He had the biggest heart of anyone that I ever knew! This page is to honor him, remember him, and keep his spirit alive (and I plan to do just that)! Through what I am calling "Play it Forward," I plan to keep his spirit alive for quite some time, on and off the golf course. He loved to golf, and we all loved to golf with him. Especially growing up, golfing with Papa always meant that somehow we w
ere always all tied up heading to the last hole. He would always say something along the lines of “this is for all the marble.” Also guaranteed was that we were going to the nearest Dairy Queen after every round - Papa paid of course because he somehow "lost" every time. As long as we had fun, that was all that mattered to Papa. He may have "lost" every round of golf we played together, but the smile on his face mixed with that roar of a laugh that we all miss dearly make it seem like he was truly the winner. I love and miss him dearly, and this golf season will be a tough one no doubt. However, I truly believe that he would absolutely love the idea of “Play it Forward.”
Here is how it works. At some point during every round, I will be leaving a personalized golf ball, tee, and a message of some kind (laminated card) somewhere on the course for anyone to find. When they find it, hopefully they will take the message seriously and keep the movement alive - keeping Papa’s spirit alive as well! Additionally, the movement encourages the participants to pay it forward in another way – through donations to any local charity of their choosing. The instructions are as follows:
Step 1: Please accept this gift! Step 2: Give a gift. Papa was full of surprises, so the #PlayItForward movement would be right up his alley! During your next round, surprise another golfer with a gift of your own along with this message. Step 3: Make a donation. Papa loved to give! During every round of golf Papa collected aluminum cans; as you know, beer and golf go hand-in-hand! Papa donated the proceeds at the end of each season to Emmaus Soup Kitchen (Erie, PA). So, I encourage you to make a donation to a local charity of your choosing. If you can’t decide, the American Heart Association would also be a great choice! Step 4: Snap pictures of your #PlayItForward journey and share with your friends and the #PapaStrong community. Please feel free to message me with any other suggestions.
