When you’re a kid, the simplest things in life often end up being the ones you remember the most. As one of three kids in my family growing up in nearby Westfield, New Jersey, I learned life lessons and made friendships at the Cranford Boat and Canoe Company, also known as the Cranford Canoe Club, that live with me almost daily. With all the experiences, workers, friends, and family, the Cranford Canoe Club will never be forgotten. I worked at the Cranford Canoe Club from 1972 until our family sold it in 1990, when it became its last private owner.
You worked there. Now Get A Keepsake to Remember the Canoe Club
Handmade wooden keepsake of the Cranford Canoe Club with its history on the back. Available while supplies last. Custom-made in the USA by the Cat’s Meow Village of Wooster, OH. Available ONLINE now.
A Canoe Club Family
For the next 20 years, I dedicated my life to what I would call the family business. The employees at the canoe club were more than just workers; they were my extended family. These people were like my brothers and sisters, except for my brother Brian, who tried the family business in the mid-1980s and then moved on.
While I was often referred to as the owner’s kid, little shit, and peon, I was just another worker and subject to more stringent standards than most workers at the bottom of the hierarchy—the senior staff. Led by Bob Deen and Tom Sloan, they created a working group, which he dubbed the CCWA, standing for the “Canoe Club Workers Association” or the “Canoe Club Workers of America”. The CCWA was just one of those reasons why you loved working with these people.
Canoe Club Employee Looking
When looking back at some of the great people I worked with at the “Canoe Club,” the successes so many have achieved since leaving are remarkable. Secret Service Agents, Hedge Fund Founders, Corporate Executives, Wall Street traders, and entrepreneurs are just a few of the professions in my former Canoe Club family. The one thing that remains from the experience is that these kids all got up, got off their ass, es and went to work. I can’t imagine what my life would have been like today if I hadn’t learned those life lessons by starting a job when I was 8 years old.
Canoe Club / Cranford Boat Roster
| George Apgar (Owner ? – 71) (CHS) | Frank Betz (Owner 72-90) (WHS) |
| Bob Deen (CCWA Co-Founder)** (CHS) | Rick Hoolko * (CHS) San Diego Sailing Center |
| Tommy Sloan * * (CCWA Co-Founder) – Retired Secret Service Agent/Author (CHS) | Barbra Gigon |
| Bob Sloan * (CHS) | Jim O’Brien * (CHS) |
| Steve Cannon * (CHS) | Peter Hogan (CHS) |
| Albert DiGiovoni (CHS) | Bill Peters (CHS) |
| Charlie Rahn (CHS) | Read Hayward * (SPFHS) |
| Tommy Sgroi * (CHS) | Brooks Betz * (1972-1994) (WHS 80) |
| Lynn Ochengertis (the Stripper Secretary) | Brett Hartnett (CHS 78?) |
| Dave Hansen (Sin Bin) | Lori Bailey (WHS 78) |
| Kevin Ward | Mike Dunnigan * (CHS) |
| Brian Dooley * (CHS | |
| Mary Dooley (WHS) | Mo Dooley * (WHS 78?) |
| John Lorenz (CHS) | Patrick O’Brien* (1977-1981) |
| Brian Betz (1984-1985) (WHS 78) | Read Hayward’s nephew |
| Jim Barton * (CHS 83) | Tom Bevan * (Last CCWA inductee) (CHS 83) |
| Tim Rahn (CHS) | Rob Espuga (CHS) |
| Carolyn (Betz) Wenzel (1990-1998) (WHS) | Tim Byrd (CHS) |
| Billy Weber (CHS) | Jon Weber (CHS) |
| Ted Willis (CHS) | Ross Hirtzel (CHS 82?) |
| John Gatens (SPFHS 82?) | Brian Mack (CHS) |
| John Korn (CHS) | Frank Bradley (JDRHS) |
| Eric “Mack” MacNamara and his twin brother Rob (CHS 87) | Scott Kiesling (CHS 87) |
| Mike Osborne | Greg Elmiger (CHS) |
| Jeffrey Brownlee (86-87ish) (CHS) | |
| Skip and Karen Harrison (Pocono Boathouse) 1975 North America Windsurfing Champion | Steve Henry (Pocono Boathouse) (SPFHS) |
| Bob Hackenberg (Pocono Boathouse) | Steve Hackenberg (Pocono Boathouse) |
| Read Murphy (Regatta Sports) | Sue Gertz (Regatta Sports) |
| John “Swatty” Burling (Regatta Sports) | Larry Fineberg (Regatta Sports) |
**CCWA Co-Founder *CCWA member
Did you work at Cranford Canoe Club?
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2025 UPDATE: The Mr. Local History Project is determining interest in nominating the Cranford Canoe Club to the New Jersey Historic Registry. If you believe this should be done, please consider signing our petition to let Cranford local officials know. Click Here.
What’s Next?
Cranford Canoe Club Extended Family Group on Facebook
For those former employees, there’s now a Cranford Canoe Club Extended Family Facebook Group to connect.
Reunion
There’s a discussion about scheduling a reunion at the Canoe Club. So, if you’re interested, ensure you’re on the list and following the Cranford Canoe Club Extended Family Facebook Group.
Photos Needed
I wish I could find more of my photos of so many of you. I’ll keep digging. If you find any good ones or were a former Cranford Canoe Club worker, we’d love to hear from you.