In the summer of 1969 I went off to Muscular Dystrophy Camp for the first time. My old friend Mike Shaw volunteered that summer as well, and we both returned the following year. My camper that first year was John Lianos, who occasionally referred to himself as "The Golden Greek." We rode together on the long bus ride from south Michigan Avenue, where we boarded, to the camp outside Kalamazoo, Michigan. All my first camp experiences were with John, who, having been there before, showed me the ropes. Mike Goodman was also in our cabin, led by unit leader named Rich Taylor, a black belt who would dress up in his robe and show us some moves; Mike called him "Fearless Leader."
I returned the following summer as a cabin leader, and John and I were once again in the same cabin so we got to know each other well. We saw a lot of each other at camp over the years. John's later attendants included Danny Martin and Pat Wilsey. Here are some photos of John over the years.
Rick Balsamo
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| John Lianos in 1969 |
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| John in 1973, with (clockwise) Joan Moser, Rich Westley, Ron Balsamo, Dick Rammer (his attendant in 1972), and Bill Manley |
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| John in 1977 at the Oak Street Beach post-camp party |
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| Post-Camp Party at North Avenue Beach: John with Jeff Sader, Mary Ann McGinn, Margarita Santoni, Cabrini & John McInerney = 1981 |
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| John & Friend in 1980 |
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| John & Danny Martin = 1980 |
The Golden Greek! Still such beautiful memories, even after all these decades...Long May You Run,MDA Camp Hastings...Danny Martin
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