1936

A landmark in the central New England area passed from the hands of a classmate when Geneand Kate Tamburi recently sold the Yankee Pedlar Inn of Holyoke, Mass., to Frank A. Banks, a career hotel man.

Born in Stamford, Ct., Gene attended Stamford High School before entering Dartmouth, and has spent his entire business career in the hotel/restaurant business. After graduating, he was associated with the Roger Smith hotels in Stamford and New York City until 1942, when he joined the Worthington Corporation in Holyoke, for which he served as head of the personnel department. In 1941 he married Catherine Kavanagh (Kate), and for most of their married life she and Gene have served as genial hosts of the Yankee Pedlar serving millions of people.

Kate and Gene started the inn in 1947, featuring old New England menus, for which it became famous. The Pedlar became a favorite eating place of parents with children in schools in the surrounding area. In keeping with the New England menus, Gene and Kate furnished the Pedlar with colonial antiques and collections of copper and pewter. In more recent years the Tamburis turned to a Victorian decor, following the origins of the Pedlar building, which for many years was the home of Judge John J. Hildreth. Gene and Kate installed a Victorian oyster bar and cocktail bar, and a recent beautiful addition was the Opera House banquet ball featuring stained glass windows and a fabulous Metropolitan Opera chandelier.

During the fifties the Tamburis expanded their business, to include the Yankee Silversmith in Wallingford, Ct., at which a number of classmates would dine following the Yale game. With Gene’s brother-in-law the Sorrowton Inn on the Eastern States Exposition grounds was established. Together with Gene’s brother William they also operated the Yankee Drover at Newton, Ct., for a number of years. In addi- tion, the Tamburis built the Yankee Drummer Inn in Aubern, Mass., and the Tobacco Valley Inn at Windsor, Vt. In more recent years Kate and Gene disposed of these holdings to concen- trate on the Pedlar.

Many classmates are familiar with the famous Tamburi hospitality which was in- variably accorded any who stopped at the Tam- buri hostelry. Also some members of the Class may not be aware that generally the fine food dispensed so efficiently at class reunions was the result of the good offices of Gene. For the foregoing reasons, this column salutes Kate and Gene as they ease off from the hectic day-to-day operation of the Pedlar, which was open 364 days a year (Christmas Day alone excepted).

It has been announced that Kate and Gene will continue to live at 601 Beech Street in Holyoke, and it is presumed they will retain their vacation home at Cape Cod. In any event, the Class wishes them much happiness and a well-earned rest after such distinguished careers as Innkeepers.

Reports from here and there: McGraw-Hill announced that the trend there was to place younger executives in important positions. Among those cited was Blake Hughes with new publisher duties at House and Home. Beryl andBob Burr recently enjoyed a mini-reunion with Harvard Business School classmates via a cruise to the land of the midnight sun. In August ShepCurtis was elected president of the 3,500- member Colorado Medical Society at the organization’s annual meeting in Colorado Springs. Jack Smith, as the architect for Old King Associates, presented their proposal for an office building on Old King’s Highway South to the planning and zoning commission of Darien, Ct.

A note of sadness: Since the last issue three more of our classmates have left us. On September 24 Joe Berman died of a heart attack in Hull, Mass. On October 2 Dick Morton passed away at Hilton Head, S.C., and on Oc- tober 19 Cliff Porter, of Sands Point, Long Island, died at the New York Hospital after a brief illness. The deepest sympathy of the Class is extended to their families.

2 Center Rd. Old Greenwich, Conn. 06870