The Jaffe-Lester Tailgate

The Jaffe-Lester Tailgate was famous and attracted hundreds of visitors every game. Broadcaster J.P. McCarthy of WJR almost always stopped by to ask Dad what kind of gourmet cuisine he was serving up that week.

Also pictured above is an early tailgate party with the whole family, including my brother Kenny; his wife, Pam, holding baby Nicky; my sisters, Stefany and Jenny; me; my parents; and Stefany's husband Gary. Note the custom-painted blue-and-maize van in the background.

After my parents combined their tailgate with Ira's, the maize and blue van had to be replaced with a Ryder truck. Michigan Athletic Director Don Canham hired Bo Schembechler and the two went on to make history at Michigan. Canham was a marketing genius who actively supported tailgating as a way to get more families to come to Michigan games. He always made it a point to stop by the Jaffe-Lester tailgate.