**EDITORS NOTE**: We continue our series of Phantom family interviews. This month, we caught up with most of the Loversky family.
Pictured above from L-R (front): Patty Loversky Schiewe, Tom Jr., Perky, Katy Loversky Clark. (back): Mike, Tom Sr., & Tim.
Perky:
It may be easier for my children to answer these questions because their years at camp meant so much to each one of them but maybe in different ways.
I never went to camp until high school when I went as a counselor. I saw the kids having so much fun I decided that when I had kids I would definitely send them to camp. So as they became old enough off they went one by one.
We also discovered Family camp. Katy was 3 months old when she first attended.
We would always get the old Apache tent and we would do nearby activities and when she woke up someone would yell for us. By the time Katy was 7 she begged to go to camp so Sir G. allowed her to go.
Another fun activity was Moms weekend away.
We went up on Friday night and stayed until Sunday afternoon.
They were wonderful times where we had tons of fun and found new friends. All of us still talk about those weekends.
So I didn't answer your questions but hopefully you get the idea. Phantom was a big part of our lives.
What years did you attend PLYC?
Tom Jr: I was there from 1969-79 as a camper, SDP and one year as a counselor; and then for many years after that at family camps. Two years ago I brought my boys back to for a staff reunion.
Patty: I think I was at camp from 1973-1986. I was a camper, went through the SDP Program and got to come in and help counselor for 1 session when I was finally old enough for my own tent!
Tim: I think from 1975-1984, plus longer for family camps.
Katy: I started going to family camp when I was just an infant (1975). I went on my own from 1982-1990.
What tents were you in?
Tom Jr: Most of them; I started in Sioux and went all the way up the ladder.
Patty: My first tent was Cherokee and I was in there with my friend Julie Ehle! I was in so many other tents I can’t quite remember them all!
Tim: Too many to remember.
Katy: Apache, Cherokee, Cactus Gulch, Boothill, Antietam, Olympus, Buccaneers.
What job did you have as staff member?
Tom Jr: Waterfront primarily. I think I also did the athletic field.
Patty: When I was a SDP and counselor I was usually at the waterfront since I had my lifesaving and WSI. But I loved the session I got to help at riflery!
Tim: I was only an SDP for one year.
Katy: I was an SDP for one year.
What are you doing now?
Tom Jr: I’m primarily a criminal defense lawyer in Los Angeles, CA.
Patty: I taught first and second grade for 12 years after graduation but now I’m fortunate enough to be a stay at home Mom. I’m also the PTA President at the boys' elementary school. I don’t get paid for either of my jobs but they are both incredibly rewarding!
Tim: I am a school principal for 5th and 6th grade building of 800 students in Carpentersville, IL. Greatest job ever!
Katy: I am married and have two kids and I live in Phoenix, Arizona. My husband, Chad and I met when I lived in California at the beach. We moved here in 2000 and I have been teaching high school biology since 2002.
My two boys, Cameron (age 4) and Ryan (age 3) keep us busy playing soccer and superheroes! Hopefully they’ll be campers in the future!
What about your camp experience has influenced you the most?
Tom Jr: Clearly the friendships -- I still stay in touch with Ted Anderson, Riley Cooper, Richard Rizk, Marshall Wolowicz, Steve Blumreiter and others. Facebook has been a great for that.
Patty: Learning to be independent, have self confidence and accept others!
Tim: I think that the most important influence was about friends. At camp you made great friends fast. And while you may not see them for a whole year, you would get back to camp in the summer and quickly rebuild those lasting friendships.
Katy: At camp, being a part of nature influenced me the most.
My husband teases me about my desire to do ‘outside stuff.’ I love to hike and spend time out on the water (when I’m near it!).
As a teacher, I have really focused on instilling a love and appreciation for nature and I work on teaching my students their responsibility to become responsible stewards on Earth.
Is there anyone from camp to which you'd like to say hello?
Tom Jr: I’ve never been able to track down my partner in crime Paul “Poughkey” Kurth – Fatman’s little brother.
Patty: Dave Olson (who taught me how he and my brother Tom use to break in to the kitchen without Lady Sue knowing), John Enrietto (my store buddy), Sandy Sue, Carol Hoye, Joelle Horn who all kept me laughing for years, and Amy Wimmer who was always there when I needed a friend.
Tim: Too many good friends to single out one or two.
Katy: Sir G… I sing “Your Mama Don’t Wear No Socks” to my kids all the time!
Mike Rule… what great campfire stories!
Joelle Horn, Carol Hoye, Mickey Korb… among my favorite counselors!
Favorite Memories?
Tom Jr: I always loved the softball games…going head to head with Riley, Dave Olson and Steve Blumreiter.
We could all pound the ball pretty good and there was no shortage of jawing out on the athletic field. Those were great times.
Patty: Watching the sunrise on campfire hill with Carol, pit wars, and the game on the gravel road in where we would have to dive into the bushes when we saw headlights.
Tim: I was in the tent the night that Mike Rule was telling the story of The 8 Foot Tall, Pink Passion, Purple Gorilla when Dave Olsen and Harry Klein stormed into the tent from both doors.
It was legen-(wait for it)-dary!
I also once threw my car keys to someone wading in the middle of the cold springs at Eagle during a family camp in the 80’s. They never caught them and the locksmith bill was only $100.
We had a family reunion at family camp one summer. My mom made us all matching t-shirts. When you are 22, there is nothing cool about matching with your parents.
Katy: I loved to purposefully flipping my canoe with friends and not being able to turn it back over due to a major case of the giggles.
One year I stayed over the weekend between 2 sessions with my friend Katie Turner. The counselors knew that we were a bit afraid of fish at the time so when we were doing our swimming test and floating, they put on mask, fins and a snorkel and started to touch our feet and legs on purpose to freak us out.
Would you like to share your email addresses?
Perky: perkyloversky@sbcglobal.net
Tom Jr: loversk@gmail.com
Patty: pschiewe@att.net
Tim: tloversk@sbcglobal.net
Katy: katyclark13@gmail.com
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