TIMMY SPADA GOLF CLASSIC A SUCCESS!
“The champions (Christopher Holmes, Sean Gorman, Adam Feinstein and Mike Briggs) are joined by T.S.M.F. board member Nate Spada”
The 2nd Annual Timmy Spada Memorial Golf Classic was held on June 19, 2017 at the Club at River Oaks in Sherman, Connecticut. The day, which included a dinner reception and auction, raised over $15,000 in total funds, much of which will be donated to the official beneficiary of the event, the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation.
80 golfers competed in the tournament, which was won by a group from Boston, MA: Christopher Holmes, Sean Gorman, Adam Feinstein and Mike Briggs. They scored -13 under par with a 58 (on par 71). The long drive challenge was won by Joe Casanova of New Milford, who hit a drive estimated at 305 yards. The closest to the pin challenge was won by Jimmy Purdy of New Milford, with his tee shot landing 4-feet-10-inches from the hole. A 2017 Jeep Wrangler was up for grabs for hitting a hole-in-one, courtesy of Wetmore’s, but nobody won the challenge.
At the reception, Connecticut State Representative Bill Buckbee (67th District) was decorated as the annual honoree, an accolade earned due to his long record of charitable and public service to the New Milford community. In addition to his representation in Hartford, Buckbee is also the executive director of Harrybrooke Park, one of New Milford’s historic treasures. He is also well known for being Santa Claus, who every winter brings happiness to thousands throughout his community, and who even visits children in their own homes on Christmas Eve. Buckbee was presented the honor by Danbury Police Detective Jim Lalli and last year’s honoree Jim Spada.
Representative Buckbee did not just receive honors, he was also presenting them. Myke Furhman of New Fairfield, CT, the president of the Timmy Spada Memorial Foundation, was given an official citation from the Connecticut General Assembly due to his founding of the Timmy Spada Memorial Foundation and continuing a proud legacy for the Spada family and New Milford community.
In Furhman’s keynote speech, he announced that the Timmy Spada Memorial Foundation will be holding a second event this year – the Spada Bowl Flag Football Championship. One of the beneficiaries of the event will be the John Pettibone Memorial Scholarship Fund, who will present a Tim Spada Scholarship to a New Milford student.
The Timmy Spada Memorial Foundation was established earlier this year to honor Tim Spada, a New Milford resident who took his own life over two years ago. In life, Tim he was a great friend and beloved by all who knew him. His legacy as New Milford High School athlete, especially as the school’s starting quarterback on the football team for four years, lives on through the foundation. This year’s beneficiary was chosen to receive funds in order to battle brain diseases, promote suicide prevention and to raise awareness and fight the stigma that comes with behavioral disorders.
Other notable finishes in the golf tournament include the second place group (and top placing Connecticut team) scored -11 under par: Joseph Ernst, Justin Ernst, Jeremy Ernst and Ryan Poeti. Last year’s champions came in a tie for third place at -9 under par: Greg Kaiser, Ryan Kaiser, Matt Gambone and Tom Gambone. Their team name, the “Cornwall Crew”, represents their growing up next door to Spada on New Milford’s Cornwall Drive.
For more information please visit www.timmyspada.org.
“State Representative Bill Buckbee, this year’s honoree, receives his green jersey from Jim Spada, last year’s honoree.”
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