Alumni Spotlight- December 2024

This month’s Alumni Spotlight features Deb (Gassel) Spector- a longtime Chippy whose love of and enthusiasm about camp continues to grow! In addition to her 12 years at CRC as a camper and staff member, Deb has stayed connected to the Chippewa community through her daughter’s camp career and, more recently, many years at Alumni Camp. We love having her as a part of our CRC alumni community! Read a bit about Deb below- both her memories from camp as well as some information about her life now.

What years were you at CRC?
1973-1984.

Which summer was your favorite and why?
All summers were my favorite but a memorable one was Tom Adler’s first summer. There were 59 girls at camp and only one other returned from my age group, Jeanette Lew. We had been at camp together since Blackfoot and were close friends. We were in A-Frame and each took one half of the cabin. Our counselor was upstairs in the loft. You really got to know everyone at camp that summer due to the small size as all ages intermingled.

What is your favorite camp memory?
MY first Parents Day weekend! I still remember the moment running to Zoe and giving her a huge hug.

What was your favorite activity at camp?
Horseback Riding & Waterskiing.

Were you a Tan or a White?
Tan!

How do you keep in touch with your camp friends?
Most live in the Chicago area and enjoy get togethers where we share our camp memories.

Where do you live now?
Sylvan Lake/Mundelein, IL. There is a one lane bridge to get into the neighborhood overlooking a lake. The first time we drove into the neighborhood and I saw the lake (it reminded me of camp) I looked at my husband and said, “no matter what this house looks like, I know this is where I want to live and raise our children.” We’ve lived here 30 years.

What do you do?
Medical Sales.

What do you miss most about camp?
Camp has the magic where it feels like time slows down. It’s a special environment where you can know people in an unfiltered way.

You have attended Alumni Camp many times. What is your favorite part of Alumni Camp?
Chatting and getting to know alumni from other generations and hearing about their camp experiences.

Anything else you want to share with your Chippy family?
In April 2006, I donated a kidney to my brother, David. A few weeks later, he called and asked me how to get in touch with Chippewa so he could register for summer 2006. At first, I didn’t immediately get the joke, but once I did, it gave me a big laugh. I reached out to Tom to share the moment, and I still have his email response.

Hi Debbie, glad you are doing well……pretty funny line about your brother wanting to go to Chippewa…….I always thought Chippewa gets into people’s blood stream………hope you continue to do well and your brother too of course………….Campingly, Thomas C

Sadly, my brother passed away in September 2009, and after his passing, I found solace in horseback riding. The following summer, I took up waterskiing regularly. These activities brought back memories of camp and the sense of joy that has remained a constant source of comfort in my life.