JMCE's Co-Ed Memorial Golf Tournament raises thousands for Hasbro Children's Hospital

The Johnston Memorial Cancer Events (JMCE) second annual Glocester Co-Ed Memorial Golf Tournament was without question a smashing success.

In fact, the 18-hole event – which went on despite drizzle and damp conditions Sunday at Glocester Country Club – raised what long-time JMCE secretary-treasurer Linda LaFazia called “an amazing total of $6,200.”

“We’re waiting for a few more checks to come in, and once we pay all the bills, we’re looking at approximately $6,200-plus that we’ll be donating to the Oncology-Hematology Unit at Hasbro Children’s Hospital,” she said. “Everyone had a wonderful day. We already have people who want to sign up for next year’s tournament.”

Sunday’s tournament was only the second in as many years. Much of the day’s success was due to the untiring efforts of chairwoman Judi Graham, who coordinated the event with her husband David.

From the pre-tournament lunch that included sausage and pepper sandwiches, hot dogs, soft drinks, and chips to the post-tourney dinner that was highlighted by the cutting of an extraordinary cake made by committee member Lori Caracciolo, the event offered much more than simply golf.

Even the putting contest, which featured almost all of the day’s playing field, was an overwhelming success, filled with lots of laughter – and, as many people quipped, “lots of near misses.”

However, there wasn’t any missing when it came to the day’s fundraising total, which will be added to the JMCE’s yearly sum. That figure now sits at approximately $26,000. In the past six years, the all-volunteer group has raised upwards of $125,000 for Hasbro Children’s Hospital.

“We would like to thank all those people who were involved in again making this event an overwhelming success, and the committee that worked very, very hard,” Graham said.

She also thanked Greg and May Kernan for their untiring efforts, along with Dewey and Tracy Uriati, Dennis Medeiros and Lori Caracciolo, Jeanne and Brian deLuz, and the LaFazias, Linda and Vin, as well as “the super golf staff here at Glocester Country Club, headed by pro David Maluik, and all the volunteers.”

Linda LaFazia, said “the day would not have been such a great day without the support of our sponsor and chairpersons, David and Judi Graham. Also, the lunch was a huge hit thanks to the efforts of cooks Tom Morra and Tom Bennett, who did a fabulous job.”

The event’s first low gross winners were Walter and Marines Geer and Tom and Kim Buckley. Second low gross went to the twosomes of Dewey and Traci Uriati and Dennis Medeiros and Lori Caraciolo.

The teams of Thomas and Denise Hefner and Pete Podgurski and Nancy Hefner won first low net, while Bud and Kathy Balfour and Joe Danti and Lynn Warner took second low net. Dewey Uriati won the men’s longest drive, and the women’s honor went to Nancy Hefner.

Steve Placella took home the men’s closest to the pin prize, while Marines Nanni-Geer won the women’s event. Brian Curley won the putting contest.