My story at WEHC started a little later than other boys in my age group. I started as a very shy three weeker at 12 years old and the following year was a 13 year old five weeker who was put in a bunk with younger boys. Naturally I gravitated to the staff in my bunk, Gordon Shrier, Peter Greenberg, Steve Dushan who made me feel at home so much so I went back as a eight weeker 14 year old. Still being shy, I gravitated again to staff – Reggie Bird, Jeff Solomon (who was only one year older but such a great person – and to this day 53 years later one of my best friends).
Despite my late start, I found my confidence and was staff for 4 years and after a two year hiatus came back as a college grad working on my master’s thesis “Leadership During Sports Activities” When I asked to come back, the great Bill Margolin said of course.
I would not have traded those summers for anything and my son followed a similar path but he started earlier and was staff as a 21 year old.
-Paul Cohen
