Seaplace Condo members party with ‘Sinatra’

Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon” played from the speakers welcoming everyone into the room at the farewell party at Seaplace Association Inc., a condominium complex located at 2045 Gulf of Mexico Drive, which marked the end of the season on April 12. 

At 5 p.m., Seaplace members gathered at the clubhouse over the clinking of Champagne glasses and platters of hors d'oeuvres. Guests plucked one or two bites from the platters before the appetizers passed them by. 

June Hessel, chair of the event committee and member of the board of directors, has been planning these parties for over three years now, although she’s helped with several more. 

Photo by Sidra Wali

“We do this every year, and tonight we’ll have about 100 people in total show up for it,” said Hessel. “Our farewell parties always have a theme, and tonight, it’s ‘Italian’ because I booked our singer first.”

Bill Stabile, a Frank Sinatra tribute artist, took the stage. Stabile sang Sinatra’s classics and then moved onto hits from the 1960s through the ’80s.

Hessel and her late husband bought their Seaplace home 38 years ago and became full-time residents four years ago wanting to become even more of a part of the community.

“My husband, Daniel, passed away at the end of November and this will be my second party without him at Seaplace,” said Hessel. “It brings our community together. We’ve had a lot of changes with cost increases and other things — this is just a way to bring some joy. Get people together and talk to one another.”

Photo by Sidra Wali

Hessel explained that tickets included entertainment, food and “all the beer and wine they can drink.”

In two weeks, Hessel and the event committee will start planning events for next year at Seaplace.

“This party is very popular, but it will wrap up around 9 p.m. tonight," said Hessel. "After all, we have to get home.”