06/13/2023
Dear Gymnastics Plus Family, the Gymnastics Community, my Family and Friends,
It is with sadness that after 42 years the Gymnastics Plus era is coming to an end. It is time for me to retire from the gymnastics world. I know many in the Slidell community are upset about the closing of Gymnastics Plus, but unfortunately, after a 3-year search, I was unable to find anyone to take the reins. With that said, I want to take a moment to thank so many in the community for their loyalty and support throughout the years. I will miss all the smiling faces around the gym, but it is that time in life to move on to other things.
I must say, it has been a journey. We certainly put the “plus” in name Gymnastics Plus! We had gymnastics programs for men and women, an acro-program, a music program, swimming lessons, day camps, birthday parties, cheerleading, ninja, karate and more. We even had a church start up in the gym, Lamb of God Lutheran Church. The congregation had over 100 people worship every week for a few years until they built a beautiful sanctuary in Slidell. That is what you call a PLUS! There are so many fond memories. It has been such an honor to work with so many wonderful people thru the years. God has most certainly blessed us.
As this era comes to an end, I say “thank you” to so many people that made this 42 year journey possible. It is impossible to name everyone, however I want to highlight a few individuals who have had a significant impact on me, both personally and professionally, which greatly contributed to the success of Gymnastics Plus.
Peggy Beckwith - It all started with “Mom”. It is not until you get older that you realize how precious time is, that non-renewable resource. Mom spent countless hours driving me back and forth from the gym and competitions. Her financial sacrifices and her invaluable gift of precious time is what gave me the start in the gymnastics world, along with all of her love and support! Thanks Mom!
Bobbie Gross – I was 16, and too young to incorporate. My late Grandmother, affectionately known as “ManMan” (pronounced maw maw), put herself on the line, she went to the attorney’s office with me and signed the papers to incorporate. Although I used money from lawn mowing days to startup, she put her name on the line and took the risk for me. She also provided me with a home and meals for many years before and after the start-up of the gym. She taught me how to save, reconcile a bank account, instilled a work ethic and the utmost importance of staying faithful to God. 40 years ago we did not have email or cell phones. I can remember in the first few years in business, AT&T introduced something new, called “Call Forwarding”. I would forward the gym phone to our home and she would sit at the kitchen table answering the phone, taking messages on a tablet for me to address when I returned home from school. ManMan was the absolute best! She was the finest Christian woman I’ve ever known, and none of this would have been possible without her. She is now resting at peace with our Heavenly Father!
Mariane Boyer – No one could ask for a better second Mom, friend and mentor. Marianne, the founder of Riverbend Gymnastics in New Orleans, taught me so much. She freely shared her ideas and gave me both personal and business advice regularly. For many years she was so generous with her time, talking and supporting me daily. Marianne, I will never forget and I can say with certainty, I wouldn’t be where I am without you. Thank you for all you have done. Love ya Marrianne!
Brenda Eberhardt – I am so glad we did not have call blocking back in the day. For 42 years, Brenda has not only judged meets for me every year, but she has been generous with her time answering my numerous calls for help and advice throughout the years. She helped me with meet organization questions and other business issues, always lending an ear. Yes, you yelled at me a few times. . . but it was always motherly! Thank you Brenda!
Ron Bernhard – Ron was my boss at USDA for many years. Many people don’t know this, but when I opened in Slidell, Ron told me where to locate the gym, as he lived in Slidell. Ron was right! Location, Location, Location! Also, I couldn’t call the gym “New East Gymnastics Club” any longer, and didn’t know what to call it. Ron said, how about “Gymnastics Plus!”. Who would have thought? Ron was a great boss, mentor and friend, supporting me and helping me grow not only in my career at USDA, but personally. Ron spent many hours listening to me and giving advise on both personal and work issues. Ron, you give meaning to the words “class” and “integrity”, and I could not have asked for a better boss, 2nd dad and role model. Without having your positive energy as a boss, I would never have had the energy to “do the gym thing” in the evenings. You are the best and appreciated more than you know. I am so happy you and Adrienne are enjoying retirement. You both deserve it!!!
Mark Bohnet – Mark is my cousin/brother and he is the “real” CPA in the family. Since day one, Mark has been there doing my accounting work, taxes and giving constant advice and moral support consistently for over 40 years. I remember for many years, Mark came to the gym every Wednesday night, not only to do book work, but to spend quality time with my girls and take us all out to dinner! “Uncle Mark” as everyone at the gym affectionately knows him, has been a consistent factor helping the gym be a success all of these years. Mark also is the best listener in the WORLD! He has put up with hearing about “Eddie” and “Gym Plus” problems for years. Thank you for not running away! You are absolutely the BEST!
Mark Cohn – The other Mark, known at the gym as “Mr. Mark”, has been a great friend and “brother from another mother” for over 30 years. Not only did Mark help in the start-up of Gym Plus in Slidell by coaching the boys, he developed our website, networked our computers, installed and monitored security cameras and did everything and anything IT since day one. Whenever Shelly, Rebecca or I called, Mark came to the rescue. We have abused him and called WAY too many times, but he never complained. Mark, you have always been there both personally and professionally. They don’t come any better than you my friend! THANK YOU!
Cheryl and Jerry Lohfink – 30 years ago they walked thru the doors of a new gym in Slidell to enroll their daughters, one of which is Rebeeca Franzo, who became a great gymnast and then then years later the gym’s general manager. We had just opened a second location in a small retail space in a shopping center, a 25 ft x by 50 ft space with 9 foot ceilings. Within a year, we had had 200 kids! This was crazy, how did this happen? On registration forms, we had a block that read “How did you find out about Gymnastics Plus? Some of the forms came back with “word of mouth”, others had “news paper ad”, but most of them had, “CHERYL LOHFINK”! Cheryl began helping from the beginning in many ways, including coaching. Her and Jerry were instrumental in the building of our facility, running meets and even watching my daughters! Cheryl and Jerry are great friends and two of the finest people and role models I have ever met. They exemplify the true meaning of the word Christian! Cheryl and Jerry, you will always be family, and I am forever grateful for all you have done.
Rebecca Franzo – Rebecca Franzo started as one of my gymnasts, moved to coach, head Team Coach, Assistant Manager, and then General Manager of Gymnastics Plus. I could not be more proud!!!! Rebecca, there aren’t enough words or time to describe what a fine young lady you are. You are great daughter (Thanks to Jerry and Cheryl for sharing!), mother to Austin and Alex, and wife to your wonderful husband Chris. You have done an awesome job running the gym, sharing love and kindness to everyone that walked thru the doors. You have been a great mentor to so many young kids. You have been there for me personally and professionally thru adversities and great times. We’ve been thru Katrina and the Pandemic, and following these two events, it was you and Shelly who got the gym back up and running, you both get ALL the credit, not me! Thanks for all you have done and putting up with me for over 30 years!
Shelly Williams – Who would have thought, when Ms. Nan brought you to gymnastics at age 6 years old, 44 years ago, that you would still be here! You were a joy to coach as a young child, a fun challenge in high school years, and then you turned into a great coach and business woman! You have been with me, before day 1, and stuck by me till the end! How you have put up with me for all these years is truly commendable and a miracle! You are fine mother to Blake and Aubrey and great wife to your wonderful husband Eric. I couldn’t be more proud of you! There is no way the gym would have been the success it has been without you. There is no way to adequately express my appreciation. You have been there for me professionally and personally, through many low points as well as the highs. You have definitely been the STABILITY FACTOR! You stay calm and cool it the most chaotic situations, I don’t know how you do it, you are amazing! You are a true blessing from God and I am eternally grateful. You have had my back like no other and it goes both ways! You absolutely the very best!
In closing, and I hope the young folks are still reading, I am most grateful to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who has carried me thru this gymnastics journey and life journey. These wonderful people that have supported Gymnastics Plus, are gifts from God, from whom all blessings flow. We have all worked hard together to build a Christian institution that thousands of children have come thru. Rebecca, Shelly and I have always felt that our mission was to provide a safe environment where we could uplift, show love, and share our Christian values with children to help them grow into fine adults. Providing Gymnastics instruction was merely a tool to accomplish that. To all the children that have come thru Gym Plus, I pray that you will pass it on and always keep God first in your lives. This is not a good bye, but merely a “farewell until we meet again”! Thanks again to everyone who has supported me personally and "Gymnastics Plus!” May God Bless you all!
Sincerely,
Eddie Reso
