Artie Sunshine

Girls' Waterfront, Boys' Head Counselor, Water-skiing Instructor, Cisco Kid, Camp Drummer

   

There are very few people from Tyler Hill Camp bearing a last name that more appropriately describes their personality. In fact, only this guy comes to mind. Those who knew him well, understood that beneath his buoyant, fun-loving and good-time persona, was a fun-loving guy who really knew how to have a good time. Over the years, he was seen driving his orange VW Beetle, his orange Yugo, and finally, his red Jeep, which bore the license plate, "H2OFRONT." Artie was surely one of the most beloved characters at Tyler Hill Camp. In a career that lasted over thirty years, Artie made sure that the campers had an enjoyable and safe experience at the Girls' Waterfront. He took his responsibilities very seriously, which is why there was never a serious injury on his watch.

Artie was an icon at camp, known for his booming "Ah-bay!" cheer, which everyone usually responded to instinctively. He created the ultimate hero for the Girls' side: The Cisco Kid. Cisco made several appearances each summer, dressed in his poncho and riding in on horseback, usually just before Color War. If he couldn't get a horse, he rode in on his motorcycle. When the kids heard the Spanish music over the loudspeakers, they knew that Cisco was approaching. In many staged events on campus he battled and usually defeated various adversaries, such as The Hawk (Howie Pike) and later on, The Cropsy Maniac (Paul Sundick). On several occasions, Artie went up into a helicopter for Color War breaks, and fakes. He was also a musician, who regularly played the drums for the camp plays, and in the early sixties, was also part of the Tyler Hill Symphony, led by Tyler Hill Camp's legendary Music Supervisor, Milt Friedman.

Shortly before the start of the 1972 season, Bill and Joe were in a tough situation, as their Boys' Head Counselor for the previous six summers, Eddie Michael, decided not to return. They offered Artie the job, and to the dismay of Sy and the entire Girls' Camp, he accepted. At the end of that summer, Artie knew his calling was at the Waterfront, and to the delight of Girls' Camp, Sunshine was back on the docks the following summer.

Video Clip: View a rare hilarious clip of Artie during the 1972 season with his "boys"!

Video Clip: More on Artie's important place in THC history

But Artie had other strengths, too, which included being a confidant to his good friend, Sy Sundick. There were few people that Sy trusted more than Artie, as he let him in on just about every secret plan he had. Sy often referred to Artie as his "main man..." and made many key decisions based on Artie's good advice. He also served as one of Sy's "Black-Ops" men, carrying out various covert operations and dirty tricks for Sy.

People will always remember that whenever there was a party at camp, Artie was always in the middle, seeming to have the most fun of anyone. Some referred to him as "Artie the Party." But Bill regarded Artie as a consummate and reliable professional. Artie was, and continues to be, a good friend to many of the faithful from camp, as well as being a popular figure in the Tyler Hill area at large. His staff as well as the campers adored him and ultimately, he's one of the great legends of Tyler Hill Camp.