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BOARD MEMBERS

President   Jack LaSelva
Jack’s father, Pat LaSelva, started the Valiant’s from Hyde Park Massachusetts back in the 60s. The Valiants were the Crusaders’ feeder corps. Jack played soprano with the Valiants from 61 to 64. He moved up to the Crusaders as a 1st Soprano and marched with them from 65 to 71. He tells everyone that his time with the junior corps were the best years of his life.
In 91 Jack heard that some of the old Crusaders were forming a Senior Corps and dropped in to see what was going on. He never left. He’s been our Drum Major since the beginning and was elected President in 2002. In 2010 Jack was nominated and inducted into the Massachusetts Drum Corps and Music Educators Hall of Fame.
“It’s an honor to be a part of such a great group of people. I pass on the same traditions that were passed on to me and passed on to all members after me. A QUITTER NEVER WINS and A WINNER NEVER QUITS   Tradition of Excellence!!!  This Senior Corps is made of Giants and we will never die. Be part of the Crusader Senior Corps family you will be glad you did”
Jack is our head cheerleader, booking agent, uniform designer and master of ceremonies (among other duties) and pulls it all off with grace. We’re lucky to have him at the helm.

 
Vice President   Arthur Kellerman
Art Kellerman’s initiation into drum corps began in 1960 when he joined the newly formed Peabody Musketeers, a corps that was organized from the remnants of the disbanded Peabody Clippers. He marched in the Musketeers through the 1963 season, where they had some success competing in the Eastern Mass. and Yankee Circuits. In 1965, he competed with the Majestic Knights of Charlestown and then with the Lt. Norman Prince “Princemen” Senior Corps in 1966. He thought his drum corps days were over forever as he became an active father and youth coach.
While a school teacher, Art bought a second hand trumpet, took a few lessons, and decided to join the kids’ band at the elementary school in which he worked. The students and parents got a kick out of seeing this “mustachioed” sixth grader sitting in at the concerts. Eventually, he improved enough to perform with the Red Man’s Band of Wakefield, and the Rawhides Band of Peabody.
When the Crusaders Senior Corps started up in 1991, he got the bug again, and soon became a proud member of the Crusader family.
Art contributes his writing skills as a staff writer for both Drum Corps World and Masters of the Marching Arts.

Treasurer   Jim Gillett
Jim started his drum corps career in 1950, at the age of 12, with St Ann's Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps, Lawrence, MA.  Now in his 60th consecutive year of drum corps, he is still playing soprano and also serves as the Crusaders Sr Corps' Treasurer. When St Ann's closed in 1951, he joined the Pontiac Chieftains, also of Lawrence, where he started as a slide soprano and eventually served as their Drum Major.  He also taught the color guard and new buglers  until he aged out in 1960. Jim also admits to playing with the PLAV, Lowell; Queensmen, Winchester-Woburn; St Mary's Cardinals, Beverly; and a few others with a fake birth certificate.  In 1961 he joined the Thunderbirds, Sommerville, MA as a solo soprano and did a few stints as Drum Major.  From there the dates get murky as Jim traveled throughout the United States with his job always with his bugle close by.  He has played/marched with the following corps; Pittsburg Rockets, Pittsburg, PA; Toronto Optimists; Lamberville Volunteers, Lamberville, NJ; Pontiac Chieftains Sr Corps, (soprano, drum major, treasurer); Esprit de Corps, Haverhill, MA; Northern Knights; Atlantic Brassmen, Gloucester; Marksmen Sr Corps 1991-1995 (solo soprano, drum major); Sunrisers, Nassau County, NY;   Legends;  and finally with the Crusaders Sr Corps 1995 to present. Jim also marched in the 1991 and 1993 Macy's Thanksgiving Parade with the Summer Music Games All-Star Drum & Bugle Corps and the Daytona Beach  Christmas Festival Drum & Bugle Corps.

Secretary   Nancy Swiniarski
Drum Line Rep   Mike Reed
Color Guard Rep   Nancy Doyle
Nancy marched with the Sacred Heart Joanettes (drill team) of Weymouth from 1961 - 1967. During her 7 years of marching, she was the captain in 1966 (Prep B CYO Champs) and 1967. Nancy's next drum corps experience was as a drum corps Mom. Her daughter marched with the St. Francis Sancians of Weymouth from 1978 - 1987. Nancy's son marched with the Sancians as well as the Boston Crusaders (1986).
Nancy joined the Crusader Senior Corps in 1997 and has been captain of the color guard since 2005. She served on the board as Secretary of the corps from 2006 - 2008.  This is Nancy's second time representing the color guard as a board member.
"I am proud to be marching with this drum corps - GREAT FRIENDS, GOOD TIMES AND LASTING MEMORIES."  

Horn Line Rep   Bill Finnigan
Horn Line Rep   Bill Richards
Bill joined the Imperials of Pembroke in 1965, when my neighbor, Bill McSharry, started the Corps.  He played first soprano for Paul Monte, the corps' first horn instructor, who wanted him to play baritone because of his size.   After Paul, the Imperials were taught by Ed Colbert, Jim Wedge, and Eric Rosen.   Billy's father (Art Richards) became the manager of the Corps.   Bill marched with Pembroke from 1965 to 1975. Today, Bill plays with our lead soprano section.

Horn Line Rep   Matt Warner