Sittin’ On the Dock of The Bay, Emerald Coast Blue Jays Enjoy a Smorgasbord of Blue Jay Camaraderie

A large group of Blue Jays and their families spent an afternoon celebrating Jesuit’s 2014 football state championship at Ernie’s Dockside Oyster Bar & Café in Niceville, Florida. It was the inaugural event for the Emerald Coast alumni chapter (Mobile-Pensacola-Destin).
The Emerald Coast Alumni Chapter gathered at Ernie’s Dockside Oyster Bar and Café on February 28 for their inaugural event.
For this first get-together, the chapter chose to celebrate their alma mater’s recent football state championship. The chapter’s leadership team of Mike Waldo ’70, Ernie Danjean ’82, Dick LaCour ’67, and Brad Bordes ’94 organized the event at Danjean’s restaurant in Niceville, Florida. The incredibly generous and gracious host was all “thumbs up” throughout the party as the alumni and their families enjoyed a bounty of crawfish and other seafood items, all compliments of the former Blue Jay football standout.
Joining the Gulf Coast alumni were several of Danjean’s former classmates and teammates, who traveled from New Orleans to be with the Emerald Coast Jays.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of a framed Jesuit jersey bearing Ernie’s #23 to Ernie by Jesuit football coach Bennie Baptiste ’81 and the defensive captains of this year’s team, Hunter Robert ’15, Robert Lobrano ’15, and Jonathan Giardina ’15. Particularly happy attendees were Lynn Brandin ’61 and Brad Bordes ’94, who respectively took home door prizes of a framed front page of the commemorative edition of The Blue Jay newspaper and a Jesuit football helmet.
Jesuit congratulates the Emerald Coast leadership team, and thanks Ernie for his generosity.
Galleries
Emerald Coast Alumni Chapter Dockside Party, Feb. 28, 2015
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Ernie Danjean's Dockside Oyster Bar & Café was a picture perfect location for the February 2015 Emerald Coast alumni reunion.
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The event got a huge thumbs up and smile from chef and host Ernie Danjean ’82, who donated a smorgasbord of seafood.
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Judy and Mike Waldo '70, who helped coordinate the party and is helping lead the Mobile-Pensacola-Destin group, with Adele and Alex Barthe '81
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Janice and Ned Labremont ’45 with Warren Bondi ’10
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Lynn ’61 and Dee Brandin with Jim Blanchard ’61 (center)
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Brad Bordes ’94 and son Yuta
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Mel Leveque and Mike Giambelluca from the Class of 1982, who made the drive from New Orleans, enjoy the delicious dinner that their friend and former teammate prepared.
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Ernie Danjean ’82, John Hazard ’83, and Michael Giambelluca
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Sid ’69 and Jeanne Stuart, Cynthia and Dick LaCour ’67, with James Williams ’53
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A look at some of the goodies that added color (Blue & White, of course) to the Emerald Coast chapter event.
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Former Blue Jay football players Michael Giambelluca, John Hazard, Mel Leveque, and host Ernie Danjean
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Members of the 2014 state championship team: assistant coach Benny Baptiste '80 with seniors Hunter Robert, Robert Lobrano, and Jonathan Giardina
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Jonathan Giardina '15, a linebacker on the 2014 state championship team, holds a Jesuit glass-enclosed Blue Jay helmet, while his father, Charles Giardina assists Ernie Janjean with a framed jersey (bearing his #23). The jersey and accompanying photos were a gift from assistant coach Benny Baptiste '81 and the Jesuit football program.
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John Hotard '80 with John Hazard and a brand new Blue Jay, John's son, Sonny '20
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Mike Theriot '78 enjoyed the afternoon of Blue Jay Camaraderie.
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Ernie Danjean and Mel Leveque sing the Alma Mater.
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Mike Waldo and Ernie Danjean present a framed front page of the Blue Jay newspaper to Lynn Brandin '61. The gift was one of the door prizes.
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Brad Bordes '94, who is helping lead Jesuit's Emerald Coast Alumni Chaper, and his son Yuta walked away with the football helmet.
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State football champs, yesterday and today: Don Adams '61 quarterback of the 1960 state champions, with key defenders from the 2014 squad, Jonathan Giardina and Robert Lobrano (linebackers) and Hunter Robert (defensive tackle/running back). Robert scored multiple times carrying the ball when the Jays got near the goal line.
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An impressive group of Blue Jay alumni spanning seven decades say farewell until their next time together.