About Us

Current Bridge

PositionName
CommodoreChris Defant
Vice CommodoreGary Evans
Rear CommodoreMary Blancard
SecretaryShari Hansel
TreaurerDebi Wegner
Past CommodoreChet Jasak
Fishing & ConservationJack Hexter
SafetyArt Haedike
CruisingBob Kremer

Standing Committees

PositionName
Cruise MasterBob Kremer
Membership & StorekeeperMary Blanchard
SunshineNatalie Parker
Prop Twister
EducationArt Haedike
Attendance & 50/50Susan Burge
Historian
Social TeamCharlie Crawford

Calusa Cruise Club History

A group of businessmen and women of New Port Richey and Port Richey formed the “Calusa Cruise Club” in April 1965. Their first cruise was on May 30, 1965, and their first set of bylaws was adopted on June 16, 1965.

Lorene Miller selected the name “Caloosa Cruise Club” from a list of suggestions submitted by club members. The name was chosen in honor of the Calusa Indians, who were native to this area. However, due to a newspaper misprint, “Caloosa” was spelled “Calusa.” The spelling remained, and the club has been known as the Calusa Cruise Club ever since.

The club’s burgee was designed through the combined efforts of Lorene Miller and Harry Gnad, with Harry drawing the Indian head from a picture found in a child’s coloring book.

The purpose and activities of the Calusa Cruise Club are to promote members’ cruising activities, encourage fishing and conservation, and foster safety on the water.

Because the club’s goal is to promote safe, family-oriented cruising for boats of all sizes, boating enthusiasts are warmly invited to join and enjoy the many rewards of club membership—cruising, swimming, shell gathering, games, good food, and relaxation.

The First Officers of the Calusa Cruise Club

PositionName
CommodoreC.A. Johnson
Vice CommodoreTom Edwards
SecretaryPaula Odenwald
TreasurerJune Buffmeye

Charter Members of the Calusa Cruise Club

Erven & Gertrude MoockC.A. & Aimee Johnson
C.A. & Aimee JohnsonMatt & Lorene Miller
Grant & June BuffmeyerDon & Paula Odenwald
Harry & Mary GnadLeslie & Ruth Bauer
Thomas & Jayne EdwardsJames & Lois Pritchard
James & Elizabeth GreyJohn & Cora Sahag
David & Arlene LuikartVernon & Sandy Adamek
Kenneth & Helene AbareGlen & Martha Keys
Sam & Jo AllgoodRobert & Helen Hartzell
John & Maxine Wonning

Past Commodores

1965-66 Chic Johnson1966-67 Thomas Edwards
1967-68 John Wonning1968-69 John Wonning
1969-70 Harry Gnad1970-71 Earl Braaten
1971-72 George Lindsey1972-73 Edwin Speller
1973-74 Victor Vance1974-75 John Musson
1975-76 Leonard Oreto1976-77 Robert Hewes
1977-78 Robert Bushing1978-79 Leonard Oreto
1979-80 Thomas Crisp1980-81 Raymond Jockers
1981-82 Ed Dieter1982-83 Bill Rea
1983-84 Murrell Ewing1984-85 Al Pfaff
1985-86 Evelyn Ferris1986-87 Marge Besser
1987-88 Lea Nelson1988-89 Larry Hansen
1989-90 Larry Hansen1990-91 Martin Gottel
1991-92 Foster Rutter1992-93 Les Manuel
1993-94 Bob Allen1994-95 Don Newton
1995-96 Frank Pfaff1996-97 Ruth Allen
1997-98 Pat Gorecki1998-99 Clem Dunkley
1999-00 Dave Evans2000-01 Dick Keegan
2001-02 Herb Patterson2002-03 Al Frare
2003-04 Vivian Patterson2004-05 Ken Roepke
2005-06 Dee Dee Keegan2006-07 Don Marcopulos
2007-08 Herb Patterson2008-09 Diane Rodanhisler
2009-10 Jerry Crawford2010-11 Rima Roeseler
2011-12 Dick Knorr2012-13 Jack Hexter
2013-14 Jack Hexter2014-15 Ron Klapperich
2015-16 Ron Klapperich2016-17 Ed Marsh
2017-18 Ed Marsh2018-19 Jim Turner
2019-20 Chet Jasak2020-21 Chet Jasak
2021-22 Blake Allen2022-23 Blake Allen
2023-24 Eric Anderson2024-25 Eric Anderson
2025-26 Chet Jasak
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