Sy Sundick

Girls Head Counselor



"Sy Sundick was the best Head Counselor (for any camp) that anyone had ever seen. There was no one, anywhere, who could touch him." --Marian Bongino

In the late 1950s, Sy Sundick, the Head Counselor of Broad Channel Day Camp was in charge of activities for over 2000 kids. That was all Joe Bernstein needed to convince Bill Heft that his good friend, Sy, was qualified to handle the job of Girls' Head Counselor at Tyler Hill Camp, starting in 1960. Sy had already known Bill and Joe during his two years (1953-54) as a counselor at Camp Rosemont, where he was a Color War General. Sy also brought Artie Sunshine (who worked for him at Broad Channel) with him to Tyler Hill Camp that first summer.

Almost immediately, Sy set up a revolutionary program that elevated Tyler Hill Camp...not just the Girls' side, but the entire camp. It was widely known that running the Girls' side was the hardest job in camp and Sy led the way with authority and grace. He had the kids (and his staff) eating out of the palm of his hand for over thirty years. He was tough, yet he had a kindness and a softness about him that the girls adored. Only Sy could berate a group of 250 girls, walk away and moments later, hear them sing "We love you Sy, oh yes we do...".

They would sing it, even after spending time sitting in the "Dummy Circle." Whether it was the cologne that he wore, his perfectly matched clothes, the hair that was never out of place, or as Artie and others would joke, that fact he never seemed to perspire, his physical appearance only added to his iconic presence.

And when it came to the events that involved the whole camp, Sy ran the show, and the Head Counselors from the Boys' side were happy and relieved that he did. Back in the days before celebrities came in to help break Color War, Sy relied on the element of surprise, as he orchestrated some of the most memorable Color War breaks in Tyler Hill Camp history. He introduced the Hatchet Hunt to Color War, first on the Girls' side, then for the whole camp. His wife, Selma, managed to hold the entire camp hostage every summer, for the five days of Color War, just by creating the clues for the whereabouts of a well-hidden garden tool. Sy reveled in the frustration and excitement that the Hatchet Hunt created, but he also derived great satisfaction in knowing how much everyone enjoyed the event.

Former camper Tracy Ratner once said, "There was nothing worse than seeing that look of disappointment on Sy's face...you never wanted to let him down, because we all loved him so much." He delighted in pulling off elaborate practical jokes on unsuspecting newcomers to his staff. Sy tried not to play favorites, but he made no secret about his feelings for his close friends during his 31-year tenure.

Herman saw him as a son, Joe saw him as a brother, Artie Sunshine was his confidant and Bette Jane was like a daughter to him, as was Brenda Tinges, whose death in 1982 left him deeply wounded. But it was Selma who, in spite of the long and exhausting hours that Sy worked, always stood by him for those 31 years.

Video Clip: Sy's legacy

He was a father figure to so many of the campers who needed that extra dose of love and attention. He was also a mentor (and that same father figure) to many on his staff. Few ever questioned his authority, but he was often seen going nose to nose with Bill, fighting for what he felt was best for Girls' Camp. And Bill usually gave in. The mutual respect that grew between these two giants is what helped to build Tyler Hill Camp into the powerhouse it became for decades. He was often approached by other camp owners, who wanted him to work for them, but Bill knew Sy's value and never let it happen. His loyalty to Joe, to Bill, to his staff and to Tyler Hill Camp were all part of Sy's core of integrity. His work ethic was a standard which others could only hope to follow and while few at camp worked longer hours than Sy did...even fewer took their job more seriously than he did.

When Sy retired from his post after the 1990 season, to Selma's relief, it really was the end of an era.