May 18, 2024:
One of our stalwart parishioner volunteers, Leo Guen, retired from JPMorgan Chase in April 2024, so his wife, Sherry Ma, and several leading “party gals” — Diane Hope, Judi Hans, Iris Blanche, and Rosemarie O’Rourke, organized a Retirement Party for Leo on May 18, 2024 in the Smith Fellowship Hall at the church. Approximately 60 people attended, plus 5 Youth Group who assisted in set up, serving and clean up, supervised by Peter Druckenmiller. Bonnie Lee Elliott provided sangria, and Carl Rennie provided wine and other beverages.
Building on the format of the January pot luck dinner hosted by the Vestry, this party added door prizes and dancing.
The highlight for Leo was Vestry senior warden Judi Hans giving a speech like a David Letterman's Top Ten, a summary of Leo's Top Ten features, including humorous audience input. You can view this on Leo's FaceBook post.
Leo and Sherry gave demonstrations of Waltz, Tango, Cha Cha and Rumba, and then Leo taught and led 2 line dances — the Cupid Shuffle and the Electric Slide. 12 to 15 people danced up a storm.
Door prize winners and party hosts, L to R: Peter Druckenmiller, Bonnie Lee Elliott, Alejandro Colina-Valeri, Nacho Colina-Valeri, Leo Guen, Anna Campbell, Rosemarie & Mike O'Rourke, Sherry Ma, Ashley Hans.
There were 6 door prizes, announced by Leo and his co-emcee Ashley Hans:
- a box of Taiwanese pineapple cakes – won by Alejandro Colina-Valeri (yoga student of Sherry’s)
- a box of Taiwanese pineapple cakes – won by Bonnie Lee Elliott
- a bottle of Iris vineyards pinot grigio – won by Nacho Colina-Valeri (yoga student of Sherry’s)
- a bottle of Chateau St Michelle vineyards cabernet sauvignon – won by Peter Druckenmiller (who then gave to Diane Hope)
- a $60 gift certificate to Chikara asian fusion restaurant (131 Bridge Street, Phoenixville) – initially won by Sherry Ma, but then re-picked and won by Anna Campbell
- a $80 gift certificate to Asian Foot Spa (243 Schuykill Road, Phoenixville) – won by Rosemarie O’Rourke
Door prize notes:
- Sherry is Taiwanese, and the pineapple cakes are one of her favorite desserts
- It is not surprising that Sherry won a door prize, as she frequently wins them at social dances. She once won a Dyson hair dryer at the Procrastinator’s Ball at Chadwicks, Audubon
- When the $80 massage gift certificate was announced, Rosemarie O’Rourke loudly stated, “I want that”. And then when her number was announced, she exclaimed, “I don’t believe it!” After Leo handed her the prize, he proclaimed, “It’s a miracle!” Definitely one of the funniest things we’ve ever seen at St. Peter’s!
