Where are they now??
What ever happened to?
Some insights and info from
Anna's holiday pool parties..

You've now seen nearly 25 years of Anna Reisa Wellington's July 4th pool parties as well as the people who attended and some of the tid bits that occurred over the years and are now asking yourself, "what ever happened to some of these people?
As I learned more in depth about the past traditions of Anna's pool parties I became more curious as to what happened to everyone. I knew some things about some people but through some research and persistence I can present to you the "up to date" info on nearly everyone who was featured in Anna's pool parties. We'll start with the earliest of the pool parties, 1958
The original cast: 1958

Anna Reisa Wellington (1920-1983) Anna was the founder and emcee of the pool parties. Anna died from a heart attack in November of 1983.

Vivian Arnell (1921-1997) Vivian Arnell was the original creator of the performing arts theater and became business partner to Anna in the theater.
Vivians last pool party appearance was in 1968 and she continued to run the theater until it was shut down in 1983. My own Miss Judy embraced Vivians expertise when the theater was revived in 1993 and what a proud moment it was to have Vivian involved in that. Vivian Arnell died of a heart attack in 1997.

Sherry Glasone (1924-1994) Sherry Glasone was one of the original cast actors in the theater, a very close friend to Vivian Arnell, and an original from the 1958 pool party. Sherry was the most diverse actress in the theater in the early going. Sherry Glasone had a wonderful personality yet struggled with weight problems over the years and eventually she became more involved with production issues in the theater moreso than acting.
Sherry's last appearance at the pool party was in 1965 and she left the theater production all together after 1974. Sherry never wed, but did adopt 2 children both of which survive today. Sherry Glasone passed away in 1994 after complications from heart failure.

Sylvia Grindle (1930-1981) Sylvia Grindle left the theater around 1960 and passed away in 1981 after a long battle with breast cancer.
Alana Kiri (1932-1998) Alan Kiri went on to do swimsuit modeling before marrying and having a family. Alana passed away in 1998.

Laura Burns (1934-) Laura Burns was the most notorious of the theater actresses who along with 2 others never returned to the theater after the skirmish between the ladies in 1961. Laura left the theater before the 1962 pool party but continued to do theater work for a number of years until 1970 when she became involved in local politics associated with the womens liberation movement at that time. Laura later married and settled in western Canada and had 2 children as well.

James Corey (1918-1987) James Corey attending the first ever pool party in 1958. Corey was best friend of Anna's husband Liam as well as his business partner prior to Liam's death. By the early 60's Corey became romantically involved with Anna and although Anna was very attracted to Corey, and loved him to an extent, she would never marry him, or any man for that matter. James Corey and Anna went through an often on-again off-again relationship and Corey eventually married another woman in 1974 only to divorce her 3 years later. Corey remained close to Anna until her death in 1983. James Corey died of lung cancer in 1987 however his construction company still survives today under the Wellington Contech Company partnered by Corey's daughter Julia and her husband Jon Cass.

Stella Stephens (1937- ) Anna's young vivacious friend Stella still survives today and looks fantastic. Stella's energy really incited the motivation for Anna's pool parties and ironically enough Stella keeps in touch with us and has helped immensely with the content you're reading. Also, oddly enough Stella keeps in shape and healthy by... you guessed it, swimming!!

The Cast additions 1960

Linda Clay (1937-1975) Linda Clay was one of the most stunning, sexy, and yet most tragic of all those who attended the pool parties. Linda attended the pool parties from 1960-1967 and worked in adult films in Europe after that time however Linda's growing struggles with drug addiction brought a tragic ending when she died of a drug overdose in 1975.

Donna Mehnger (1938-1989) Donna Mehnger attended the pool parties on and off from 1960-1977 and worked in the theater until 1972. Donna married in 1968 and had 3 children thereafter, all of which survive today. Tragically, Donna was killed in a plane crash while on a business trip in 1989.

Ken Stams (1933-1993) Ken Stams was an actor in the theater and showed up at a number of pool parties from 1958 to 1962. He left the theater after 1962 and became an insurance salesman. Mr Stams died of cancer in 1993.
Paul Hendon (1941-1973) Paul Hendon was a lead actor in the theater and attended the pool parties on and off from 1960-1965. Hendon was a ladies favorite at the pool parties, involved with Beverly Schuyler, Vivian Arnell, as well as Stella. Mr Hendon left the theater after 1965 and tragically was killed in a motor cycle accident in 1973.

Beverly Schuyler (1937- ) Beverly Schuylers first pool party appearance was in 1960 and Beverly appeared at the pool parties throughout the 60's and worked in the theater until 1972. Beverly is most famous at the pool parties for her first ever underwater pool photos. After her time in the theater Beverly worked for the park forestry service. Beverly went on to marry, she has 2 children and 5 grandchildren. Beverly is now a widow and lives quietly in a seniors retirement home.

Michael Bonneker (1941- ) Michael Bonneker started in the theater in late 1960 and attended his first pool party in 1961. Bonneker was the most notorious of the 'ladies men' from the theater and pool party known to have intimate relations with young Mary Strat, and Linda Clay, as well as long time relations with Stella and even with Anna Reisa herself!
Bonneker's story gets strange after he left the theater in 1970 to enlist in the war it was said; however it was later found that he was in some trouble with the law. Word had it that Bonneker spent a number of years in Canada living a recluse life and had passed away in the 1990's however we've learned that Mr. Bonneker was still among us as of 2003 when by chance a former theater employee spotted him in the Dakotas. Mr Bonnekers current whereabouts are unknown.

Richard Cottington (1911-1981) Richard Cottington was CEO and the braintrust of the Wellington Estate for over 30 years. The Cottingtons attended Anna's pool parties from 1961-1969 and without Richard Cottingtons guidance the Wellington Estate would have never endured all these years. Mr. Cottington died in 1981 after a 2 year battle with lung cancer.
Vicky Cottington (1915-1990) Vicky Cottington was one of the most warm hearted beautiful people you could ever meet. Vicky had a quaint yet warm disposition about her and its said Anna envied Vicky a great deal. Vicky was Anna's most "social" friend when it came to business and dignitaries and everyone from the pool parties who ever knew Vicky had only the kindest words for her. Vicky Cottington was eternally close to her husband and after his death she never really recovered. Vicky Cottington passed away in her sleep in February on 1988.

Pauline Nash (1944- ) Pauline Nash started in the theater in 1962 and made her first presence at the pool party in 1962. Pauline was in the theater and part of the pool parties through 1981. Pauline had a child in 1972 and has 2 grandchildren as well. Pauline left the theater after 1974 and took up some acting parts and modeling stints through 1985. Pauline married in 1987 but divorced in 1995 and got involved in physical fitness and returned to some modeling work. We were able to contact Pauline in 1996 and after many efforts got Pauline to accept an invitation back to the estate for a reunion pool party which you can view in the pages to follow.

Mary Strat ( 1944- ) Mary Strat is perhaps the most notorious "fibber" of the pool party girls convincing Anna and Vivian she was 18 when in fact she was not however Mary would become perhaps the most popular of the pool party girls and one of the most popular attraction of the men at the pool parties. Mary was affiliated with the theater until its close in 1983 and went on to do modeling and acting in England and New York as well as starting a family. Mary has 2 children and 3 grandchildren. We were able to track down Mary Strat in 1998 and have been in cosistent contact with her ever since. Mary has provided a great deal of info and input in the history of the pool parties and joined us at Wellington Estate for a pool party reunion which you will see in the pages to follow.

Robert Hanlon (1922- ) Robert Hanlon attended many pool parties in the 60's and was a dear friend and party of Anna's love triangle along with Jim Corey during the mid sixties through the early to mid 1970's.
Mr Hanlon was CEO of the local bank until December of 2000 and has remained a close ally to the Wellington Estate over the years. The estate would not have revived so well had it not been for the help and advisement of Mr. Hanlon to which I am forever in his debt. Mr. Hanlon enjoys a quiet retirement and we keep in touch with him often.

Next Generation: The cast from 1974-1983

Barb Careras (1950- )

Monica Fahey (1956- )

Shelly Freidrichs (1957- )

Dianne Martindale (1958- )

Jennifer Lyn (1960- )

Joan Rydalch (1959- )

Marilyn Paul (1961- )

Miss Judy (1964- )

Melissa Martin (1964- )
all of the lovely ladies from the 74,79, and 83 pool parties are still with us and doing fabulous AND most all have returned in recent years for the Wellington Estate pool party reunion.

So there you have it, over the years we've said goodbye to many of the pool party cast yet some are still with us today.
In 1999 the Wellington Estate holiday pool party was revived and we've been joined by wonderful guests from the past as well as the new faces of the present.
Join us as the new generation and a new tradition continues.
Pool Party 1999