AUGUST 2006
BOARD MEETING
A special meeting of The Regency Tower Board was called to order at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 in the Meeting Room of The Regency Tower by the President.
Roll Call -
The roll call showed the following Board Members present: Iris Anastasi, Eric Berkowitz, Dott Nicholson-Brown, Fern McBride, Bill Tennenbaum (via speakerphone) and Pablo Verol. Louise Collins was excused.President’s Report: Hallways Project History -
Dott presented the following background report on the Hallway Project: |
| Dott Reviews Project History |
Since we always get three (3) Bids on all Projects, our original intent was to have 3 different designers present their ideas, set them up in the lobby, have owners select one and give the job to the designer who won the competition. I quickly discovered Design/Decorators don’t work that way. They will not spend time, effort or materials to prepare ideas for you unless they know they have the job. Reason: People take their ideas but hire a favorite person. During 2005, the complaints became more numerous but we had to postpone it due to the Air/Conditioner Riser piping becoming unsafe.
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| Liz Urbano Donated Services |
Over the weekend of 7/15 a wild rumor circulated regarding Liz’s design plans. I contacted Liz and requested she get info to me ASAP so I could get letters to owners correcting the rumors and I would need it out by 7/18 to give 14 day notice.
NOTE - Several of the persons signing the petition received a memo one week earlier stating they were past due on Hurricane Reserves and should pay before Decorating Assessment comes due in the next few weeks. Some have not paid quarterly Maintenance. Regarding expense and choice, Eric will discuss this. Signers of the Petition stated “in no rush.” Well, the majority of owners are in a rush, as mentioned since 2003.
The Chronology leading to today is as follows:
- 2003-4 - Four (4) floors, 2–5–9–17, unsuccessfully attempted to get agreement from 11 owners to re-do their floors. (the 4th floor, which also applied for expedited floor rehabilitation, was successful at acheiving an agreement)
- Sept 2003 - Board voted 10 year policy for decoration which included provisions for all who wished to proceed earlier to do so (see 9/03 Newsletter).
- Nov/Dec 2004 - Lobby Designer Alan Derry surveyed building.
- March 2005 - JSD Interiors surveyed building (Recommended by 17th floor neighbor) – We hired him.
- May 2005 - A/C Riser project started – Decoration Project put on hold.
- Oct 2005 - A/C Risers completed. Liz Urbano began coordination with JSD.
- April 2006 - Due to non-performance by JSD, Liz stepped into his shoes.
- July 2006 - Liz presented sample Design (within 3 ½ months).
Liz is the only one of the 3 who put the amount of effort into this Project without receiving one cent. Additionally she is not adding one penny to the charges each subcontractor gives her. Cindy will tell you we do not sign one check without the backup bill. That rule will continue for you too, Liz!
Lastly, I understand this is a hardship for some. I, too, have found it financially difficult during the past 6 years. However, it was necessary for this Board to practically rebuild this building – NOT BECAUSE WE WANTED TO – BUT BECAUSE WE HAD TO, FOR THE SAFTEY OF US ALL. Thank you.
Eric will now respond to other issues raised in your petition.”
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| Secretary Fern McBride |
Open Discussion -
The floor was opened to give the owners an opportunity to voice their concerns. A question and answer period followed between the owners, Liz and the Board.Vote on Special Assessment for Hallway/Elevator Lobby Areas -
The President requested a motion regarding the assessment.
Bill Tennenbaum made the following motion: In order to maintain the standards of The Regency Tower Association, I move that the Board of Directors vote a Special Assessment in the amount of $436,487.00 to fund the renovation and decoration of the Hallway/Elevator Lobby areas.
The motion was seconded by Iris Anastasi and unanimously approved.
Adjournment -
A motion was made by Pablo Verol and seconded by Eric Berkowitz to adjourn the meeting at 10:55 a.m.; unanimously approved.Fern McBride
NOTICES & REMINDERS
AUGUST 2006
A Celebration of Life 
Helen Quinlan
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| Our Helen Quinlan |
August 12, 2006 - Mrs. Helen Quinlan, one of the beating hearts of Regency Tower, passed away on July 26, 2006. Her matchless spirit provided the engine for our Poem and Joke Page, universally spread cheer and imprinted everyone fortunate enough to have loved her with treasured memories. May she rest in peace.
Helen’s funeral took place in Chicago, where she was interred adjacent to her beloved husband, Roy. Click Here for some biographical background of our Helen Scanlon Quinlan. A Memorial Mass was held on August 10th at the St. Pius X Church at 2511 N. Ocean Boulevard (A1A).
Following the Memorial Mass, a brunch in celebration of her life took place in the Regency Tower Rendezvous Room. Starting at 10:45 AM, the brunch was well attended by friends and neighbors in Regency Tower, the Galt Mile Community Association and loving family members. 
Sympathy and condolence cards may be placed in her Mailbox (Second Class Mail Slot) # 1903.
Regency Tower 
Renaissance Man
Pablo 
Verol
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| Our Pablo Verol !!! Renaissance Man !!! |
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| Dott Recognizes Pablo for Mediterranean Mural |
An accomplished artist, Pablo adorned our home with a plethora of personal creations. His Mediterannean Mural brightens the garage elevator lobby and his Aquarium Alcove bids all who use the main entrance a warm welcome. His regal avian crest copper sculpture hovers over the Board of Directors at meetings and small florals grace our common areas. Pablo helped recreate the paver crown on the swimming pool deck and the concrete one over the north lobby entrance. As a teacher for the Broward Art Guild, Pablo structured and conducted a class designed to excite children about art.
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| Board before Pablo's Avian Crest in Meeting Room |
At Barbara’s behest, a private celebration of Pablo’s life was convened on Thursday, August 17th at the Jennings Funeral Home on Oakland Park Boulevard. The ceremony included tributes, reminiscences and remarks by many of Pablo’s friends and family. Pablo’s niece, Monica Roizner, delivered a eulogy that deftly filled in many of the blanks in his remarkable biography. Barbara and Monica have given their permission to publish his fascinating life story. It is as follows:
Pablo Verol
Eulogy
by Monica Roizner
“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.”
Anonymous
Childhood in Romania
My uncle Pablo was born in Romania in 1927. His artistic talent emerged when he was a young child, when his classmates would give him pennies for drawings. Raised by his strict grandparents, my uncle Pablo discovered early that art was a good space. He recounted how, as a boy, he would hide under a table to escape his grandparents’ harsh punishment for some nonsensical offense and would start drawing. He never stopped drawing.
Adolescence in the Midst of War
My uncle Pablo was just an adolescent when World War II exploded in Europe. At the age when most teenagers are exploring young love and intellectual pursuits, my uncle Pablo endured the horrific atrocities of the Nazi concentration camps. My uncle rarely talked about the war experiences. But as children my brothers and I would ask him about his severed fingers, and we learned about the grenade that almost killed him. We asked him about the number tattooed onto his forearm, and he told us how fate determined that he was not chosen to go to the gas chamber. Instead of making his concentration number a sole reminder of horror, my uncle Pablo made its ending digits 13 his lucky number. For years my uncle wore a charm with his lucky number 13 hanging from a chain.
When Europe was liberated, my uncle weighed the unbelievable low weight of 77 lbs. He started walking, not knowing where to, with no shoes and wearing nothing but rags. Partly automatic survival instinct, he took a belt and boots from a dead German soldier. This lead to yet another near miss with death, when American soldiers almost took him for a German, until they saw his emaciated body, his hand and the ID number.
Youth, Re-Birth, Art and Romance in Montevideo, Uruguay
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| Pablo & Barbara (Rosa) at Holiday Party |
My uncle Pablo immigrated to Uruguay in 1947 after reuniting with his mother in Romania. There, he met the love of his life, my Tia Rosa (Barbara). Family legends tell that when my uncle Pablo met Rosa as a 20-year old non-Spanish speaking “gringo” (the name Uruguayans would call the European émigrés coming to Uruguay after the war) he relied on his universal charm and romanticism to conquer her heart . Until he gained proficiency in Spanish, he mesmerized her by singing to her in many languages. By the way, Pablo spoke many languages including: Romanian, Hungarian, French, German, Spanish, English and Italian. One of the songs was about a lover who promised to “build a castle of rubies and pearls” for his lady.
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| Uruaguaian Candombe Drums |
The Boston Years: Hard Work, Accomplishments and Generosity
My uncle Pablo and my aunt Barbara jointly came to the U.S. in 1965. As a newcomer to Boston, he started working in entry-level jobs. In time, he became the chief wine steward at Pier 4 a landmark restaurant in Boston, where he supervised the ordering, storing, and serving of wine. My uncle Pablo also worked as manager of the European restaurant, another landmark place in the Italian neighborhood of Boston. His prolific art production continued for decades: his studio and the whole home were covered with paintings, explosions of color and details. Many more clowns, rabbis, Christ on the Cross, Greek epics, spacescapes, and abstracts.
Year after year, my aunt and uncle would spend the month of January in Montevideo. My brothers and I adored him. He made us feel special and showered us with gifts. But more than any amazing toy or outfit, it was his love, attention, humor, guidance and advice that sealed bonds stronger than blood. When my parents were having frequent fights, my uncle Pablo taught me a few techniques to deal with it: he taught me to distance myself, to imagine “switching channels” or just “turning off” what was happening. By the way, I am a licensed psychologist and these techniques would be considered today excellent cognitive behavioral strategies! My uncle had wisdom. And generosity. My brother Victor was brought on a dream trip to the U.S. at age 10 and it was my uncle who got him the electric train and his first computer.
When I came to the U.S. in 1986, my uncle opened his home and his heart to me again. He drove me around to drop the application packages for my Master’s and later for my Doctorate. He was there driving me whenever he could, and celebrating with me when I graduated. His support was there for my two brothers who were still in Montevideo. My brother Ricardo lived in his apartment as he transitioned to adulthood.
Fort Lauderdale: Kindness, Wisdom, and Lots of Humor
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| Billiards Room Opening |
Pablo enriched our lives with his ideas, brightened our home with his art and filled our hearts with his friendship. Our renaissance man has become our legacy... and his contributions have become our inheritance.
Helen met her husband, Roy, in 1938. They dated for 2 years and on August 20, 1940 they were married. He retired from Glenora Farms Dairy in 1972 and passed away in 1975.
Helen travels as much as possible to visit her 90 nieces and nephews all over the U.S. She has been to every state in the U.S. except Rhode Island, Hawaii and Alaska.
Helen moved to the Regency Tower on October 1, 1977. Her wit is beyond compare and her intelligence is like no other. She can recite a poem or tell a joke at the drop of a hat. It takes a sense of humor and an active mind to be a successful senior in today's society, and that, my friends, is your next door neighbor, Helen.
P.S. Helen is our joke and poem contributor and we wish to thank her for making us laugh and think!
Helen Scanlon Quinlan
