Bristol Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
          work is humble & history is proud
by Cate Murway

Bristol Elks #970, the “best kept secret”, the little lodge with the big heart, is located on Wood Street. This is a patriotic organization that virtually does anything for charity! The members unselfishly take on whatever is needed in the local area.

The "C" is for "Charity, noblest of deeds;
It carries a blessing in each of its seeds.

Once upon a time, in NYC, a small group of actors and entertainers wished to continue their social gatherings on Sundays when New York's blue laws prevented the opening of public establishments. They began to meet regularly as the "Jolly Corks", a name derived from a bar trick introduced by the group's organizer. The meetings were held with regularity but apparently with no form nor substance, except perhaps for the adoption of a toast to members of the group not in attendance. Shortly before the 1867 winter holidays, only a few months after the fellows began to meet, [women were permitted to join the Elks since 1995] one of their members died, leaving his widow and children destitute. This tragedy gave rise to the conception that, in addition to camaraderie and good fellowship, the “Jolly Corks” needed a more noble purpose in order to endure. They graciously decided to serve not only their own in need, but others as well. Two months later, on February 16, 1868, with a determined statement of somber purpose, an overly impressive set of rituals, a symbol of strength and majesty and other elaborate trappings expected of a group of actors and musicians, the new fraternal order began. The Elks, noted for the extensiveness of their charitable work, is one of the largest and most active fraternal organizations in the world!
The elk is a peaceful animal, but will rise in defense of its own in the face of a threat. The majestic creature is fleet of foot and keen of perception.
Presidents Warren G. Harding, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman and John F. Kennedy were all Elks. Former President Gerald Ford belongs to Grand Rapids Lodge No. 48, where his father served two terms as Exalted Ruler.

The "L" is for "Lodges," all over the land,
About fifteen hundred, and many more planned.

Abbreviations used by the Order. 
ER - Exalted Ruler 
PER - Past Exalted Ruler 
DDGER - District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler 

Retired LPN and television services manager of TeleHealth Services, Linda Ann Bourget-Fenimore, East Rochester H.S. is the [“President”] ER of the Bristol Elks. The Lodge is directed in all its deliberations by the Exalted Ruler.
A member since 2005, Linda was originally a member of the Elks in Connecticut since 1997. She and her husband, also an Elk, William Davis Fenimore, Sr., Morrisville H.S. ’65 are currently Morrisville residents. Son, Todd Huscher works in a chemical plant in NY and his brother, graphic artist, Troy Huscher resides in CT. 

Lodge Secretary, PER and PDDGER Stephen William (Steve) Kempff, Woodrow Wilson ‘69/BCCC and his wife, Lecturing Knight Cindy Ann  [Seal], William Tennent ’77, a safety manager for IEW Construction have been members for 16 years. Retired from UPS, Steve was elected an officer just 6 months after joining the lodge. He easily spends 5 days a week at the Elks Lodge.
They have 4 children, William, Harry S.Truman grad; Robert, Neshaminy H.S. grad; Borough resident Theresa, HST grad and Christopher, NHS grad.

Plumbridge resident, PER, trustee for 2 terms and bar manager Barber, Edward Carl Heacock, Berwick Area H.S. ‘56/ Philadelphia Institute of Barbering confirms, “I am in the Elks lodge every day!” He has been a member for over 20 years and is the owner of Edward’s Barber Shop on New Rodgers Road in Levittown for the past 51 years. His wife is Bettina (Betty) [Cliver], BHS ’57. Their daughters are Laurie, a NJ resident and Linda who lives in Willow Grove. They have 4 grandchildren.

Croydon resident Kristie Gaynor, Truman ‘98/BCCC, a 7 year member, has won the public relations awards from 2003-2007 and she previously compiled the Lodge bulletin for 5 years and she maintains the Web site for the Grand Lodge. Kristie also held the officer position of "Tiler", one who guards the entrance of every Elks Lodge, [the password was eliminated in 1899] preventing all outsiders from entering a Lodge without first proving themselves to be an Elk in good standing. Her litany of duties includes organizing the Americanism Essay Contest [Essay length is not to exceed 250 words] for the eligible student participants enrolled in the 5th, 6th, 7th, or 8th grade at the time of the contest and the Community activities including the Soccer shoot and the Girl scouts. The Americanism Committee is charged with implementing the patriotic activities planned by the Grand Lodge and cooperating with local organizations in promoting patriotic community endeavors. Kristie still finds the time to give a hand with the Bristol Borough calendar listings. Her mom, Mary Gaynor is a member and her step-dad, Michael Tansey assists with Elks functions.

Retired Local98 electrician, Stanley H. Ogryzek, Father Judge ’61, PER 2005-2007 during the 100th anniversary of Bristol Elks, is the current treasurer.  He and his late esteemed lecturing knight and esteemed loyal knight wife, LPN Florence F. "Floss" [Sharaka] were members for 16 years. She and the other deceased members will be remembered in the “moment of sorrow” at the Elks memorial service on December 7, 2008. The family lights the candles and they are extinguished when the departed member’s name is called. 

…”the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America will serve the people and communities through benevolent programs, demonstrating that Elks Care and Elks Share.”
Perhaps nothing is more important than their work with the nation’s youth!
For the last 3 years, the members have made certain that each and every Borough and Township 3rd grade student gets a dictionary as part of the dictionary project, a national project founded by Mrs. Mary Louise French in 1995. On October 16, 2008, we will celebrate Noah Webster’s 250th birthday but the children of America get the presents!
Bristol Township School District Superintendent Ellen Budman assisted with the dictionary choice.
“The limits of your language are the limits of your world.”  Ludwig Wittgenstein,
                    considered by some to be the greatest philosopher of the 20th century

The “tight knit” community with lots of good people gives a generous response to all calls for assistance and they have been outstanding! They willingly assist “A Woman’s Place”, the only domestic violence organization in Bucks County that provides essential support and services to women and children whose lives have been shattered by domestic violence.  
The Elks also provided 2 scholarships for deserving children to attend the BRT innovative program for children's theatre, the summer camp, “Artrageous”. 
The 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the summer months of June, July and August are Burger & Chicken Nights. For the past 2 years, 75 to 100 hungry people are served each evening from 6:30-8:00 p.m. and the profit is donated to the Bristol Borough Community Partnership. Per Loretta M. Vasso, Community Mobilizer, the funds may be designated for promotional items and Head Start field trips, including the most recent NJ Zoo trek. 

The "P" is our "Pockets," that we reach in, and quick,
To help the distressed, and the poor, and the sick.

Coordinated by Ed Heacock for the late 6 years, the Elks served a complete Thanksgiving dinner on Thanksgiving Day. The Lodge funds the 95 food baskets they distribute to needy families and Ed gets all the provisions for the dinner. “We cooked 6 turkeys. I buy some and some are donated.”

That Elks quicken the spirit of American patriotism and hold veterans in high esteem is evident by their actions. 
This past June, at least 20 veterans came for a complete dinner at the Elk’s Lodge. Uniformed Queen Of The Universe R.C. Church Troop 124 Boy Scouts assisted by serving and bussing tables and just talking to the men and woman who gave so much for our country. Elks and their families give generously of their time, energy and resources so that the lives of our ill and aging veterans will be enhanced. Hundreds of thousands of hours and like numbers of dollars are devoted to programs that are designed to keep them true to their pledge: "So long as there are veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them."
They also bring coffee, donuts and Girl Scout cookies to the Philadelphia VA Medical Center [PVAMC], affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania’s Schools of Medicine, Nursing, and Dental Medicine.

The "T" is for "Time," with his scythe and his glass;
He bids us remember, "Do good as ye pass."

The kids aren’t forgotten! The Elks provide a character building, competitive experience for all. Soccer Shoot, "It’s a Kick" and the “Free Throw Program” Hoop Shoot 
capitalize on sporting events to help keep our youth focused and away from undesirable activities. Different contests test different level skills at different ages and the children learn about respect, dedication, loyalty and self-esteem. 
The Elks have sponsored the Levittown Continental Challenger Little League since its inception, as well as a Bristol Borough softball team.

"X" that's the "Xample" we set to the world,
Wherever the standard of Elkdom's unfurled.

Their next “fun”draiser is the Golf Outing at the Bensalem Country Club on Sunday, September 7, 2008. 

The "Z" is the "Zeal" that we have for the Right;
The Alphabet's ended; I thank you - Good Night!

[italicized "The Elk's Alphabet" written on the Elks' 50th Anniversary, 
Brother Raymond A. Brown, New York Lodge No. 1 BPOE]


Bristol Elks #970
95 Wood Street
Bristol, PA  19007
215.788.2312

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Stanley H. Ogryzek of Bristol, Pa., passed away Friday, March 1, 2013, 
at Penn Hospice at Rittenhouse. He was 69.

Born in Philadelphia, he was a resident of Bristol for 36 years.
Stan was a Fr. Judge High School graduate, Class of 1961.
He was a U.S. Army Special Forces veteran, and a member and 
past Exhaulted Ruler of the B.P.O.E. Lodge #970 in Bristol.
He was employed as an electrician with Tri-State in Bristol Boro.

Stan was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Florence (Kocher) Ogryzek.
He will be sadly missed by his daughters, Cynthia Taylor (Kevin), and Lisa Irvin (Ryan); brother, Henry Ogryzek (Adele); and three grandchildren, Cpl. Anthony Taylor, USMC, Alexa Taylor, and Ethan Irvin.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his viewing from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, at the Tomlinson Funeral Home, 2207 Bristol Pike, Bensalem, PA 19020, followed by Elk service at 7:30 p.m., and the Catholic Prayer Service at 7:45 p.m. Interment will be held privately.
Memorial contributions in his name may be made to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Assoc. (ALS), 321 Norristown Road, Suite 260, Ambler, PA 19002. Tomlinson Funeral Home, Bensalem


Stephen Kempff, Linda Ann Bourget-Fenimore, Kristie Gaynor
Edward C. Heacock of Levittown passed away Friday, Jan. 30. 2015, 
surrounded by his loving family. He was 76.

Born in Mifflinville, Pa. and raised in Berwick, Pa., Ed graduated from Berwick High School, Class of 1956, 
and from the Philadelphia Institute of Barbering. He moved to Levittown in 1961, 
where he worked as a barber and eventually opened Edwards Barbershop on New Falls Rd, 
which he owned and operated for over 52 years; and was continuing to work up to the time of his passing.

Ed was never an idle man and loved spending his time being involved in many activities. He was an avid golfer, enjoyed traveling, coordinating events and working with his hands. He was a generous and kind-hearted man who spent his life contributing to his community through his involvement in several organizations including Resurrection Lutheran Church where he served as an usher and on church council. He was a 32 degree Mason and was a member and Past Master of Grant-Brittingham Lodge #788 in Yardley. He was most currently involved with the Bristol Elks Lodge #970 BPOE in Bristol where he was PER and two term trustee. He especially enjoyed playing Santa Claus at the Elks Lodge.

A loving husband, father and proud grandfather and great-grandfather, he adored his family and cherished the relationships that he had with his many friends and hundreds of clients whom he knew over his long career. He was a great public speaker, with a commanding voice. Ed was always quick to come up with a great joke or humorous story and knew how to deliver it.

Son of the late Carl Heacock and Vivian (Lehman) Heacock-Seltzer and brother of the late Barbara Heacock (Mountjoy), he is survived by his wife, Betty (Cliver) Heacock; his children, Lauren Lawton, Linda Turner (Roy), Judy Kruscavage (Ted), Sandra Faist (Doug),and Patricia Martinez (David); his brothers, David Heacock and Ralph Seltzer, 11 grandchildren, Sarah, Jacob, Rachel, Jeffrey, TJ, Billy, Erica, Jessica, David, Chelsea and Casey; and his great-grandchild, Blake.

Family and friends are invited to attend his Celebration of Life, at 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 6, at the Elks Lodge, 95 Wood St., Bristol, PA 19007.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in his name may be made to the Elks Lodge.
To sign the online guestbook or send a condolence, please visit the Web site listed below.Molden Funeral Chapel, Bristol
www.moldenfuneralchapel.com
.