Rotarian of the Day and New Member Joel Candib holding the secret ingredient in Harvey Wallbangers- Galliano liqueur
Not to be outdone by Bob Sonnhalter’s calzone from last week, Joel Candib set up an impromptu cocktail bar to serve Harvey Wallbangers in honor of National Harvey Wallbanger Day. The origin of this cocktail is unclear- some say it might be in tribute to a surfer in south Los Angeles who used to like to get drunk and bang his head on the wall. The drink reached peak popularity in the 1970’s, which is when Joel discovered it as a student at University of Toledo. Harvey Wallbangers used to be the drink of choice to fill bota bags or flasks to keep hydrated during football games.
Joel is one our newest members and transferred from the Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle, which he joined about four years ago. As part of his transition from Red Badge to Blue Badge, Joel gave his “Who Am I” talk. Joel was born in the Bronx and spent his early years on the Grand Concourse- he could see Yankee Stadium through his bedroom window. At the time, baseball players didn’t make the salaries they now do, and many of the players lived in Joel’s neighborhood. Joel recalls playing with Mickey Mantle’s son in the local playgrounds. In 1960 his family moved to Rockaway Park and Joel attended Brooklyn Technical High School. In 1972 he made the move to California to begin a career as an accountant. He sold his practice in 1991 and in 1993 began his current career. Joel said that he is very excited to be a member of the club, and we’re delighted to have him!