Sunny Days Remembered

If it’s Westport in June, it must be Duck Time. Mark Mathias reports:

For years, the Westport Sunrise Rotary Club has presented The Great Duck Race. The big annual fundraiser raises money for charities.

Ralph Kreuger

But most people don’t know how the giant inflatable ducks came to become a Westport icon.

Ralph Kreuger — a long-time Sunrise Rotary member and master marketer –suggested in 2016 that the club buy a 30 foot tall inflatable duck to advertise The Great Duck Race. 

It was made in China and shipped across the Pacific Ocean, through the Panama Canal.

The club named the duck Sunny.

A 30-foot inflatable duck takes some serious wrangling, especially on water.  And it’s really hard to move. 

(Photo/Wendy Cusick)

For years Sunny floated on the Saugatuck River. He sometimes tipped over, sometimes blew away, but generally was a great sight for passersby.

People loved the duck. They loved taking pictures with Sunny.

(Photo/Audrey Sporre)

After a few years in charge of Sunny, Ralph died.

Sunrise Rotary wanted to continue the duck theme. So it purchased a smaller (relatively speaking) 12-foot duck.

The club honored Ralph’s memory and contributions by naming the new duck Little Ralphie.

Little Ralphie is what people see around town at the Memorial Day parade, and — leading up to The Great Duck Race — at various locations around Westport. 

Right now, he’s in front of the Kohler showroom on Post Road East.

The Great Duck Race is Saturday, June 24. Attendance is free. For a chance to win up to $5,000 and support charitable causes, tickets can be purchased from any Westport Sunrise Rotarian or online.