Maya Kobayashi (Subsenior Girls): Our first Legend of the summer thinks this year’s Sub Girls are the best, but she started in ’13 with the Flippers, with Nancy and our very own Jess! Then came the Does, Gazelles, Impalas, the Llamas were very nice, followed by the Royals, Sambars, Zebras and finally the Subs twice. She comes from 4th and Hudson, 75 miles round trip each day, over 9 ½ years that works out to about a total of 25K! She’s a swimmer and a dancer but not both at the same time, she’s also just a great friend, and for that there’s no need for a rhyme. For her we now honor, our enthusiasm couldn’t be high-a, let’s all hear it for the Kobayashi we know as Maya.

Gabi Vassallo (Subsenior Girls): Joining Maya today in this Legendary club, is not just a friend but, yes, another Sub. She was also a Flipper with Maya in ’13, and rode from home to camp those same thousands of miles between. She loves to play soccer and is an aspiring yogi (not the bear), she also is full of personality and her smile goes ear to ear. Her brother came up short, and only finished eight, but for her there’s nothing that could keep her from this date. I’m so happy for you all to welcome the newest Legend with a big Hallo, celebrating a decade with us is the one and only Gabi Vassallo.

Sami Gotimer (Senior Girls): Now to the Seniors do we move, we’re starting to find our Legends groove. This next entrant also started in ’13 but with the Does her debut at camp she made, our very own Emma Weiss (!) was her first counselor along with Kristen and Mairead. She’s been a Gazelle, Impala, Nyala, an Oribi in 2017, then Sambars, Wapiti, Zebras, Subs and Seniors, indeed 10 groups in 10 years has she seen. Another from Hoboken but from the west side, 2nd and Monroe is where she and her sister grab their ride. She’s always loved it here, she might sleep at camp if she could, but lately you can find her in the shop working with wood. If this were a lifetime achievement award, she would easily win a Grammy, let’s put our hands together for the Gotimer we all call Sami.

Cayla Stankiewicz (Senior Girls): The next inductee like Sami is a Senior Girl, and also started as a Doe when she entered the Deerkill world. But she didn’t come alone, nope her Dad also joined us that year, then her sister joined them, before her Mom later made it a family affair. She’s a fan of singing, softball and arts, both creative and martial, but now the stage and theater is to which she is most partial. Unlike our prior inductees, she’s not from Hoboken but from the north, and while she used to take the bus, now she picks the music in the car ride back and forth. She now celebrates a decade here, she deserves a big gala (“gayla”), our fourth Legend of the day is the Stankiewicz we know as Cayla.

Elaina Wood (Senior Girls): And now our third and final Senior Girl, of their representation there is no doubt man, this inductee started in ’13 with the Fawns and Emily Hauptman. Another, like her group mate Cayla, who calls Monroe her home, but for ten summers straight, to camp she knew she must roam. She also has a sister, who has a few more years to go, while siblings often share clothes, with this sweatshirt you may want to say no. Her group of friends have been together so long, their connection to all is clear, but while they have to wait a bit longer, this is her Legendary year. She’s a fan of making movies, but today she’s the star it’s understood, number five to become a Legend is Ms. Elaina Wood.

Emily Getz (STARs): Now from the Seniors we move to a STAR, who though she lives close has come so far. Of course it was also ’13 when she got her start, but not as a Doe or Fawn but rather with Ronnie in the Harts. Her home is exactly 6 miles from her favorite summer camp, but she still has to make the daily climb up Happiness Ramp (that was the original name). She loves to swim and has improved so much with age, though as much as she loves the pool, it might come second to Deerkill’s stage. Now she’s a Legendary STAR, which is as good as it gets, number 6 to be honored this evening is Ms. Emily Getz.

Ava Lane (STARs): Now the next up is Legend number 7, who here at Deerkill has found her own slice of summer heaven. Like all the prior inductees, she started in ’13 and did stick, she was even a Hart before the famous Lyndsey Stodnick. Always a fan of Arts & Crafts, she’s also enjoyed the tower, now she’s a Deerkill STAR, which of course in itself is a superpower. She used to be from Hoboken, now comes to us from Montclair, in fact she’s actually one of the reasons we started picking up there. Now she’s graduating from camper to Legend, our enthusiasm we cannot contain, next up to grace the stage is the one and only Ava Lane.

Oliver Rubenstein (STARs): Our final STAR among us who becomes a Legend today, took a few years off before finally finding his way. He started in ’11 with Nancy yelling his name, now it’s just him and Skylar who among us can make that claim. He’s partial to ceramics and among gamers is one of the best, he probably even remembers being a master at Deerkill chess. His brother came before him and joined this club in 2018, but now there are two Legends in the family, wearing the famous sweatshirt in dark green. But this is his time to shine, so let us properly set the scene, now introducing the newest Legend, the STAR Oliver Rubenstein.

Zoe Krashes (Royals): And now we come to our first Legendary staff, it’s my honor to speak on her behalf. Her start came in 2012 with the Royals, now she’s the only one left, she’s certainly been loyal! She took a year off in 2019 and we thought we lost her but really couldn’t tell, thank goodness she decided to return to our staff and join Lyndsey in the Gazelles. But beyond just being a fantastic counselor with her group, she’s been the fearless leader of her very own Bus 68 troop! She’s a softball player and for the staff team would most certainly be chosen, unfortunately it’s quite the commute to go from camp down to Hoboken. “Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers,” so says Alfred Lord Tennyson, we hope she’s learned as much here as she will when she graduates Denison. I’m sure with her group this intro will make one of the biggest splashes, let’s all put our hands together for our own Zoe Krashes.

Jacob Seidner (Senior Boys): Now the wind blows to one of only two Legends that remain, while I pore over my weather apps, this next one’s chasing hurricanes. I’ve known him since he was in Boys A with Peter and Chris, he left us but not forever though 6 summers he did miss. He left after being a Ram in 2010, but finally returned home to be a STAR in ‘17, who would’ve guessed then he’d be a member of so many losing staff softball teams. And he’s found his place with the Senior Boys where he seems to fit the best, whether with Mr. Street or the only staff member to pass the deep water test. His ever-present blue hat alone would qualify for Legendary rank, in fact he’s only 14 years behind his hat-wearing idol Mr. Dank. But enough of the intros let’s welcome him to today’s club, the older Seidner we all know and love as Jacob.

Mark Stankiewicz (Arts & Crafts): The next Legend was beat to the club by his daughter but only by a few minutes, of course with him taking a few weeks off, she’s got him on total number of visits. He’s responsible for so much you see around camp, he is truly a jack of all artistic trades, in fact the curtains and backdrop behind me are just one of the murals he made. Of course, he also likes hiking and building window seats and loves Hawaii where he’s from, and if you ever want to refer him, make sure to visit wecreatemurals.com. We couldn’t be more thankful that a decade ago he pursued this opportunity, he and his two girls and Sam are truly such an important part of our community. Just think of how many tie-dyes he’s done, and how much he’s had to mix, if it’s your first year here, just wait til you see him week 6. If he doesn’t know it’s his turn, then I’ll simply have to yell “Hark,” for the last Legend among us today is our Stankiewicz we all call Mark.

2ND SESSION LEGENDS (Week 7)

Henry Rothman (Subsenior Boys): The first Legend of the second session is one that is close to my heart, for mine is one of the first faces he saw when his life he did start. Yes, he may be my second born son, but that’s not the only reason I’m so proud of what he’s become. As a baby, he was a camper in a group of one, always in good spirits, that is until his milk was done. He’s met some legendary staff along the way, whether Nancy T, Oliver, Julianna, Tommy or Mike, Josh twice and of course his buddy Jacob he does especially like. It’s hard to believe he’s been a camper for ten, he now joins his brother and his parents, who made the Club way back when. Everyone who knows him, knows he is friendly, let’s hear it for the next Rothman, the one we call Henry.

Grace Schwartz (Senior Girls): The next Legend is a Senior Girl but it’s with the Bambis where she began, back in 2013 with the incomparable Brianne. ’14 brought the Fawns, and ’15 with Lyndsey in the Harts, the Llamas, Oribi, Sambars, Wapiti, Zebras and Subs followed as she slowly climbed the group charts. She’s a jack of many trades, as adept at climbing Deerkillimanjaro, as she is at Archery while shooting a bow and arrow. The bus at 9th and Clinton had a seat she always occupied, until this year when Bus 66 became her new camp ride. She’s ridden almost 28,000 miles to camp and home each day, that’s one time around the Earth, with an extra 3K! For her, we need to turn down the treble and turn up the bass, let’s hear it for the Legendary Schwartz we know as Grace!

Aoife Ali (STARs): Now we come to our 3rd Legend of the evening, and this one is a STAR, she lives a bit closer to camp, but still has come so far. She started in the Harts, with Ronnie in 2013, then Nyalas, Oribi, Sambars, Wapiti, Zebras, Subs and Seniors, she missed the Royals but still is a camp group queen. Always a fan of Archery, she knows her way around a quiver, in Movie Making she and her friends have made films that would make you shiver. She beat her older sister to this, that’s something in her nose she can rub, for she’s the only one in her family to join the Legends Club. Doubting her dedication to Deerkill is simply pure folly, let’s put our hands together for the one and only Aoife Ali!

Jenn Buonadonna (Nurse): Now we come to our first staff of the second session, though this one is a few years late, she sheepishly just told me that we missed her 10-year date. In fact, she’s been here around 15 (I know, it’s true we make mistakes), but to me a green sweatshirt does not a legend make. A former camper herself, from 95 to 99, she’s come full circle, now as our Nurse she does shine. Her greatest gift to camp of course was her first son Luke, every camper on Bus 69 knows her as the person who helps after they…get sick. As Directors, Rebecca and I feel incredibly fortunate she provides our campers care, in truth before she came along none of our Health Staff could even compare. Now with Nurse Meg and Michelle it’s clearly no mystery, our Health Center is no doubt the best in Deerkill’s history. A fan of Star Wars she’s of course our Rey not Kylo Ren, once a Gatto, now Buonadonna, congrats to Nurse Jenn.

Marni Crowne: Now our next staff Legend, started a bit late in the game, she had a Murphy as a counselor in the Wapiti, but Veronica was her name. Then it was on to Grace in the Zebras, the Subs then Seniors with Vicky T, after a year in the STARs, it was the Llamas with whom she was meant to be. She’s the third in her clan to reach this notoriety, her sister was last year and her brother in 2020. Of course, this year she’s worn many hats, first was Zebras then Movie Making, but her amazing talent is most evident in the photos she’s now taking. To her family we owe a tremendous debt and a great deal of loyalty, for with her last name it’s obvious she’s Deerkill royalty. So let’s welcome this next Legend with a very loud countdown, 3…2…1…it’s time to join the club Ms. Marni Crowne.

Emma Rothman: Now for the Legends of 2022, we come to, not the least, but the last, she started in the Does 14 years in the past. Then a Gazelle she became before taking a 5 year break, she came back in ’15, which clearly was not a mistake. Another Legend who I met on the day of her birth, neither of us had any idea Deerkill even existed on this earth. She joined the Nyalas in 2018 as a counselor extraordinaire, for Rebecca and I she was as much of a daughter as a niece while under our care. Her next stops were the Royals with Jessi and the Wapiti with Sydney before heading to the Senior Girls, and this week we were so lucky she stepped back into our world. She’s a master crocheter, and plays a mean doubles o the court, we all know she carries her dad, and is certainly a better sport. There’s no doubt our final Legend is truly a gem-a, let’s hear it for the amazing Rothman we call Emma.