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Saturday 4 January 2020

For honorary Emerald Ambassador Carolyn Pollack-Kruel:

Life’s Milestone moments are sweeter on Aruba

ORANJESTAD — Aruba are very active and gener- were quite fetching young
has many longtime visitors ous in the church and other ladies who were touted in
dedicated to returning to traditional island activities. the local papers as “Beau-
the island time after time, They have even danced ties on the Beach,” they
but few are more devoted down the streets of Oran- found themselves not lack-
and engaged than Caro- jestad befeathered and ing for dinner invitations
lyn Pollack-Kruel, of Penn- sequined during the an- from some nice young men
sylvania, celebrating forty nual Carnival parades! This from Canada, so were able
years of vacationing here, year, Carolyn is celebrating to truly sample some of the
usually during the holiday 40 years of returning to Aru- fine restaurants that have
season. ba since she first fell in love built Aruba’s reputation.
with the island in 1979. The girls returned once a
Not only has Carolyn been The presentation of an year for the next five years,
returning frequently each Emerald Certificate and until they were laid off from
year over the decades, coin was conducted dur- TWA along with several
usually accompanied by ing a festive New Year’s other employees. Nancy
her mother† and cousin†, Eve dinner at the Ritz Carl- took a job with Piedmont
but she has shared some of ton’s Casa Nonna restau- Airlines and moved away
the happiest occasions of rant. Marouska Heyliger to Virginia Beach, and Car-
her life with her “extended of the Aruba Tourism Au- olyn went on to start her
Aruban family.” Each year, thority, had the pleasure own very successful travel
while they were alive, Car- to honor Carolyn, who has agency, Ambassatour. As
olyn hosted extravagant gone above and beyond an agent, her top recom-
birthday parties for her being an Ambassador of mendation to her clients
mother and cousin, with all Goodwill. Representatives seeking a Caribbean holi-
their growing entourage of the Ritz-Carlton Aruba, day has always been Aru-
of dear Aruban friends at- especially Milouska "Miko" ba, and very likely contrib-
tending. Briezen, were also present uted substantially to grow-
While they vacationed at this memorable event. ing Aruba’s visitors from the
here in 2005, Carolyn and The occasion has evoked Pittsburgh area.
her husband George another memorable event, This year’s honoring is par-
picked out her engage- a reunion with Nancy Baty, ticularly poignant for both
ment ring at Shiva’s, having who first convinced Caro- Carolyn and Nancy, as the
established a close friend- lyn to vacation on Aruba latter is returning to Aruba
ship with the Alwani family. in 1979, when they both for the first time in 37 years,
George officially slipped worked for TWA. “I had to share this special event
the ring on her finger during never even heard of Aruba with her good friend.
a delightful dinner shared when Nancy approached Nancy and her husband
with Shea Lichtenstein† me with an incredible deal Mark Baty could not resist
and his wife, Joyce, anoth- being offered to airline em- joining Carolyn for this 40th
er island couple with which ployees,” she recalls. “We year anniversary trip. They which did not even exist a whirlwind tour of all the
they shared a long, active were able to stay at the arrived on December 30, during Nancy’s last visit. new hotspots that one can
friendship. Tamarijn Beach Hotel for Nancy’s birthday, and Car- Nancy was excited and fit into three days.
Naturally, after being offi- only $15 a night, which we olyn treated them to a fab- thrilled to see how the is- “I knew that the trip to Aru-
cially married in Pennsylva- split! Imagine! ulous dinner with a view at land has grown. She stayed ba would be worth the time
nia, Carolyn and George As both Carolyn and Nancy La Trattoria El Faro Blanco, with Carolyn and enjoyed and expense,” expressed
had to have all their Aru- Nancy, who has visited Car-
ban friends present to share olyn over the years when-
a stunning spiritual ceremo- ever she returned to Pitts-
ny here at the Santa Ana burgh to see family. “We
church in Noord. It is very had not known each other
unusual for the Catholic well when I first proposed
churches of Aruba to mar- we vacation together on
ry non-resident couples, Aruba, but we have since
but Father Rene, who had traveled to many places
grown very close to the over the years, including
newlyweds over the years, an African Safari. I was cer-
was pleased to join them in tain Mark and I would enjoy
matrimony. our time here and meeting
These landmark moments the many friends Carolyn
demonstrate Carolyn and has made here over the
George’s deep commit- years; with Carolyn, espe-
ment to the local commu- cially on Aruba, Life is a
nity and its people; they Celebration!”q