MENS’ CLUB BY PAUL NETTLER Photo by Art Rose Our Speaker at the March meeting, Dr. Elliot Gross, provided us with both a fascinating insight into the inner workings of a Medical Examiner’s office and a great example of how complex a determination of the cause of death can be. I should point out the presentation was by means of PowerPoint slides, the contents of which were most benign and would not offend one’s digestive system. Dr. Gross was the first Chief Medical Examiner of the State of Connecticut. Before that, Connecticut had a Coroner system through which a cause of a death was determined. The difference being that in a Coroner system the Coroner can be an elected or appointed official and need not have any medical training at all. In a Medical Examiner system, the person determining the cause of death is a physician trained as a forensic pathologist. Dr. Gross noted that the challenges he faced during the changeover were not always welcome, but eventually he was able to demonstrate the necessity for a Medical Examiner system. This was perfectly demonstrated when Dr. Gross told us about “The Case of The Golden Choker.” Was it murder, suicide or an accident? Our speaker related the discoveries and legal proceedings after town police recorded a woman’s possible drowning or suicide in a back-yard swimming pool. The medical examiner’s photo documentation of a necklace’s misplacement, and the deformation and misalignment of its religious pendant, which was later strangely lost, led to the woman’s husband, who was a criminal attorney and was unfaithful. He was indicted. After a six-week murder trial with two medical examiners stating strangulation, and three defense experts stating drowning as the cause of death, the judge, citing himself as the thirteenth juror, immediately overturned the jury’s guilty verdict. Three appeals to the state supreme court and two to the US Supreme Court resulted in the verdict’s reinstatement and the disbarred attorney’s imprisonment, seven years after the death. He was handed an eighteen- to thirty-year sentence, but paroled after five years. Was justice served? From the above past events, we segue into Current Events. The Current Events Group meeting on March 13 was chaired by Gary Darche who just returned from “snow birding,” and by some strange coincidence, brought a blizzard with him. At the outset, Gary requested we stay away from the most obvious subject, President Trump, because there are so many other subjects that are worth discussing. And discussed we did. As a matter of fact, the discussions got fairly heated at times when different points of view were espoused. It was all in a friendly manner and well worth the time spent. Among the topics discussed were Steve Bannon and the influence he has on President Trump; explanations of the words traditionalist, populist, constructionism; and the problems with Medicare, Social Security, and NAFTA. As there were several educators in the room, there was criticism of how the system was failing by trying to educate all students for college, whereas many should get a vocational education, so they can get a job and become a productive member of society. Of course, President Trump’s name entered the conversation at one point. When Gary took a poll of how members felt about Trump’s performance so far, about half of the group were willing to cut him some slack for the near future, while the other half was most dissatisfied. At next month’s meeting, among other things, we will be discussing our obligations to NATO and Israel’s decision to bar anyone who is in favor of BDS (Boycott, Divestiture, Sanctions) from traveling there. The next meeting of the Current Events Group will be on April 10 at 10:30 a.m. in the Coleridge Lounge. It’s a great way to agitate those lazy neurons and get the synapses snapping. If you would like additional information, call Gary Darche at 718-225-3060. The next meeting of the Book Group will be held on April 24 at 10:30 a.m. in the Coleridge Lounge. Members will discuss “Presidential Courage” by Michael Beschluss, who is a presidential scholar. The book examines many of the difficult decisions presidents from Washington to Reagan have had to make. Sounds very apropos. If you would like additional information, contact Ralph Edwards at 347-235-0472. Instead of a speaker at our next club meeting on April 13, we will have a Karaoke Night with Russell Craig. Russell has been a highly successful Karaoke performer for more than 25 years and is anxious to find out if we have a secret Tony Bennet or Doris Day among us. It begins at 7 o’clock in the large cardroom. Guests will be welcome for a $5.00 fee, payable at the door. On Thursday April 27, members will enjoy lunch at the Jolly Fisherman in Roslyn. Details will follow by email, so save the date. Bingo Night is on April 30 at 7:30 in the large card room as usual. SPECIAL EVENT – June 8 at 7:30 p.m. The Men’s Club and UJA will host Speaker Ron Blomberg, who at one time was considered “the “Great Jewish Hope” for the New York Yankees. Our breakfasts at Buffy’s continue to be well attended on every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 9:15 a.m. They afford an excellent opportunity for our newer members to get to know some of our older members on a more personal basis. If you would like more information about our events, please call Jerry Siegel at 516-884-4001. If you would like to join our club, please call Joe DiGiovanni at 516-965-9225. Former Chief Medical Examiner of the State of Connecticut, Dr. Elliot Gross 28 NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER ¢ April 2017
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