Malverne's Sergeant Thomas Winters remembered through scholarship

Two local high school seniors were recently awarded the first-ever scholarships in memory of Malverne Police Sgt. Thomas Winters, who died suddenly last year at age 55.

Malverne Police Benevolent Association President Anthony Castellano, who was inaugurated in January, helped put together the scholarship in Winters’ name.

Mayor Keith Corbett described Winters, who himself was once the PBA president, as “one of the best police officers we had in this department.”

“It was a devastating blow to his family, the Malverne Police Department and the entire community,” Castellano of Winters’s sudden death last July.

Malverne residents Gregory Waxman and Peter Hawkins had planned a 50-mile run in the Village of Malverne on May 6, raising $10,000 for veterans, police officers and first responders, according to Castellano. Some of that money went to the scholarship, making it the first annual Malverne PBA scholarship in memory of the sergeant.

In past runs for veterans, it became tradition to run the final quarter-mile with the American flag, which inspired Waxman and Hawkins to plan the 50-mile run through Malverne while carrying the nation’s flag.

“It was an amazing testament to the volunteers and all the people who stepped up and continue to do all this in the place where we live,” said Corbett. “We hope to keep the fund going for many years to come.”

The scholarship money went to two recipients, Malverne High School senior Matthew McKeon and Valley Stream North High School senior Vincent Balsamo, who were each awarded $500 at the Aug. 3 meeting of the Malverne Board of Trustees.

In order to apply, applicants had to submit a transcript and write an essay responding to the question, “What is the importance of the service of veterans and police officers to their community?” Applicants’ essays and transcript information were then sent to the sergeant’s family, who chose the two winners.

During the board meeting, two members of the Malverne PBA, Robert Lang and Vice President Joseph Falanga, were asked by the mayor to present the awards. Balsamo and Castellano could not attend the meeting.

Lang said that the award truly honors  Winters’s memory, and will be continued for as long as the scholarship could be funded. “The PD remembers Sgt. Thomas Winters and we all miss him dearly,” Lang said.

During the meeting, Falanga also congratulated the two award recipients, who recently graduated from high school. “We know that both of you will make the town of Malverne, along with the PBA, proud in your upcoming academic year in college,” said Falanga.

“Although Tommy Winters is not here in person today, we know that through this annual scholarship, we will be able to make his memory last forever.”

McKeon will be attending Florida Gulf Coast University in the fall and plans to use the $500 for textbooks. He said that he has a personal connection to the police department, which was his inspiration for applying for the scholarship.

“My dad was a police officer in New York City,” said McKeon, who added that his father’s service with the police was the subject of his essay that ultimately won him the award. 

Mayor Corbett announced that a plaque will be created for the late sergeant and will stand in the small park between Malverne’s Long Island Rail Road station and Connolly Station restaurant.

“Malverne is proud to honor Sgt. Winters the way he deserves for having served this community for many, many years,” he said.