Comments on: Passing of Sy Lebenger

By: Camp Parents Met at TLC: The Friedmans | The Tiger Times: The Official Timber Lake Camp Blog

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 20:31:44 +0000

[...] at TLC, including the bonfire on the plateau the night before the Roosevelt games, stealing camp, Sy and Necia, Kentucky Derby, Revival Night, Counselor Talent Shows, Sadie Hawkins Day, Woodstock, [...]

By: Paul Collins

Paul Collins — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:21:39 +0000

I first met Sy when he came into a boatyard I worked for on Long Island in 1971. He told me he had purchased some ski boats for a camp in upstate NY. Sy said the boats could barely get a young skier out of the water.

Sy asked if I would come up for a weekend before camp opened. Fixing the boats was easy, experiencing Sy’s love for TLC was reward enough ( although he paid me well ). I will never forget him shouting “yeah baby” as I hit the throttle and pulled Sy up on his ski’s.

Sy asked me to stay on as water ski instructor. The best summer of my life! Even though Spanky and me broke his beloved jeep in half that summer, he invited me back.

One day Sy asked me to help with a camper who was homesick and soon found the camper had no interest in riding on boats or a jeep.

With Sy’s permission, we went down the hill and purchased a kite so the young camper could fly it from TLC . We wrote his name on the kite ( thanks to Necia) believing his parents could see his name and know he was having fun. [ even though his parents were on Long Island]

Some day I hope to visit Camp Timberlake. I’ll bring a kite.

By: Remembering Necia Marko « The Tiger Times: The Official Timber Lake Camp Blog

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:23:53 +0000

[...] [...]

By: Gary O Neill

Gary O Neill — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 23:09:43 +0000

Sy i remember chatting with you and jay on the boat decks with my good friend Adam Old (counselor)83/84

i had enormous respect for what TLC meant to so many coming from a culture where we did not have camps

seeing these tributes has moved me God bless you
thankyou Jay for looking after him

By: leslye gilbert funk

leslye gilbert funk — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 21:51:28 +0000

My sister Enid and I were singing camp songs for the past two weekends.

Our thoughts about Sy are forever imbedded in our memories.

We had our own reunion and we toasted the Timberlake era and the people that

meant the most to us…

stacy and sylvia (amazing ladies)

xoxo,

leslye gilbert funk and enid gilbert katze(mother of josh and samantha katze)

By: Eddy McDonnell

Eddy McDonnell — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 16:39:19 +0000

Sy Lebenger. His exceptional wisdom will inspire me, forever. Sy interviewed me, as a wayard young man, so confused from the untimely loss of my 41 year old father and the crazy family aftermath. Sy hired me as Timberlake’s baseball counselor in ’68 and social director, the following year. He also fired me for breaking the rules and dating one of his campers.

My camp experience, faux pas and all, reaped rewards: It strengthened my integrity, led to a 14 year marriage to that camper and produced two wonderful, loving daughters and four amazing grandchildren, who make my heart smile, every day.

So, Sy, to you I say “thank you”. I imagine you, now, sitting side by side with my dad, chuckling over you gift of instilling wisdom through your stone faces. What a joy to have known you!

By: Raena Goodman

Raena Goodman — Fri, 13 May 2011 17:29:13 +0000

thank you to everyone for your kind words and memories…
-Raena Goodman (Stacy Lebenger-Goodman’s daughter, Sy’s granddaughter)

By: Scott Lubow

Scott Lubow — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 05:29:15 +0000

Dear Sy,

May you rest in peace. You helped me when I needed help. You forgave me when I needed forgiveness. You mentored me when I needed mentoring, and kicked me in the butt when I needed that too.
Your in my heart and in my roots, I will never forget you Sy Lebenger.
My condolences to the family.

Love & Peace,

Scott Lubow

By: Bill Bogatz

Bill Bogatz — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 02:31:36 +0000

Before I thoroughly enjoyed TLC in the Summers of 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1973 – I was a homesick camper in 1962. Sy tried to help me through that Summer – but I left. I came back in 1968 and loved TLC then – all the activities, friends, memories…………

My sympathy goes out to Aaron, Stacy, Josh, Sylvia and the Lebenger Family.

I still hike at Timber Lake Camp and think of Sy every time I set foot on the Catskill Shangra-La called Timber Lake Camp.

Rest in Peace.

Bill Bogatz

By: Steve von Hasseln

Steve von Hasseln — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 05:28:35 +0000

I was saddened to read about Sy. To Sylvia and the the family my condolences he was in many ways the sprit of Timberlake.
I have great memories of TLC the seasons that I worked there with Ralph, Sy, Sylvia, Seth, BJ. Birdie
and one annoying shetland pony.
if I remember Jay was a waiter during my time.
Does anyone remember the year that the county was working on the hill past the gates and the road washed away just days before the campers were due to arrive.