Foundation in memory of late Rockville Centre community man to host fundraiser to help others

Despite the continuing coronavirus pandemic, the Agresti family has been able to support those in need through the Pat Agresti Memorial Foundation, which is preparing for its biggest fundraising event of the year next month.

The foundation was created in the name and memory of the longtime Rockville Centre Little League coach and board member, who died of pancreatic cancer in March 2019, at age 56. Pat’s widow, Mary Agresti, said that she and their three sons, Michael, 30, Christopher, 26, and Patrick, 22, were touched by the outpouring of support after her husband died. In response, they created the foundation to give back to a community that rallied around them in their time of need.

“Someone coined the hashtag #payitforward because of all the ways he gave back to the community, and the community came back 10-fold for us,” Mary said of her late husband. “It was therapeutic to start this foundation, because my sons and I believe that we took a bad situation and are trying to make something good out of it. If we can give back and make a family’s life a little bit easier, that’s why we started this foundation.”

Pat Agresti was known for his generosity, perseverance and sense of humor, Mary said, and for frequently wearing visors. He served on the Little League and Basketball League board of directors for 25 years, and also volunteered as a coach in both leagues.

He was diagnosed with cancer in October 2018. Though doctors at Sloan Kettering Memorial Cancer Center in Manhattan were initially hopeful about his outlook, he eventually took a turn for the worse. As he battled the illness, community members helped the Agresti family in many ways, including sending anonymous gift cards, mowing their lawn and walking their dog.

“When you’re in the hospital and doing chemotherapy treatments, the last thing you want to worry about is paying bills or who’s going to take the dog out,” Mary said. “People in this neighborhood really came through.”

After Pat died, she wanted to continue his community outreach, she said, while also helping those in need in the surrounding area. St. Agnes Cathedral School also honors Pat’s memory each year by presenting an award in his name to a graduating senior who is caring and generous and displays positive morals and ethics.

The Agresti foundation hosted its inaugural softball tournament in the summer of 2019, just months after Pat’s death, and there were 250 players at Barasch Field. The tournament was held on three separate diamonds, and local business Parmagianni donated pizza for all the players. Afterward, about 450 people gathered at Kasey’s Kitchen & Cocktails for a celebration, which included raffles.

Tom Gallucci, one of the board members from the foundation, said he met the Agrestis at the Ocean Club in Atlantic Beach, where he and his wife, Joanne, are members. After Pat’s death, he said, they felt it was only right to keep his legacy going through the creation of the foundation as a way to help others.

“People need help and it’s unbelievable how many people need help,” Gallucci said. “Just a few dollars sometimes makes a difference for some of these people. The foundation is a team effort and it’s unbelievable what happens when people just come out and help.”

Mary said the foundation already has 350 people signed up for this year’s tournament, on Sept. 25. The entry fee is $110 to play softball, which includes the Kasey’s celebration at night, and $75 for those who want to go to Kasey’s but don’t plan to play softball. All proceeds will go to those in need via the foundation. When it hears of someone who is struggling, Mary said, its board meets and decides on how to help.

In all, the nonprofit has raised more than $30,000 for people in need. The donations have included gift cards for supermarkets, restaurants and other businesses, as well as gifts to various charities and foundations, including helping to fund cancer research.

The tournament will be the second one in three years. Though it had to be canceled last year because of the pandemic, Mary said she was excited to bring it back and make it bigger this year.

“It’s honestly a way to honor him,” she said of Pat. “I don’t know who came up with it, but it says it perfectly: Pay it forward. I always write a note on the cards when I send them to people when I donate something. I write that this is a way to honor my husband and pay it forward.”

For more information on the foundation or to sign up for the tournament, visit patagrestimemorialfoundation.com.