By Jennifer Marino
It could have been any charitable golf tournament, but the red, white and blue balloons, the hats and t-shirts with the silhouette of the World Trade Center and the fire helmet up for auction told that this was the first annual Friends of Rockville Centre 911 Memorial Golf Classic as part of RVC Across America Day.
There were celebrity participants like at other golf tournaments, but those who garnered the most admiration were Missy Sherry, who lost her husband, John, and Bernie O'Brien, who lost his son, Timmy and son-in-law, Steve.
I couldn't have done it without you, said Sherry through tears, referring to the organization and the whole community.
Bernie O'Brien read a poem entitled From Darkness into Light written by his youngest son Sean out of his grief. An emotional crowd gave both O'Brien and Sherry a standing ovation.
The emphasis of the day was remembrance and honor, and the atmosphere was hopeful. Bill Hogan, Friends of RVC co-founder, commented in his speech that he hopes that when the kids graduate from college, their tuition having been paid by the Friends of Rockville Centre foundation, they can look back and have proof of how loved their parent was by a whole community.
The outing was filled with Rockville Centre residents and those with Rockville Centre ties, like Kevin Delane of Rye, NY. Delane's wife Suzanne is from Rockville Centre and he worked with John Sherry. It's obviously a great cause and a great organization, said Delane. He also added that the Friends of RVC helps the kids and, being a parent, that means a lot to him.
Another golfer with Rockville Centre ties was Scott Layden, president and general manager of the Knicks. Layden, whose father, Frank, coached basketball at St. Agnes High School, called it a wonderful cause.
We're honored to be here to support it, he said wearing an FDNY hat, by we he meant himself and Steve Mills, president and general manager of Madison Square Garden.
There were quite a few celebrities involved in the day including NBC sports anchor Bruce Beck, country singer Vince Gill, former Met Rusty Staub, Captain of the NY Rangers Brian Leetch, former St. John's coach Lou Carnesecca, and former NYC Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen.
Participants also learned a few things about the celebrities. For instance, Clark Gillies, former NY Islander and four-time Stanley Cup winner, is spontaneously generous. The last item up for bid was his signed jersey, so Gillies got on the microphone and added a box, which is twelve seats, for an Islanders/Rangers game. The winning bid ended up as one of the highest of the night, $6,300.
Hogan placed the highest bid of the night on a trip for four to Ireland. Both his name and that of the other co-founder, Greg DeVerna was also seen on several of the silent auction bid sheets. These men seemed determined to make the day a success even if they had to buy everything themselves.
They didn't have to worry. The live auction, run by auctioneer Charlie DeVerna, raised $61,400 towards the college tuition for the children of those lost. The day as a whole raised over $250,000. That's not to mention the 85 fund-raisers held across America and even overseas.
I thought the day was a success because it really captured what we're trying to do
