Ice Bucket Challenge's Full Meaning

A dozen years ago my family had little knowledge of ALS or as it’s more commonly known, Lou Gehrig’s disease. However this soon changed.

My father’s lung was removed due to cancer and simultaneously, my mother’s voice started becoming weaker. We felt this was due to a stroke which occurred due to the stress of her husband’s surgery. Unfortunately, her voice continued to deteriorate and we began to realize it was something more than a stroke. As currently there isn’t a test to determine if someone has ALS, it was many months before we learned she had ALS. Fortunately the ALS Association of Northern Ohio provided great comfort, insights and patience with our family as we struggled to learn about this little known disease and come to term with my mother’s terminal illness.

My mother (Emily Gertrude Jump Whipple) was formally diagnosed with ALS in the spring of 2003 and after spending as much time with friends and family as possible, in July 2004 she passed away. She was 74 years old. She was greatly missed by all that knew her.

It would be good if I could say this is the end of my ALS story; however unfortunately it is not. In 2006 my brother started having health issues and his physicians could not diagnosis his symptoms. My son and I traveled down to his daughter’s high school graduation and, upon seeing him, we knew immediately he had ALS. It was another 4 months before he was formally diagnosed. We were fortunate to travel with our sons to NYC for a couple of Yankee’s games that summer and also have a great family get together on the Lake Erie Islands.

My father became rather gloomy after his wife of 50 years passed away. He would many times cry at his desk calling her name. When he learned his eldest son had ALS, this hurt him even more. We had a large birthday party for his 80th birthday and literally two weeks later, he passed away. It could be said he died of a broken heart in March 2008. Interestingly he passed away on the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter.

My brother continued to do the best he could and was cared for at home by friends and family. Unfortunately Jon lost his battle with ALS in April 2009. Interestingly Jon also passed away on the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter. This small coincidence gave the family hope that they were in a better place and in good hands.

Needless to say, losing our mother, father and brother took a toll on the remaining family members. My brother Tim took it the hardest and told me he would cry for 20 minutes at a time. Tim passed away just before Memorial Day 2010. As my father had, it can be said Tim died of a broken heart. Neither of my brothers reached the age of 50. As there are more centurions living today than ever before, their passing was at too young an age.

ALS was directly responsible for the loss of my mother and brother, however indirectly it was responsible for the death of my father and other brother. The ALS organization keeps track of the number of individuals who pass away from ALS however it’s not possible to track the number of individuals who indirectly pass away from ALS. How many spouses, family members or friends have passed away due to the loss of a loved one from ALS? ALS takes people directly and indirectly.

For this reason the Ice Bucket Challenge and the accompanying fundraising are more important toward saving lives than any of us can imagine. Let’s hope this fundraising will advance the research ten if not twenty years.

Fortunately the leading ALS specialist in the country (if not the world) is at the Cleveland Clinic. His name is Dr. Erik Pioro and he is known throughout the world as the leader in understanding and researching this little known disease. He has been a friend and comfort to all his patients and their families. He is a real asset to Northeast Ohio. This newly raised money will help his research and will also benefit our region.

Many years ago Lou Gehrig gave this disease a name, now thankfully in 2014, the Ice Bucket Challenge has given this disease greatly needed public attention. With the new funding and public recognition, maybe one day we’ll gain a better understanding of this disease, how to diagnosis it and how to treat it; and if at all possible how to cure it. Thanks to all who took part in the Ice Bucket Challenge, it will help more than we know.

This story was originally published September 29th, 2014, but the good people at "Cool Cleveland"  Please see their informative weekly news letter

 

The Best Man - Stories about Ted Luntz

In October 2012, Ted’s family asked me to do a eulogy for Theodore Michael Luntz.  Ted was a great and generous Clevelander.  For those who knew him and for those who weren’t fortunate enough to know him, below is my eulogy for this influential and important individual. 

If you read to the end, you’ll understand the title of this piece.

Ted and I visited often in his last few years and he told me many of these stories.  My thought is he wanted me to pass them along. 

Ted’s family was originally from the Canton area.  In Canton, Ted’s  father played football against Jim Thorpe.  When I asked  Ted how his father reacted, when Jim Thorpe had the ball, he said his father ran the other way.  Probably a wise decision. 

Ted graduated from University School with honors and went to Yale University.  At Yale he tried out for the baseball team and this is where he first met George HW Bush.  They wanted Ted  to play however he decided not to play as he didn’t like 90 mph fastballs passing by his head. 

A few years after graduation he was drafted and sent to Fort Bragg.  Ted was to be shipped to Korea and at a seminar for incoming troops he heard Major Levi  Jackson  give a speech.  Levi was an All American Football player from Yale. Ted spoke to him afterward said he attended Yale and enjoyed watching Levi play.  Levi asked Ted what he was doing and Ted said he was scheduled to go to Korea.  Levi said a Yaley should not go to Korea and took Ted to Germany with him.  Ted credited Levi with saving his life. 

It was in the army at Fort Bragg North Carolina, where my father met and became life long friends with Ted and his family.  Ted was in the 503^rd MP and if you don’t know anything about the Military Police, they are both feared and respected.  Ted played bridge with my father and Jim Klonoski.  They were the 3 musketeers and they have all now passed on.     

We all understand Ted was successful in business and  was the CEO of the Luntz Corporation.  The Luntz Corporation was founded in the Canton, Ohio area in 1898. He was also CEO of the related Marquette Steel in Cleveland.  A couple of quick stories help one to understand the quality work Ted and the Luntz Corporation performed.   

My uncle’s  father was the salvage manager for the Lake Erie / Wheeling railroad.  If there was a derailment they always called the Luntz Corporation.  The reason they used them was if the Luntz Corporation picked up a derailed car, the railroad knew they would have the check the next day.  When I told Ted this story, he laughed and agreed.  

A year or two ago, I spoke to a friend who owns a large manufacturing company and asked him if he knew Ted.  He said at the time everyone in the scrap business was price fixing and shorting companies.  He said Ted came in and was a class act.  He said Ted was a professional and honest and you could tell he enjoyed working with Ted .  He then asked “is Ted still in business?”

While Ted was CEO they salvaged 3 of the large great lakes ships, the Princeton, Harvard and something else.  One of the ships sank(the Harvard)  as they towed it to the scrap yard area and they had to raise it. 

My father helped in Ted’s decision to be on the board of Baldwin Wallace University.  Ted was on the board for 30 years and was a great assistance to them.  They honored Ted with a doctorial degree.  Ted also sat on the boards of University School, Cathedral Latin School, Cleveland College of Jewish Studies and Hawken School. Later my father re-introduced Ted to George Bush Sr.  and they became close friends.    George HW Bush wrote letters to Ted and credited Ted for the idea of being Ronald Reagan’s VP before running for President. 

Ted said he never had a speeding ticket as he thought it was a privilege to drive.  (one of his children later told me this may not have been the case)

Ted enjoyed playing piano every day and his mother was a concern pianist.  He was an avid art collector.  He donated art to the Cleveland Museum of Art, Kent State, University school and others  He enjoyed skiing and skied until he was 83.   In the summers he enjoyed sailing and in the 1960’s he was the top sailor for 5 years at the Mentor Harbor Yachting Club.  He enjoyed each and every season. 

In the last few years, Ted would ask, “having any fun”, or “making any money”.  Ted was an intense individual and you had to be on your toes when you spoke with him.  He also enjoyed challenging people to be better and to work harder.   Whether it was providing scholarships for students or just challenging someone to be better.   He enjoyed others doing their best.    

In the last year or two while visiting Ted at the nursing home and someone asked how I knew Ted.  I told them Ted had been my father’s best man, but then I realized this did not fully explain my sediments toward Ted, so I followed up, ‘Ted was my father’s best man and I understood why my father choose him, as he is quite simply the best man I’ve ever known’. 

Ted and my love and respect for each other was real and deep.  One fun story which needs to be shared is when late one evening around 11pm, Ted called.  he asked me what I was doing and my response was trying to sleep.  when I asked why he called, he asked if I could pick him up.  Naturally I agreed to do so and then I asked where was he and his response was a classic line...

"I don't know...".  needless to say it was a long night and I went to visit him the next day.  Ted had been placed in a nursing home and his surroundings were unfamiliar to him.  he did over time become comfortable there.  Sadly I have lost contact with Ted's family

The attached photograph was taken in April 2011.  Ted passed in October 2012

Revealing the Real Great Gatsby

Revealing the Real Great Gatsby

 

(originally published July 14, 2014 – Cool Cleveland)

Did you ever wonder it how it would feel to be present and experience one of The Great Gatsby’s parties?  While this story was written in the 1920’s, every young generation wants to experience a lavish party where one rubs elbows and interacts with the rich and famous. This fictional prose was set it the New York City, and while it will never be believed in New York City or other east coast cities, it’s literally possible the Great Gatsby was based on Cleveland area families and parties that occurred in the region during the period.   The recent Great Gatsby movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio, and the original F. Scott Fitzgerald book, reminded Clevelanders of all the similarities between this fictional character and the Van Sweringen brothers.  An earlier publication “Mentor and Mistress” tells of these two extremely wealthy and powerful brothers sharing a love for a married woman named “Daisy”, just as Gatsby’s fictional love was named.  The similarities between the real life Van Sweringens and fictional Jay Gatsby are so numerous they needed to be examined more fully.  From the evidence below its likely The Gatsby Character was based on Clevelanders and their life styles. 

As a writer, F. Scott Fitzgerald was known to have based his stories on real people.  The story Bernice Bobs her Hair was said to be written about a young woman from Eau Claire, Wisconsin.  As F Scott was from St. Paul Minnesota he may have heard stories about her and this is upon who he based this story.  It’s therefore not too hard to fathom that Jay Gatsby and his love Daisy could have been based on real life Clevelanders.   

The real Daisy’s maiden name was Louise Davidson and when the name Louise was quoted to a friend who knew Daisy, she simply stated “they didn’t know her”.  Anyone who was a friend of Daisy knew her by that name.  Mr. Fitzgerald may have given his leading lady the name Daisy for a reason.  Daisy is not a common name and searching database names from the 1920’s it wasn’t even in the top 100 names during that period.  In addition the name Daisy is usually associated with a rural family and not a high society family.  It curious Mr. Fitzgerald choose this name and it’s my belief he did so as to give credit to the inspiration for the story.

 

Photograph reprinted with permission of Shaker Heights Historical society

 

Daisy Davidson married Mr. Ben Jenks and shortly thereafter the two Jenks became close friends with two of the Van Sweringen brothers.  The ‘Vans’ were beginning their careers in real estate and railroads.  Daisy’s wisdom and drive helped her husband and the two ‘Vans’ begin to build a multi-billion dollar railroad and real estate empire.   People who knew them and even the Van Sweringens gave credit for their success to Daisy.  In a book Daisy published in the 1940’s she remarked how OP Van Sweringen came to their home one night and told her she was the reason behind their success.      

The Vans started with a single small railroad and quickly began expanding their enterprise.  Using the stock market to raise capital they continued to purchase railroads and soon they were the largest railroad owners in the country.  They had amassed great wealth and by some accounts had net worth of over $2 billion dollars in the 1920’s, a massive fortune today but even bigger during the time.  This is similar to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s character in The Great Gatsby. Mr. Gatsby had started from humble beginnings (The Vans started out as paper boys) and amassed a great fortune.  Also just as “Jimmy Gatz” had changed his name to Jay Gatsby, the Van Sweringen’s also changed their name.  Originally their last name was Sweringens, and they added the “Van” early in their career. In both stories they were in love with a woman named Daisy. 

 

By the 1920’s the Vans and the Jenks had moved to Hunting Valley on what is now known as “Daisy Hill”.  The Jenk’s front door is directly across from the front door of the Van Sweringen home.   In the book Gatsby could see Daisy’s home across the way, just at the Vans could.  F Scott wrote also of a light at the end the pier and that the light could be seen from Gatsby’s home.  To this day there is a prominent light and light fixture on the Jenks home.  Anyone driving anywhere near the home would see this prominent architectural feature and this may have been why it was written into the story. In the fictional story there was a water way separating the two homes, in the real world there is half mile of open land between the two homes.  Not in the story however in the real world, there is an underground tunnel between their two homes; it exists to this day. 

 

It was said the Vans worshipped and idolized Daisy and were lifelong friends.      The Vans at the time were known by all Clevelanders and used their money and influence over much of the Cleveland area.  It was they who moved the private schools and many country clubs out of Cleveland into the suburbs.  They also developed many area  roads and railways which we still in use today.  If you have ever traveled to the Greenbrier in West Virginia this was also created by the Van Sweringens.  You can almost imagine the Great Gatsby walking through the Greenbrier’s opulent halls. 

 If you were in Cleveland or knew anything about Cleveland or railroads you certainly knew about the Van Sweringens.  However as with most wealthy individuals, they were private and secretive about their activities.  Few knew them personally and even fewer knew of their activities. This was a time of great wealth in Cleveland and they were at the top of the ladder, at least for a time.    Today it’s hard to imagine how well known, feared or cheered they were.  A similar set of brothers exist today and they are the Koch brothers of New York.    Imagine the Koch brothers living in Cleveland and this was the influence of the Van Sweringen’s.  For a detail and thorough appreciation of their business and personal lives, please read Invisible Giants by Herbert Harwood.  His title says it all. 

It might also be difficult to visualize Cleveland as an area for the rich and famous, however in the 1880 US government census, showed there were more millionaires living in the Cleveland than any place else in the United States.  This was true all the way through the 1920’s.  To understand the wealth in Cleveland at the time anyone who remembers watching Gilligan’s Island and seeing Thurston Howell III the millionaire, can appreciated how Clevelanders lived and behaved during this period.  Jim Backus who played ‘the millionaire’ was originally from a wealthy Cleveland area and has told reporters, many of his lines from Gilligan’s Island were simply lines he heard from his father and his father’s friends.  Mr. Backus was born in 1913 and would have been a young boy in the 1920’s.  His role as Gilligan’s Island millionaire was developed during his time growing up in Cleveland. 

There was another well known Clevelander who is central to this story.  His name is Leonard Hanna and Leonard was heir to the great Hanna mining fortune and was a strong supporter of the arts.  In his support of the arts it is said he knew F. Scott and may have invited him to parties his home.  Mr. L. Hanna was said to have large, noisy parties with many influential individuals attending.  It’s not hard to imagine the writer writing these parties into his book.  He may have also been introduced to the Vans.    

There is connection between the Vans and Mr. Hanna which needs to be mentioned.  Mr. Hanna was known to live an alternative lifestyle which at the time was rare and hardly mentioned in public.  The Vans also lived in the same bedroom their whole life and by some accounts the same bed.  While they shared a love for Daisy they may too have had alternative lifestyles.  This certainly would create a connection between the Vans and Mr. Hanna as their wealth and lifestyle would have certainly put them in contact with each other.  Mr. Fitzgerald meeting them is almost a certainty. 

Even today, it’s not unusual for married men to have a mistress or even a married mistress.  It certainly is not worth  writing a book about it.  However two powerful extremely wealthy, rags to riches individuals in love with a woman named Daisy, this is a different story.  Hearing a real life story such as this is something most writers can only dream about.  While in the 1920’s and even today, it would be hard to believe or write about two brothers in love with the same married woman, a story could certainly be written about one rags to riches individual in love with a woman named Daisy. 

There is another story in the Great Gatsby which ties the origins of the book with the Cleveland area elite.  In one edition of the book, it is written about how ‘rich are different than the rest of us’ and an example is given of two wealthy cousins marrying each other.  This may have happened in New York and in other cities, however in at least one situation it happened here in Cleveland.  They may have been in love however Clevelander’s wedding occurred to help preserve the family fortunes.     In hearing about this wedding, I remember my aristocratic friend who told me this, saying ‘they had to get permission from the bishop first’.    

As discussed the Great Gatsby and the Vans were in love with a woman named Daisy.  In addition they each began in humble and meager circumstances.  They each changed their names.  However further research is needed to cement this story.  Any photographic evidence of Scott Fitzgerald’s trips to Cleveland and possibly attending parties at the Hanna’s would be great.  If there is a possible photograph of The Vans with F. Scott, this would almost cement the connection between the book and these Clevelanders.  Let’s hope one day photographic or at least written accounts of the 3 or 4 (including Daisy) of them meeting can be found. 

While F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote a wonderful ending to The Great Gatsby not even he could foresee the ending to the Vans Sweringens and their fortunes.  The roaring and profitable 1920s’ came to an abrupt end in 1929 with the stock market crash.  The Van’s fortune had been made by selling more and more stock in their railroad ventures.  Not quite a Ponzi scheme, but close.  The stock market crash punished their holdings considerably and it literally killed them.  Mantis James Van Sweringen passed away of ill health in December 1934 and his older brother Oris Paxton Van Sweringen met a similar fate to Jay Gatsby in November 1936.  They both passed away too young and as others have written, their work was unfinished. 

 

Exploring "The World"

Recently while at a conference on Amelia Island in Florida, a small piece of information helped me enjoy a real and rare world experience which others might enjoy learning about.

There was an insurance conference on the island and as the taxi driver took me to the hotel, he explained there was a high end automobile auction in town.  He said this was the ‘real’ deal with high end bidders in attendance.  We saw some amazing cars as we headed to the hotel.  The one I remember most, was a newer Ferrari and it was  being towed by a golf cart.  My thought was ‘they can have their high end cars’.  As we passed the airport we saw over a dozen private jets and the taxi driver said most had left. 

After checking into hotel and unpacking I went down to the lobby area to get a drink and relax after the long day of travel.  It was your usual suspects and I just sat quietly.  As a people watcher I saw an older man with a younger rather attractive woman.  She was standing and sort of dancing around and he was looking down and seemed more into his thoughts and drinks. 

Then she said out load and to no one in particular, ‘I live on “The World”’. 

As no one else seemed to hear or understand her remark, I looked up and replied, “I know what that is and I have been on it”.

She looked over and asked “where?”

My response was “Grenada, it was there for the cricket matches”

At this point the older gentleman looked up from his thoughts looked and me and then signaled for me to join them.  Needless to say the rest of the evening was an interesting and educational opportunity.

He said they had moved to The World a few years ago as things in this country seemed to be going in the direction he didn’t agree with.  When asked, he confirmed they were there for the automobile auction as he has a large collection of automobiles.   When asked if he purchased any vehicles, he said they had not and he was mostly there to see which cars seemed to be going up in value and which seemed to be declining.  In other words he was ‘managing his investments’.  He later said the value of his vehicle holdings was over $8 million.  He wouldn’t tell me what type of cars he owned or where they were located however I knew he was a serious collector and most likely part of the one percenters. 

We then turned our attention to “The World”.  I told him I understood  why they lived on the ship and his savings probably paid for his car collection.  He only smiled. 

If you’re from Cleveland and you’re at all familiar with Peter B. Lewis, former Chairman and CEO of Progressive Insurance, you might have known he lived ship called the “Lone Ranger”.  Most might not be familiar with the reason for him living on the tug, however most will agree that it was in order to save income taxes.  Many other billionaires have their own boats, including Tiger Wood and Greg Norman.  Its not unusual for billionaires to live on their own sea worthy ships. 

Recently someone told me, they had sold Peter Lewis’ boat however it only went for ten cents on the dollar.  My response was his tax savings during his time on the boat was far greater than the cost of the ship.

Other top one percenters who can’t afford or don’t want their own boat can buy a suite or cabin on unbelievably luxurious cruise ship called “The World”.  My mother in law first told us about this ship and when we were in Grenada and saw it there we had to get a closer look.  When an older woman saw my wife, my young son and I admiring the ship, she asked if we wanted to go on board.  It was an amazing insight to this lifestyle.  This couple at the bar seemed to fit right in.

This is why it’s interesting when the politicians say they are going to raise taxes on ‘the rich’.  Every time this is done, more people move out of the country which is actually lowering the taxes paid.  While it might make good politics and sound bites, it makes bad economic business. 

The rest of the evening was passed talking about politics, “The World” and even the auto auction.  The one car he had wanted but said it sold for too much was the 1938 Delahaye Torpedo Roadster, it sold for over $6.6 million.  He thought someone overpaid for the car.  He also was hoping to acquire a 1965 Shelby Mustang but it also sold for too much at almost $985,000.  As both of these vehicles sold for more than he expected, I asked if it was time to sell and his response was “not yet”.   It was easy to understand why there was so many jets on the runway.   This was not your average automobile auction.

This interesting evening was possible due to my knowing about “The World”.  Hopefully this interesting piece of knowledge can help one of the readers in the near future.