Everyone knows the Y’s Men.
The 550-member group of retirees (and semi-retirees) enjoys speakers, social events, dozens of activities, and volunteer efforts.
Less well known are the Y’s Women.
They’ve been around for 33 years. They too are an active, fun group.
They are not affiliated with the Y’s Men (although many Y’s Women are wives or widows of members).
And although they (and their male counterparts) were founded at the Westport Weston Family YMCA, neither group is connected with the Y today.
Merle Spiegel is the group’s longtime communications chair. A 1965 Staples high School graduate whose mother was a Y’s Woman (and co-chair of their trips committee), Merle went on one to Kykuit, the Rockefeller estate near the Hudson River. She was hooked.
The other day, she talked about the organization. Members range from those who, like her, have deep roots in Westport, to women who moved here recently (often to be near grandchildren), and look to make friends and find community.
The Y’s Women meet twice a month, 11 a.m. on Mondays at Green’s Farms Congregational Church.
The Y’s Women’s spring luncheon.
Like the Y’s Men, the women boast an active speakers series. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, Dr. Robert Altbaum and novelist Fiona Davis are recent guests. Soon to come: State Representative Jonathan Steinberg.
Sub-groups — books, movies, tai chi, mahjong, trivia, Scrabble, one dedicated to the New Yorker magazine — meet on their own. A “Solos” group, for women without partners, is very active too, including weekly summer potluck dinners at the beach.
Potluck dinner, at the beach.
One of the newest groups is “Jewels of Westport.” Led by Jilda Manikas, they’ve taken a backstage tour of the Westport Country Playhouse, and visited sculptures at town parks.
Y’s Women get out often, to art galleries, botanical gardens and more, up to 45 minutes away. Some members drive; their riders kick in for gas.
“This is an amazing group of women,” Spiegel says. “It’s a great way to learn, do interesting things and make friends.”
The Y’s Women welcome members from surrounding towns. For more information, click here.
I can’t say I personally knew Merle Spiegel, but I knew of her. I couldn’t go to the September 20th Staples 60th reunion, but I did exchange a few e-mails with Merle after the reunion. I remember Merle as absolutely brilliant and I told her that in my e-mail. I am so grateful to her for writing back to me after six decades.
Hi Jackie,
I think a good move for both of us would be to join the Y’s Women instead of the Y’s Men when we move back to Westport.
The members at Y’s W are not only smarter, they’re much better looking than the members at Y’s M and particularly since my recent (successful and fully covered under my Medicare) cataract surgery, I like to enjoy the view wherever I go, especially when the M are otherwise preoccupied.
Let me know your thoughts.
Best always,
Erica
Actually I would love to just meet these ladies. These ladies are the heart of Westport Wouldn’t it be cool if I (we) got an invitation to meet them?
They’re LADIES Jack(ie). Treat them appropriately and just show up, curtsy and ask them to dance. Miss Comer (every Friday night at the Y for two GD years) is smiling. But, stay out of the locker room.
I joined a couple of years ago and I’m so glad I did. Such a wonderful group of friendly, welcoming, engaged, bright women. The speakers are interesting and the refreshments enticing. Great way to start the (every other) week.
Diana Bell