By:Jason Scheer
Fame was something Pons had never expected, he just wanted to play bass guitar.
"It was pretty much a fantasy experience in the beginning but it turned into a career," he said of his time with The Turtles, which ended in 1973.
The fantasy experience continued in an alternative form after he left the band. After leaving his California residence and relocating to New York, Pons began a career with the New York Jets. He developed and ran a film department that was in charge of filming all the teams' games and practices that coaches used to study and review for game plans.
As an associate of the Jets, Pons got to meet some of the sports world's most revered members. It was yet another chapter in a dream-filled life.
Pons was not free from nightmares, however. David, one of his three sons, was diagnosed with a disease called Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism. Pons and his wife, Pat Elvir, anxious to learn as much as possible about the disease, found the medical community incapable of calming their nerves or answering their questions.
"The hardest part is the moment after you hear your child is different," Pons said.
Feeling alone in their battle for information, Pons and Elivir decided to do something to help David, themselves, and others afflicted with autism. Rather than accept their situation, the couple founded The David Center, a place where people could go for education, diagnoses, treatments and support for Asperger's and similar disorders.
Meeting in the stars
Patty Romanowski Bashe was born in Kansas and moved from state to state. Her travels eventually ended in New York.
She majored in English literature at CUNY Herman H. Lehman College and found her way into the world of publishing.
For 20 years, she has distinguished herself as an author, a copy editor and a researcher. She has helped co-author books by stars such as Mary Wilson, Vanna White and Donny Osmond.
Through her work as a writer, she also was able to satisfy her love for music. She is the editor of The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll, a position that has garnered her national awards.
Bashe, a Baldwin resident, was living a surreal life, but like Pons, she, too, received news that would change her life forever. Her son, Justin, was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. Initially, she felt scared and alone.
"It's a devastating diagnosis for any parent," she said. "One day, you think your child is just a little different and then you receive the diagnosis that your child has a lifelong neurological disability and no one can predict what's going to happen.
"Suddenly you find yourself in this whole parallel universe of special education and new insurance concerns, medical concerns and financial concerns. It just permeates everything."
Unlike Pons, when he and his wife got the diagnosis, Bashe had somewhere to turn; The David Center.
It's a haven," she said.
Bashe found a home at the center, whose offices are now located in Rockville Centre. She also found a new career, that of Executive Director of the center. In addition, she served as co-president of Baldwin's special education PTA and returned to school for her masters degree in special education.
"Because of my son, I literally changed my life," she said. "I made a u-turn."
As the director of the center, she is in constant contact with parents and family members of those suffering from the disease. In order to help these people cope, the center offers a variety of programs designed to make life easier.
The David Center hosts support groups, sponsors a scholarship program for children with autism and helps educate people as to how to live with autism in the family. It also helps with the little things, like finding an appropriate dance class or extra-help tutor.
"For a lot of these parents, finding the right school, the right program, the right dentist, the person who can do their haircut, can become a full-time job," she said. "We're trying to be a resource to them."
She hopes that her work at the center will continue to make life easier for families.
Calling in the chips
The pair of Baldwin residents are now teaming together to raise money for the center in order to help other families afflicted by autism.
The David Center will be sponsoring a "Rock Autism" concert at MuLCahey's, 3232 Railroad Avenue, Wantagh on Saturday, Nov. 20. The headlining band will be none other than The Turtles.
In addition to the musical draw of the event, there will be something for sports fans as well. Concert goers will have the chance to win raffle prizes and participate in auctions. Some of the items up for bids include jerseys signed by the likes of Emmit Smith and Chad Pennington, Jets tickets, Super Bowl XXXIX tickets and a Pro Bowl Hawaiian vacation.
"Now I'm just calling in all my chips from the sports world and the music world," Pons said.
Tickets to the event are still available for $50, $100 and $200. The $200 ticket, dubbed the Ultra VIP pass, will include access to the private "living room," four hours of a complimentary open bar and gourmet food and hors d'ouevres.
Those purchasing the premium pass will also receive a free Turtles CD and be entered in a special raffle for a framed Turtles gold record.
Bashe explained that this year's concert is the second in what she hopes will become an annual event. She is confident that this year's event will be better than last years.
"It's a great night out," she said. "It's a wonderful opportunity for parents to come out and have a good time and raise money for The David Center."
For tickets to the concert or for more information on The David Center call (516) 536-3717. Or visit The David Center on the web at http://www.thedavidcenter.org/. Their office is located at 176 No. Village Ave., Suite 2H, Rockville Centre.
comments on this story? jscheer@liherald.com
