By Ed Townsend
LOCH SHELDRAKE — The Lochmor Golf Course clubhouse management along with Town of Fallsburg officials recently gave 95-year-old Sullivan County and Florida resident golfer Sidney Siegel a big birthday surprise.
Siegel walked into the clubhouse with his regular foursome at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 4 to find a beautifully decorated birthday cake and clubhouse management and town officials greeting him with Happy Birthday salutations on the actual day he turned 95. Following the singing of the traditional Happy Birthday song, Siegel and his foursome consisting of 86-year old Julie Rosenberg, 82-year-old Chuck Lamensdorf and 85-year-old Don Kriegal enjoyed cake and coffee.
Siegel was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation from Fallsburg Town Supervisor Steven Vegliante which read, “On behalf of the Town of Fallsburg in Honor of your 95th Birthday and for your continued support of the Town of Fallsburg Golf Courses.”
Special birthday wishes were given by Lochmor Pro Shop Manager Frank McCoy and Golf Professional Michael Decker.
Siegel is a 32-year resident of the Sullivan County Town and Country Resort Community and resides in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. in the winter months. A former Queens and Glen Cove resident, Siegel noted that he has been coming to Sullivan County for 50 some years.
Before taking up residence at Town and Country, he lived in a summer residence at Sackett Lake.
Siegel, a former Practicing Certified Public Accountant (CPA) said he started playing golf at the age of 29. He was married for 56 years to his late wife, Edith. They have three sons.
Age has not effected Siegel and his foursome’s love of the game of golf as they have been together chasing that little white ball for some 32 years and presently play 18-holes of golf twice a week on Monday and Thursday at Lochmor.
Besides golf, Siegel likes to read. He is a World War II veteran, was the class B champion in 1989 and 1990 at Tarry Brae and practices his CPA profession by doing the books for the Town & Country Resort Community.
He showed a great sense of humor when presented with the Certificate of Appreciation by saying, “I thought this might be my lifetime membership.”
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