TICKTIN - KOSSIN FAMILY REUNION 1998

Reunion '98 - What We Did

GROUND ZERO – Friday, September 4, 1998

Our Toronto hosts, Rivie and Henry Gurau, had been preparing for weeks. Rivie had done a remarkable job organizing where we were going to stay, where and what we were going to eat, activities for everyone, and making sure we looked good in our Reunion ‘98 gear while we were doing it.

Up until the last minute, she was stuffing the Reunion ‘98 Bags with the Name Tags, T-shirts and Pins, Centre Island ferry tickets and schedules, maps of Toronto, and other tchotchkes to guide everyone arriving in this beautiful waterfront city for what turned out to be a glorious weekend weather-wise.

There were a few days of panic as Air Canada, who most of us out-of-towners were using as transportation, called a strike that began two days before the long weekend. Although we were trying to prepare for last minute contingencies (like a rainy weekend), this was a little more than we bargained for. We were nervous that our expected guest list of over 150 cousins was going to dwindle down to a handful.

But a determined lot we were. While about 50 of the expected families were affected by the strike, all but a few managed to find last minute ways to get there – even if it was a little more roundabout.

Some drove instead, and others - like me – were rerouted on different airlines, albeit in very convoluted ways. Although I originally had a non-stop LA-Toronto flight that was going to get me in on Wednesday in the late afternoon, instead I left early Wednesday morning from LA, with a connection in Denver arriving after midnight in Chicago, a night in an airport hotel there, with a VERY early – 5:45 AM - flight on Thursday to Toronto. But I made it, as did almost everyone else!

The Sheraton Centre was a perfect central location for our gathering. Right in the center of downtown, several restaurants to choose from, walking distance to just about everything you could want to see, and subterranean connections and an underground mall that went on for blocks around so that we never had to dodge traffic.

Here are a few of the things that we were able to choose from, and which many people took advantage of -

The Canadian National Exhibition - The CN Tower - Niagara Falls - Museums - Theatre - Shopping - Restaurants - Music - Dancing - Sports - Kids

I must confess that I slipped out with my weekend roommate and cousin, Judy Kossin, for a look at the exhibit of Princess Diana's formal gowns.

DAY ONE – Saturday, September 5, 1998

From dawn ‘til dusk, people explored Toronto on their own.

The hospitality suite was bustling as people were popping in all day to pick up their Reunion ‘98 Bags and T-shirts - and to see who else had arrived.

Family members wore their Reunion ‘98 Pins and carried their Reunion ‘98 Bags throughout the weekend as they traveled around the city. They were easily able to recognize each other, and it helped everyone get to know each other a little better - and remember who everyone was. The new distinctive logo which incorporated all the major family branch names was designed by my husband, Alberto Prospero, who had also done the Reunion '93 logo. It proved to be a popular design.

We were a big crowd and made quite an impression with the other guests, as well as the hotel staff. Other tourists were commenting on the size of the "Ticktin Convention". There was a lot of amazement at the size of our gathering and how we were able to pull such a diverse group together. We responded, "That's our Family!"

Beginning at 6:30 PM, Ticktin-Kossin Family Reunion ‘98 attendees walked about ten minutes away to Piero’s Ristorante for a get-together cocktail party with wine and bruschetta. There we had the opportunity to meet and greet close and distant cousins for the first - or umpteenth - time.

We enjoyed a delicious Italian meal prepared by our host Michael as we celebrate the second reunion of descendants of Efraim Ticktin, his Uncle Moshe Nahum Ticktin, and his son-in-law Wolf Kozuschnik.

Around 8 PM, we had a surprise visit from City TV, a popular local news station, there to cover our reunion. If it wasn't hectic and noisy enough already, the crew certainly added to the bustling fun atmosphere.

After dinner, everyone walked back to the Sheraton Centre to continue schmoozing, reminiscing, and picture taking. About twenty people relaxed in the hospitality suite, and at 11 PM and repeated again at 11:30 PM, we tuned in to City TV to watch a nice little five minute feature segment on our reunion.

DAY TWO – Sunday, September 6, 1998

The next day, from 10:00 AM on, we took the short ferry ride over to Centre Island and an all day picnic and BBQ. There were softball games, amusement rides, a child’s petting zoo, and plenty of food for everyone.

Our group was located at Picnic Area 23 on Olympic Island, not far from where the ferry arrived. The signs leading to the Ticktin Family Reunion ’98 banner pointed the way.

We were fortunate that the weather was glorious, the food was great, and the company terrific.

The day was filled with catching up, interviews for the video, loads of photo opportunities, including a panoramic group photos that took almost an hour to coordinate. We were so many, the had to back further and further away to fit everyone in.

A spontaneous softball game erupted and kept the men and children busy for hours. Many of the children walked over to the amusement area and were kept enthralled with the roller coaster rides, with a treat of ice cream to finish.

Before the picnic was over, everyone wanted to know when and where the next reunion was going to be. By general consensus, the vote was heavily in favor of five years later in Boston.

Then, exhausted from a exciting, fun-filled day, the slow trek back to the ferry for the pleasant ride back into the welcoming arms of downtown Toronto as the sun was beginning to set over the city.

DAY THREE – Monday, September 7, 1998 (Labor Day)

In the morning, impromptu brunches abounded at the Sheraton Centre restaurants. Different tables had various branches of the family sectioned off, but with everyone table-hopping, continuing new conversations and old friendships that had begun over the too-short weekend, we were one big happy group.

More relaxing around the hotel and hanging out in the hospitality suite as family members slowly said their goodbyes and began leaving for their trips home.

We again thanked our Toronto hosts for the wonderful job they did, and said good-bye until the next time.

A fitting end for the Ticktin-Kossin Family Reunion ’98.

See you in Boston in 2003!

Last updated 9/06/2006.