Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/1514247
D ressed in jerseys and baseball sweaters, dozens of friends and family members of longtime sports journalist Jim Caple gathered in the Crystal Ballroom this past fall. In the truest sense, this was a celebration of life—a party! Attendees remembered a man who covered everything from the World Series to the Olympics during a career that spanned more than 30 years, mostly in Seattle and Minnesota. "Jim loved Se- attle," wife Vicki says. "It meant the world to us to be able to host his celebration of life in his home state." e memorial marked one of more than three thousand private events held last year at the Washington Athletic Club, where a dozen banquet spaces host everything from large-scale parties to intimate meetings. e WAC has been hosting private events from its earliest days. WAC members can, of course, host events at the Club. ey can also sponsor the events of friends, employers, and others. "You can put on all types of events here," WAC Director of Catering Sales Jennifer Dahlen says. "Corporate events, private events, weddings, retirement parties— just about anything. Reciprocal club members can host events here, too!" Such was the case with Jim Caple's celebration, sponsored by a member of a reciprocal club on the East Coast. "Our team's mission is to make each client feel important—because they are!" says Jennifer, who leads a team that includes Senior Catering Sales Manag- er Jieun Mastrogiovanni and Catering Sales Associate Novel Tolman along with a group of banquet chefs, servers, audio-visual professionals, and others. "It's a fantastic feeling being able to help bring each client's vision to life." In the Crystal Ballroom, guests at Jim's memorial received a passport to carry throughout the party. Under sparkling chandeliers, they embarked on their own adventure, collecting stamps at stations filled with memorabilia from Jim's life as a writer and traveler. "e Crystal Ballroom was the perfect space, and it all came together so great," Vicki recalls. u A celebration of life for sports journalist Jim Caple brought his friends and family together for a very special memorial in the Crystal Ballroom at the Washington Athletic Club. Behind the scenes Meet Misha Leshchyshyn, Tony Egashira, and Dave Wells. These superstar banquet chefs work closely with Executive Chef Eric Floyd and the WAC Catering team to provide delicious eats at catered events around the WAC. Continued on page 44 Host at the WAC To inquire about hosting private events at the WAC, email catering@ wac.net. View event spaces and menus at wac.net/private-events. P H O T O S : J O H N B A N G , E M I L I O H U E R TA S , K I M B E R LY P E R S O N