They haven’t even teed up a ball or placed memorial signs around the course, yet, the first-ever John A. Furia Memorial Golf Tournament is already being touted as one of the 2016 season’s best benefit events.
“It’s really exciting,” Vin LaFazia, a member of the tourney organizing committee, offered. “We’re hoping to get a few more foursomes and we’ll sell the tournament out. And that’s incredible for any first-time event.”
There are several reasons why the tourney has created so much interest.
First and foremost, the late John A. Furia, a native Johnstonian who was a devoted family and businessman and Vietnam veteran, helped countless numbers of people before his passing earlier this year.
“We’re doing this (golf tourney) to honor John’s wishes and for the wonderful care his granddaughter Olivia (Furia) received at Boston Children’s Hospital,” Steven M. Placella, a Johnston attorney and family friend who’s chairing the tourney, explained. “All donations from the tourney will be donated to that hospital in memory of John and in honor of Olivia Furia.”
Placella said the tourney will be played on Saturday, Aug. 27, at famed Connecticut National Golf Club in Putnam, Connecticut, and is open to any golfer or people who’d like to make a difference in a child’s care at Boston Children’s Hospital.
Entry fee is $120 per player and includes $10 of raffle tickets, 18 holes of golf with cart, souvenir bag, dinner and “a unique pre-tee off lunch.”
That’s because the late Furia and his wife, Ruth, who once owned and operated Ruthie’s Restaurant that was located where Pete Matteo’s Bar 101 Keepin’ it Simple on Atwood Avenue operates, loved food and always wanted people who came to his home to enjoy some of his special cooking.
So, as yet another tribute to the late Furia, the pre-tourney lunch will feature sausage/peppers/onion sandwiches, hot dogs, grilled chicken and other popular items like chowder and stuffed quahogs.
“We’re even going to have hot wieners at different holes on the course,” Placella went on. “They were one of John’s favorites, so we thought that would be a great idea; we’re sure the golfers will enjoy.”
Placella also noted that the John A. Furia Memorial Golf Tournament will mirror the highly-successful Johnston Memorial Cancer Events Golf Tourney that’s also played every May at Connecticut National and is approaching its 10th anniversary.
“We are getting lots of support for this tourney,” LaFazia, who is also a Vietnam veteran and was Furia’s best friend, wanted it known. “John was well-liked; that’s why we’ve been successful in selling tee signs and we’re hoping to have more when we tee off on Aug. 27.”
Tee signs will be made in memory of loved ones for $25 and tee sponsor signs are available for $60. People who’d like to help should call Placella at (401) 255-3478 or email him at splacella@cox.net or contact John Graham at (401) 497-1027. Any and all golf reservations should be mailed to: Linda LaFazia, 33 Killian Road, Johnston, R.I. 02919.
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