Closing of The Bellevue-Stratford Hotel 1986

The Bellevue-Stratford Hotel (BSH), in Philadelphia, became famous globally for the outbreak of what was named Legionnaires Disease in 1976 as the American Legion was conducting its statewide convention in the city and the BSH was the headquarters property. The outbreak of this infectious bacterium resulted in the death of 25 men and the hospitalization of scores more..
The property closed shortly thereafter, and reemerged after extensive renovation.  Bart Moore was the first Westin manager, arriving in 1980. Five years later I followed Bart in that capacity.
The management contract called for Westin and the owner, the Richard Rubin Company, to participate equally in operating shortfalls and capital improvements. By the time I arrived Westin was $4 million into the property with no negligible contribution by Rubin.
The decision was made to close the hotel and after several starts and stops it closed on March 7, 1986.  
The accompanying ad ran in the Philadelphia Enquirer to staunch rumors that we were closing in late January of that year.
Two other downtown hotels closed within 12 months of The Bellevue-Stratford. The good news was that 12 BS associates traveled with me as permanent employees to open the Westin Cypress Creek in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.