Sewickley's Tapas Talks presents Will Bardenwerper

The second installment of the 2025 Tapas Talks speaker series was held May 1 at the Allegheny Country Club. The talk featured former financier, U.S. Army infantry officer, Pentagon official and author Will Bardenwerper, entitled “Foul Deeds and Fair Balls: An Insider’s View of a Captured War Criminal and the Saving Grace of Baseball.”

After a social hour featuring live music, tapas and drinks, guests gathered to listen to an engaging presentation moderated by Marcie McClintic-Coates. The interview-style talk explored the fascinating themes and experiences detailed in Bardenwerper’s best-selling book, “The Prisoner in His Palace: Saddam Hussein, His American Guards, and What History Leaves Unsaid,” and his latest book, “Homestand: Small Town Baseball and the Fight for the Soul of America.”

Following Bardenwerper’s presentation, the audience posed thought-provoking questions about why the Princeton-educated Bardenwerper left his career on Wall Street after the 9/11 terror attacks to serve in the U.S. Army as an Airborne Ranger-qualified infantry officer. The discussion covered what inspired the Sewickley resident to become a New York Times journalist, earn a master’s degree in international studies, become a Presidential Management Fellow at the Pentagon and write his two books.

Afterward, Bardenwerper signed copies of his books at a table set up by the Penguin Bookshop while guests enjoyed an ice cream and cookie dessert bar. Subscribers are now looking forward to the series’ final talk on Oct. 23, featuring Michael A. Cherock, PE, president and CEO of AE Works, Ltd,. who will share his talk entitled “From the Depths of the Sea to the Boardroom: How the Navy Shaped my Leadership Journey.”

The mission of Tapas Talks is to inform, inspire, connect and give back to the Sewickley community by offering an inviting venue where neighbors can celebrate one another’s achievements. The series is made possible by generous sponsorships,which allow Tapas Talks can fund grants to deserving Sewickley area nonprofits and give honorariums to the speakers. Bardenwerper donated his to the Sewickley YMCA’s preschool program teacher appreciation and recognition efforts.