JMCE hosts first Co-Ed Memorial Golf Tournament

HELPING HANDS: The JMCE had plenty of help before and during Sunday’s tournament. Above, from left, Pat Lewis, Linda LaFazia, Mel Hebert and May Kernan separate the many raffle tickets that helped boost the day’s proceeds.

IN MEMORY OF: This is the first women’s tee at picturesque Glocester Country Club, which was dedicated to the late Pat Morra.

COLORFUL GARB: The Dumas family – Chris, Kim and Sam – were decked out in the day’s most colorful garb for Sunday’s tournament.

FOR A GOOD CAUSE: Roland and Pat Lachapelle and Kathy and Bud Balfour were among the 68 golfers who helped the JMCE raise $6,500 at Sunday’s tournament.

TOP TEAM: Terilyn and Mike Dorvall enjoy a lighter moment before teeing off in Sunday’s tournament. The couple, along with Michael Segee and Sandi Robertson, took home first place.

Posted Thursday, October 8, 2015 3:21 pm

Pete Fontaine

“Anna, Laura and Sal are looking down upon us today and smiling,” said Vin LaFazia, a leader of the Johnston Memorial Cancer Events, while standing under Sunday’s sparkling sun at Glocester Country Club. He was remembering his three deceased friends for whom the JMCE was founded.

“They’ve blessed us with today’s weather,” he said.

That was without question an understatement, given the driving rain that blanketed much of the eastern seaboard for five straight days last week and threatened cancellation of many events, including Sunday’s first-ever JMCE Co-Ed Memorial Golf Tournament.

But, as the event’s chairperson Judi Graham and JMCE treasurer Linda LaFazia said Saturday: “We’re going to have it; the weather is supposed to change.”

And it did. With the weather providing a glorious backdrop of sun, blue skies and a slight breeze, the JMCE presented and produced what turned out to be another record-setting event that was filled with what Graham called “many marvelous memorial stories from start to finish” and wound up netting approximately $6,500.

One of those special stories belonged to Phyllis Gelsomino, widow of the late Sal Gelsomonio, who Sunday set a JMCE record for serving the most ever sausage and pepper sandwiches at the non-profit’s golf tournaments.

Gelsomino is always there anchoring the food counter, serving what has become a JMCE signature sandwich. She does so in memory of her late husband, just as family members of the late Laura DeAngelis and Anna Mazzulla have been doing, and the JMCE has added the late Ray Johnson to that list.

Meanwhile, Sunday’s tournament featured many special stories that Graham said “touched the hearts of everyone who is here today.”

One of those special stories came from a small group of country club members who helped create a mighty memorial at the women’s first tee that was dedicated to the late Pat Morra.

The tee, which overlooks a portion of the well-manicured nine-hole layout in Harmony, has been specially landscaped with everything from flowers to huge rocks and a brass monument.

All proceeds from the JMCE’s efforts go to the Oncology and Hematology Departments at Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence.

The co-ed teams of Michael Segee and Sandi Robertson and Mike and Terilyn Dorvall took first place, while second place went to Tom and Kim Buckley and Ray Castieglio and Lori Caracciolo. Anthony Calabro and Doreen Grasso and Tom and Mel Hebert took home third place.

Jeanne daLuz won closest the pin among women and Audrey Jorge won the longest drive honors. Men’s winners were Ken Lewis Sr. for closest the pin and Jim Diggle for longest drive.