The Times

Watchful eye on park litter kept by senior 'delinquents'

By ELIZABETH OWEN Staff Writer They call themselves the "Senior Citizens Delinquent Association," and they gather in a quiet, secluded area of Matheson Hammock Park. Their oblivion to the outside world is well-deserved. Most have worked a good 40 years of their lives, have raised families, have contributed to society and have otherwise conformed. Their lives - though they no longer participate in the working world - have really just begun. Their days are spent remembering, looking back, talking about the old days ... something they never had time to do before. Sally Burt, the group's most outrageous old-timer, is an exception. Sally, a jazz singer in the American Guild of Variety Artists until she retired, never married. She spent her life traveling through the U.S. performing on stage. As she puts it, "I sang in every dive and alley in the country." Sally, who lives in Coral Gables, amuses her friends in the park by singing her old nightclub hits, drawing out her Jersey City accent until its shrillness hurts even the deafest of ears. Johnny Popp, a muscular, bearded oldster who rides his bike to the park every day, is a retired steel worker. "I'm local 1256 in the USW," he states proudly. Johnny, who lives in the Grove, said he is known far and wide as "Hemingway" because of his virile, artist-like appearance. Then there's Fred Peters, a stout shrimp of a man who spent his life operating draw bridges. "I'm as big as the rest of them in the water," said the southwest area resident. "But I shrink when I get out." And Charles and Nancy Musmeci, who will celebrate their 53rd anniversary Nov. 11. The couple, who live at 481 SW 82nd Ave., have been coming to Matheson Hammock for 20 years. Add Sid Morgan, a Coral Gables resident who's been in the group for 19 years; Ira Harris, also from Coral Gables who is a 20-year member; Tom Norton, a retired state policeman from Boston who lives with his wife Anna B. at 8200 SW 12th St.; Ronald Lelond, of 7224 SW 53rd Pl., a retired motel owner who has frequented the park for 20 years; Manny Martin a former chef, and his wife Tess, who came from New York to live at 2310 SW 34th St; Al Sontal of South Miami who spent his life selling shoes, James Neville and wife Lyn who moved to Southwest Miami from Rhode Island 15 years ago; and Sal Masi, a retired druggist who lives in Coral Gables. When they tire of sunbathing, reading the newspaper, knitting or wading in the salt water pool, the oldsters look for litter and either remind picnickers to gather their leftovers, or do away with the refuse themselves. The sandy grove near the edge of the water where they pass the afternoons under the trees is a world unto its own. There is no noise but that of the wind and water, no time element except sunrise and sundown, and no responsibility but that of friendship. Photos by ELIZABETH OWEN Johnny Popp Charles, Nancy Musmeci Anna Norton