Rag, Bill of the Awesome O's, Macho McClain and Aundrae the Giant, gets ready at the starting line.
Aundrae the Giant shows intense focus in the Water Balloon Toss.
Emcee Nicky Noodles explains the rules of the Water Balloon Toss.
Tornado Tammy Towers celebrates her decisive win in the second heat of the Wheelchair Race.
Occupiational therapist Jen Krepps shows off great technique for receiving an incoming water balloon. She and her daughter took home a medal for their skills.
It was all uphill from here as Coach Do-Rag and Aundrae the Giant kick off their medal-winning performance in the Water Balloon Toss.
Resident Ambassador Betty Donovan makes her way around the parade route.
The Awesome O's -- featuring Betty Oberst's children Diane and Bill -- partnered up for an impressive medal-winning performance in the Water Balloon Toss.
Diane Ott bestows a gold medal upon Bossy Pants Brooks for her team's impressive showing in the Water Bucket Relay.
For this young member of the Funk Family, leftover water balloons were too much to resist.
Sister Roselyn Kuzma, who took many of the fun photos in this gallery, is captured herself by another photog.
Kurly Klingensmith waves to her fans. The surgical gloves were a tactical choice to improve her grip in the Wheelchair Race.
Tornado Tammy powers herself to a decisive win in the second heat of the Wheelchair Race. She went on to take the silver medal in the finals.
Electric Elena (activities staffer Elaine Chegas) is introduced as a member of Team Mt. Assisi.
They may not look intimidating in this team photo, but the members of Team Mt. Assisi left it all on the playing field.
Aundrae the Giant peddles himself to victory in the third heat of the Wheelchair Race. He eventually went on to win gold in the final.
Family members and employees compare balloons and talk a little trash before the start of the Water Balloon Toss.
Sisters Elaine Hromulak, Cecilia Jacko and Bernadine Marie Stemnock have lunch with Jack Smith.
This photo serves as evidence that Kurly Klingensmith attempted to enter her own ringer wheelchair into the competition. The judges immediately squashed her illegal attempt to gain an edge.
Residents stick around after lunch to watch the games.
Sassy Sabrina and Electric Elena round a turn during the first heat of the Wheelchair Race.
Team members listen intently as emcee Nicky Noodles explains the rules of competition.
Carole Kravic delivers picnic lunches to Residents and guests.
Daring Donnelly (Connie McKee's relative Kathy Donnelly) steps into the competition.
Residents and guests wait for lunch to be served.
Members of the Oberst Family cheer on the Awesome O's in the Olympic games.
Troy and Stevie Oberst, the grandchildren of Betty Oberst, help emcee Nicky Noodles draw raffle winners.
Residents and guests are ready for lunch.
Tents helped to keep everyone shaded on a sunny summer day.
Norma Gordan enjoys dining outdoors with her daughters.
Helen Metro and her daughter were all smiles.
The opening ceremonies procession makes it way around the driveway.
Jo-Jo O and Hunka-Hunka Hunkele enjoy the festivities.
Residents who arrived early await lunch and the entertainment to follow.
Members of Team Mt. Assisi watch their counterparts compete.
Dorothy Goetz was pleased to have her grandson attend.
The team from John Marshall Catering did a great job of getting everyone fed in quick order. Good work, guys!
Tornado Tammy, a veteran of the 2022 games, quickly gets out to a lead in the second heat of the wheelchair race.
Jeff and Dana Funk cut a rug, so to speak, dancing joyously to "Sweet Caroline."
Dorothy Goetz's young grandson gets in on the action.
Picnicgoers rise for the playing of the National Anthem.
Competitors square off in the Water Balloon Toss.
After seeing all the fun the athletes were having, Resident Dorothy Goetz through her own hat into the ring with her grandson.
With Awesome O's Bill trailing behind, Coach Do-Rag, overwhelming winner of the 2022 race, works his way toward the finish line, accepting that he could not catch the much younger Aundrae the Giant.
Team Mt. Assisi pauses for the playing of the National Anthem.
Prizes and gift baskets -- some generously donated by 365 Hospice and Advanced Home Health -- await the raffle drawing for employees.
The Awesome O's square off against Macho McClain and Sassy Sabrina in the Water Balloon Toss.
Volunteer Marylou Markovich helps to make sure Residents have all they need to enjoy lunch.
Resident Flora Carpeloti enjoys the picnic.
Residents and families enjoy their picnic lunch.
The lean machines that would transport the brave competitors in the Wheelchair Race are poised at the start line.
Sassy Sabrina and Electric Elena were neck-and-neck at the finish line in the first heat of the Wheelchair Race. Ultimately, Electric Elena edged out the competition and advanced to the medal round.
Tents help to keep everyone shaded on a sunny summer day.
In another disruptive act, Kurly Klingensmith hurls a leftover water balloon at Tornado Tammy and Kooky Karen.
Coach Do-Rag makes an athletic grab during his medal-winning performance in the Water Balloon Toss.
Though she fell behind the pack early, Kurly Klingensmith showed plenty of heart by fighting her way to the finish line in the first heat of the Wheelchair Race.
Jo-Jo O (Joanne Osborn) and Kurly (Carolyn) Klingensmith enjoy lunch with fellow staffers before the games begin.
Gail Buchman, daughter of Ed Brandstadter, was brave enough to jump into the competition.
Kurly Klingensmith welcomes Kooky Karen to the team.
Linda Sozanski, Iris Sliwinski, Gail Buchman and Lisa Bickar enjoy the fun while handing out raffle tickets and Penguins spirit towels (courtesy of Sister Denise Olshausky).
Macho McClain rounds a turn in the third heat of the Wheelchair Race.
Resident Maryann McLain and nurse Irene Oesterle enjoy the entertainment. Maryann's son, Tim, competed as Macho McClain.
Sizzlin' Cindy McCullough shares a smile during a break in the action.
A birds-eye view shows competitors getting ready for the second heat of the Wheelchair Race.
Team Mt. Assisi greets their adoring fans.
The Awesome O's Diane tries to catch Tornado Tammy in the second heat of the Wheelchair Race.
Sister Splash couldn't help but laugh at her unfortunate early exit from the Water Balloon Toss.
Bill Oberst of the Awesome O's was a great sport about being entered into the competition by his sister, Diane.
Kooky Karen empties her soup ladle during the fast-paced Water Bucket Relay.
Troy Oberst, the 8-year-old grandson of Betty Oberst, competes in the Water Bucket Relay.
In a clear case of coworker violence, Nitro Nuttall breaks a water balloon over the head of emcee Nicky Noodles.
After grilling all the hot dogs and hamburgers, John Marshall enjoys some quiet time with his pooch, George.
That's a wrap! Norma Gordon and her daughters say "Bye Bye" until next year's picnic.