THE TRIANGLE CONNECTION
Our Vision
To provide social interactions & further the visibility of our LGBTQ+ community within Lake County, Fl.
We strive to create stronger bonds & encourage diversity by welcoming all allies & all members of the LGBTQ+ umbrella.
Our History
The Triangle Connection was founded in 2005 by LGBTQIA+ folks from the Florida cities of Eustis, Mount Dora and Tavares (a.k.a., The Golden Triangle). We are a not-for-profit recreational organization which offers social and service opportunities for the LGBTQIA+ community. The Triangle Connection is an inclusive group, coordinated by 100% volunteers. Its premiere Meet-n-Greets are attended monthly at local area restaurants by our network of growing members and participants. Our list of Events include a variety of activities with something for everyone.
Before The Triangle Connection
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THE FOUNDERS
Scot Cornwall, who helped found a similar social organization in his old Boston neighborhood of Dorchester, and his spouse Bill Opperman moved to northern Lake County in 2005. After more than 25 years together, they were legally married in Massachusetts in 2004. Cornwall and Opperman – as well as Triangle Connection co-founders Ed Fenninger and Charly Schormann (also formerly of Boston and also legally married) – chose to make their home in this area due to the area locals doing such an excellent job of bringing the LGBTQ community together.
Other organizers and early supporters of The Triangle Connection include Bill Sievert and John Theis, spouses Sally Sellers and June Sellers, Joan Kennedy, Bob Dumais and Jamie Simpson, Bruce Freeman and Dale Gruber.
Triangle Connection
Board Members
Donald Yeager
President
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Originally from Michigan, Donald and his husband Keith moved to Florida in 1994, first landing in Ft Lauderdale, they then spent Twenty-nine years in Lakeland. One night Donald Googled “small quaint gay friendly towns in Florida. Guess what town is number one on that search…. None other than our beloved Mount Dora. They moved to Mount Dora October 2023 and recently have moved to a home in Eustis. Donald retired from Geico after Twenty-six years in January of 2024.
Todd Mortvedt
Vice President
Born and raised in Iowa, Todd lived in St. Louis for 25 years, where he met his husband Sherman, before moving to Lake County. Both had enough of the cold winters in the Midwest and are now happy working full time at home which also keeps their English Bulldog, Nikko, happy. They love their new, warmer life in Leesburg and enjoy spending time at the parks, exploring Central Florida and making new friends at Triangle Connection gatherings.
Dennis Dawson
Treasurer
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Dennis, a Wisconsin native, has called Florida home for the past 25 years. After falling in love with Mount Dora during the 2015 Bike Festival, he and his husband Emilio moved from Miami Beach to Mount Dora in 2016. He represents District 3 on the Mount Dora City Council and works full-time as the Director of Change Management for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in NYC. When not working, he and Emilio enjoy cooking, traveling and spending time with their two Golden Retrievers, Cian and Tadhg.
Norm Gentry
​Secretary​​​​
​A Hoosier native that has been a Floridian since 1985. Norm and his husband Tom Johnson moved to Mt Dora from Orlando in June of 2024. “We visited Mt Dora regularly and we finally said, let’s move here and we absolutely love being part of the community!”. Norm works for the Hope and Help Center, an HIV/AIDS resource center in the Ryan White Program as an Intensive Case Manager while his husband is retired and does volunteer work. “Tom is also an excellent cook and baker, plus he takes care of our two cats, Axel and Irma”. They enjoy travelling abroad as well as being avid Royal Caribbean cruisers.
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David Kees
Committee Coordinator
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David moved to Mount Dora, from Raleigh, NC about 9 years ago. Here he joined his amazing Sister and her family. He retired from a 37 year career in the Corporate Grocery Business. He enjoys spending time with his family and friends, traveling and taking cruises. With over 40 visits to Key West... it is definitely his happy place!
Triangle Connection
Ambassadors
Rick Sayre
Social Media Coordinator
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Rick is a third generation Floridian who took a 12-year time out in New York. He was a bookseller for a long time and a bookstore manager for a short time before finally finding his dream job captioning videos from home in his pajamas! He was recruited by family to be a cat-sitter in Mount Dora for half the year & spends the other half in Miami, missing the cats & Mount Dora. He loves books, music, and is obsessed with movies. @homospinster on Insta!
Bruce Cusic
Trans Awareness and Voter Advocacy
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A native of North Florida, Bruce retired to Lake County a few of years ago. He quickly became an integral part of the Triangle Connection at one time even becoming President. today he spends his days supporting the Transgender community with trans educational seminars & awareness, as well as supporting other identities that may feel like outliers in the LGBTQ+ umbrella.