From "Wood Chips to Game Chips" by Bethel Holmes Van Tassel, published in 1985

Wingy Grober and his partners, including Teddy Tracton and his son Red, purchased the Cal Neva Lodge in 1955. The Tractons were also associated with the Silver Slipper and the Sands in Las Vegas. Red now [in 1985] owns Tracton's restaurant in Encino. Dave Siegal, who became a Hollywood producer of "Blackouts", was the entertainment director. Dave Gerson and Sanford "Sandy" Waterman were the other partners.

"From an undated newspaper clipping:

"Gaming License Action Taken by Control Board"

Carson City, March 21. The state gaming control board today recommended the following action on these gambling license applications:...

Sanford Waterman (Miami gambler), 10 percent; Ike Berger (New York taxicab operator), 10 per cent; Bert M. Grober, 60 per cent; David Gerson, 18 percent, and Ray Warren, 2 1/2 per cent... (Waterman and Berger purchased new interests in the lodge and Grober, Gerson and Warren were among the club's operators last season.)..."

Grober, during his reign at the Cal Neva Lodge, was known as the "Grandaddy of Crystal Bay." Christened Bert M. Grober, the name was dropped at the Newark, New Jersey, grammar school he attended when, because of an unmatched arm, the school kids gave hime the nickname "Wingy", by which he has ever since been known.

Grober's successes included Wingy's Inn in Philadelphia and the Park Avenue Steak House in Miami Beach. His supplier for liquor and steaks in Miami was Joe Kennedy, his lifelong friend and father of President John F. Kennedy. During John Kennedy's campaign for the presidency, his father, Joe, spent a great deal of time at the Cal Neva Lodge, where he kept a low profile. Robert Kennedy and his wife, Ethel, Teddy Kennedy and Peter Lawford and his wife, Patricia Kennedy, also spent much time during the campaign at the Cal Neva Lodge. They also visited the North Shore Club frequently and made and received calls there.

Wingy formed Park Lake Enterprises and bought the Cal Neva Lodge in 1956. John Itta came from Miami with Grober and was the showroom maitre d', and to this day [in 1985], when Frank Sinatra is at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, he asks for John's services. Nice, too, is the fact that Sinatra sent Itta to Greece in his private jet to visit his family. Caesars Palace in Las Vegas has a spot called "Wingy's Deli," named for the man who died in January, 1985, at the age of 83, and lived there after selling the Cal Neva Lodge.

whew!!...hopefully I didn't make too many typos...and hopefully I made just enough changes so I don't get busted for copyright infringement...