Caryle Wolahan began her journey to Lake Hopatcong at six weeks old in a canoe heading to her grandparents summer home, Camp Mohawk, on Halsey Island. It was there that her love of the lake grew and for the next 68 years she spent each summer on Lake Hopatcong.
“My family has owned lake property since 1925. All of my life this lake has been home to me, especially Halsey Island. This is where my roots are- where I spent many wonderful summers learning to operate a power boat long before I was 13 years old, and water skied everyday with my brother and cousin and other island friends,” said Caryle. Caryle joined the Lake Hopatcong Yacht Club in 1955 as an independent junior where she learned to sail competitively, racing Thistle sailboats weekly. She recalls spending many fun times at the club as a teen and is still an active member today, along with some of her former junior friends dating back to the 50’s. She is the Fleet Surgeon, substitutes on the race committee, teaches CPR courses, and coordinates blood drives for the yacht club. Caryle owned her parent’s home on Halsey Island until 1993 when she bought her next home in Byram Cove. Although Caryle no longer owns a lake house she is on the lake either at the yacht club or visiting the Rosevears' lake house at least once a week. Caryle’s family spent summers on Halsey Island with her grandparents, who were Shakespearean actors and discovered the lake when they would perform in the hotels during the summer circuit. Eventually her parents purchased a house two doors down from her grandparents and directly across from the Main Lake Market-formerly Prospect Point Boat Yard. The property was the former camp on Halsey Island known as “Ru-Me-Nuf."
Caryle earned a BS degree in nursing from Wagner College on Staten Island, and later an MS and PhD from Columbia. She was employed by Mt. Sinai Hospital in NYC, taught nursing at Trenton State College, eventually becoming the Dean for a nursing program in NYC, and Dean and teacher of nursing at Adelphi University School of Nursing.
Although retired the medical profession is still in her blood…or anyone interested in donating.
Caryle runs an annual blood drive held at the Lake Hopatcong Yacht Club. This year the drive is on August 21st from 9:30-2:30. It is open to the community- on and around the lake and walk-ins are welcome.
What is your favorite lake destination?
What is your earliest lake memory?
My earliest memory is of being with my grandmother when I was about 4 years old. The Dugan man delivered bread and powdered donuts to the house in the morning. He tied up his boat and walked up to the house with what my grandmother ordered. I thought that getting Dugan by boat was exciting. That same afternoon an excursion boat picked us up and took us for a ride around the lake, this was in 1946. I also fondly remember the beautiful clear, weed free water of the 40's and 50's.
Describe your perfect summer day on the lake.