By Anne W. Semmes
The guys were arriving soon after 11 a.m. last Sunday at Greenwich Point Park for the 40th anniversary of the Cos Cob Mianus Dug Out Old Timers. The story goes this gathering of guys wanting to hang out and tell stories began in the basement of a restaurant now the site of Louie’s on River Road Extension in Cos Cob. It grew big and met at the Old Greenwich Civic Center before moving to Greenwich Point Park some years ago. Some 73 showed up on Sunday, and this time there was a third generation attending.
Rick Novakowski is wearing a tee shirt emblazoned with “Cos Cob Mianus Old Timers – Established 1984.” He’s been attending for “probably 20 years,” he tells. “Freddie Intrieri and Doc Orrico were long time Old Timers and asked me to join them and help organize and everything else.” Novakowski shares that original Cos Cob and Mianus lineage of those founders, with Doc Orrico having died at 88 last year to be celebrated at this year’s meeting.
So, what pulls these guys together? “It’s like everybody enjoys each other,” says Novakowski. “There’s no pretense. There’s no controversy… Maybe they’ll argue with tomorrow, but for today, they seem to wipe everything clean and be happy… Laugh and talk about the old times,” adding, “For some reason they’re just comfortable.” Comradery writ large.
And then there’s that scent of fresh corn cooking and grilled hot dogs and hamburgers, and clam chowder. “Its food coma,” says Novakowski, “By the time one or two o’clock rolls around, there’s so much food that everybody’s in a food coma. Everybody’s happy.”
“Kelly’s from Rye caters the food,” shares Josephine Intrieri Colangelo, daughter of the original founder Fred Intrieri, present while doing her organizing part before departing. “They start with Danishes and coffee,” then comes lunch, ending by 5ish, after a three-course steak dinner!
The oldest attendee at 96 is Tony Marzullo of Cos Cob. Next up is Doc Orrico’s brother Peter Orrico, age 93, The rule was to join the Old Timers you needed to be 50 but times have changed. Arriving was Doc Orrico’s grandson Bailey Ballone in his 20’s, along with Novakowski’s son Christian in his 20’s.
So, Ballone shares this is his first attendance. He’s asked, “Why did you come?” “To honor my grandpa,” and Christian’s response is the same, “To honor Doc Orrico as well.”
Others arriving are purchasing $80 tickets in hopes they will win a door prize. Colangelo has gathered gifts cases of wine and gift certificates to restaurants. She tells about her Dug Out founding dad Fred Intrieri’s fame. (He died age 93.) “He was one of the biggest landscapers in Greenwich back in the day. He was very generous and always helping people… always paying and doing stuff for this day…like me, running around and everything. And he lived for this day.”
Citing this gathering as happening every year, “until Covid killed it,” Colangelo shares, “I went to the guys last year and said we have to do this. My father’s memory has to go on. He loved this event. We have to bring it back. So that’s when we brought it back. And then we had the biggest turnout – 70 guys after all that time.”
With the crowd swelling and ospreys dipping their wings on their way to the water, time came to honor Doc Orrico with Rick Novakowski stepping up. “Doc would be so happy today… I know how it was for Doc, the importance of keeping this tradition going. This town’s changed a lot, but it still is a unique place where we can go way back to our roots… We’re all rooted in friendship and we’re lucky to be in this spot that we can do this.”
Doc Orrico’s son Anthony Orrico of Bethel was introduced: “This day means a lot to me. And thankfully I was able to get in before I turned 40… So, I’ve had probably 20 years coming almost every year. “
Up next was another son Keith Orrico of Cos Cob. He described his dad as “a very uncomplicated guy… He loved Cos Cob, he loved to be an Italian, and he loved this picnic, and he would have been very honored about this and very happy today.”
Last up was Doc Orrico’s son-in-law Brian O’Gorman of Pemberwick who confessed his shortcomings. “I’m Irish, so there’s a strike out. I’m not from Cos Cob, that’s another strike out, but I’ve been part of the Orrico family for coming on 26 years.” His wishes: “Let’s keep things going. I want to bring the younger people in. I want to get everybody involved…And outside of family birthdays and family traditions and family holidays, this is Doc’s favorite day of the year.”
O’Gorman ended with a coincidence while watching TV in the morning “and this is completely 100 percent truth. They did a 20-minute special on SportsCenter about the song “Sweet Caroline” and its influence round the world on the sports stadiums… Doc’s favorite song. Let’s play it!” His recording began with the crowd joining in.
