Commodores honor family

B.W. COOK

The year was 1993. The Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club in Corona del Mar

was making history elevating physician and masterful sailor Carolyn

Hardy to the post of commodore. I was covering the event for the

Daily Pilot. It was my first assignment at a Commodore’s Ball. Last

Saturday evening, I returned to the club to witness the event yet

again, 11 years later. And there was Hardy, as well as the rest of

the good people of the club who have made the sail and the sea an

integral part of their lives.

For 2004, the Commodore’s Ball honored Barry Levy, his wife Nancy,

and their grown children Danielle and David. Becoming a commodore is

an enormous responsibility, and it is one shared by the spouse and

often the family. In the best tradition of the sea, Barry and Nancy

Levy have been a team in every respect since their marriage while in

graduate school in 1976. They have raised two fine children, both

recent university graduates, and they have built a national business

covering more than 20 years of working together side by side. Best

part they still love each other.

Barry Levy stepped up to the podium to accept his honors as the

new commodore, saying, “Nancy and I have worked together every day

for the past 27 years. We are honored to serve this fine club in the

year ahead.” Levy added, “You may address Nancy as the Commodorable.”

The warmth and humor of the night was infectious. Some 200 guests

converged upon the bayside club, decorated to the hilt by dedicated

Jeanie Lowry in a “musical” theme apropos to Barry Levy’s early days

in the recording industry playing with Kenny Loggins.

As a first-cabin dinner was prepared by club executive chef Rod

Lewis and staff, Vice Commodore Marshall Caplan and his wife Leslie

joined Rear Commodore Rod Woods and his wife Jiffy for their bows

before the nautical crowd. Club staff members Brian Carlson and Steve

Felex welcomed the black-tie guests, arriving at the club following

several elegant progressive cocktail receptions around Newport Beach

in advance of the dinner-dance and formal presentation of Barry Levy

and board.

Club directors Gary Tolar, Bill Schroeder, Joe Mendoza, Sandy

Mills, Bob Sasine, Kenny Rozak, Karen Winnett and Lynn Noah joined

Jr. Staff Commodore Ray Kovacs celebrating the evening honoring Levy.

Sharing the event were parents Irv and Marian Yudin. Levy credited

his father-in-law, Irv Yudin, as his mentor in life. Using a maritime

metaphor, Levy said, “Irv, you have guided my course and I am deeply

grateful for your presence in my life.” Applauding the sentimental

comments were good friends Rob and Carrie Hertzberg, Sharon and Gary

Grimes of Lido Isle, and lifetime pals Ron and Terri Greene from the

South Bay joining the club crowd for the occasion.

Spotted in the waterfront dining room, dancing to the music of

“The Lost Boys” were Doretta and Jim Ensign, Beverly and Bob White,

Ann and Barry O’Neil, Ina and Harold Rosenblum, Verna Degenhardt,

Judy and Don Cole and Catherine and Jim Emmi.

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