THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 24, 1994 TAG: 9411220161
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 01B EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
GENE BUNN IS A former Kellam High School and Virginia Tech athlete who still knows how to score big points. He no longer stars on the playing field, but he shines as a son-in-law.
Ask Catherine Mergenthaler.
Bunn flew in six of Mergenthaler's closest friends from Canandaigua, a Rochester, N.Y., suburb, and brought in five of her six children for a weekend in Virginia Beach.
Jimmy, Danny and Tommy Mergenthaler, Kelly Fish, Eunice McNabb and Erin Bunn make up the Megenthaler sibling lineup. Erin is Bunn's wife.
``She was so floored,'' said Erin Bunn. ``She was just slobbering all over herself when she saw everyone.
``Gene and I just wanted to say thanks to mom. She has baby-sat for us, never accepted money. She's the most selfless person I know.''
Mergenthaler, 65, moved to Virginia Beach in 1988 after retiring from a clerical job with the New York State Police. She hadn't seen her friends since.
She was lured to the Oceanfront Clarion Resort Hotel on Thursday night, Nov. 10, on the pretense of having an oil portrait made. Shortly after Mergenthaler arrived, so did her friends and children, one-by-one.
``We had a partition set up in the room and everyone was behind it,'' said Gene Bunn, who had been planning the affair since August. ``We did `Welcome, Catherine Mergenthaler, This is Your Life.
``You should've seen her face.''
After the reunion with her friends, Mergenthaler and the assembled group ate dinner at the Clarion.
Friday morning, everyone gathered at the Bunns' home for brunch. The smell of sizzling sausage in a frying pan filled the kitchen as six children, 18 grandchildren and six friends filled the rest of the large, contemporary house.
Son Jimmy served as the brunch chef.
``This is the last time this weekend the kids will see mom, '' said Erin Bunn. ``We've told everyone this is a time for her and her friends.''
The friendly reunion was the first occasion Mergenthaler, who works part time at Sorrento Italian restaurant at the Oceanfront, had to see 6-week-old granddaughter Brianna, daughter of Eunice.
Among the sights that Mergenthaler and Co. were scheduled to visit were Nauticus and the Virginia Marine Science Museum. They were also treated to a Spirit of Norfolk cruise and dinner.
``All water-related activities,'' Erin Bunn said.
The weekend was videotaped and copies made for the friends to watch upon their return to upstate New York.
``I couldn't believe I was so loved,'' said Mergenthaler, with tears pooling in her eyes. ``I'm the luckiest person in the world.
``The outfit I'm wearing today is a gift from my children.''
``We're the lucky ones,'' countered Erin. ``She did a terrific job raising us.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by CHARLIE MEADS
Erin Bunn, left foreground, and her husband, Gene Bunn, right
foreground, surprised Erin's mother, Catherine Mergenthaler, center
foreground, by bringing in six friends from New York and five of her
six children. The friends, first row, are: Sara Serio, left, Cathy
Simpson, Katie Coyne, Susan Andrews, Burdie Gillern and Marsha
Housel. The children, back row, are: Kelly Fish, left, James
Mergenthaler, Daniel Mergenthaler, Tom Mergenthaler and Eunice
McNabb.
SURPRISE VISITORS
Old friends from New York who were flown in to visit with
Catherine Mergenthaler, 65, were: Sara Serio, Cathy Simpson, Katie
Coyne, Susan Andrews, Burdie Gillern and Marsha Housel.
by CNB