Mazzie golf tourney enjoys big year

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They honored a late and former teacher-coach countless people often referred to as “The Renaissance Man.”

In fact, Cranston Country Club located at 69 Burlingame Road looked more like a number of small reunions rather than a golf tournament.

Perhaps Ed Skovron and Dan Pisaturo – who played shortstop and third base respectively for Johnston High School’s 1963 state champion baseball team – were perfect examples of the field of 80 golfers who showed up for the annual Gary V. Mazzie Memorial Golf Tournament.

“We’ve got alumni and friends from years past,” offered Jim Hopkins, a former JHS teacher and coach who chairs the Prestigious Athletic Hall of Fame he late Mazzie founded. “This is truly a special day filled with proud Panthers.”

A total of 80 golfers, many of whom who so proudly wore the Columbia Blue and White, enjoyed the 18-hole event that was a mighty memorial to a man who was Mr. JHS before he succumbed go a battle with lung cancer back on Oct. 1, 2015.

Since then, Hopkins and the Hall of Fame Committee have held the golf go-round that benefits the now prestigious Gary V. Mazzie Memorial Scholarships that is annually presented to a boy and girl in the JHS Senior Class.

The tournament’s success, which Hopkins said is largely due to the harking efforts of former Panther Jon Graham, ensures that the Mazzie Memorial Scholarships – which were recently awarded to MacKenzie Hanna and Mohamed Abaheram – will be back again next year.

Likewise, some of the tournament proceeds will be used to cover the cost of the annual Athletic Hall of fame Induction Ceremony which is held in October. No has been set for this year’s events.

The playing field included a number of former Panther All-Staters like Ray DeFusco, Bob Bigelli, Eric Skovron and Eddie Skovron and one-time JHS sports standouts like Davie Russo and Jim Picci.

Each player received a special gift package that included an embroidered hand towel, ball marker and beverage glass the committee purchased from another JHS alumni – Len Andrews – who at one time played in both the offensive and defensive line for the football Panthers and now owns and operates Stitches Sporting Goods on Killingly Street in Johnston.

Even the tourney check in committee epitomized the many family and friends who have made the tourney a super success and continue to support the tourney, hall of Fame and Gary V. Mazzie Memorial Scholarship.

That valuable volunteer staff included Lois Hopkins, Lee Mazzie, Cathy Gasken, Becky Mazzie Ansaldi, Samantha Mazzie and her baby Mack and Kira Mazzie.

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