Former Maine star Chris Ferraro will launch the Jennifer Ferraro Foundation with a celebrity golf tournament, dinner and auction to be held on Aug. 14, 2003 at Bethpage State Park on Long Island, New York.<\/p>\n
The Foundation was established by Ferraro to honor his late wife who died after a short bout with stomach cancer in Nov. 2002 at the age of 32. The couple, who first met as students at Maine in 1994 while Chris was a sophomore forward for the Black Bears, had been married just over a year when Jennifer passed away. She was diagnosed with the disease in Oct. 2001, three months after their wedding.<\/p>\n
“During Jen’s illness the Washington Capitals could not have been more generous to my family, but I know others are not so fortunate,” said Ferraro.<\/p>\n
“The goal of this event is to assist patients suffering from stomach cancer with their medical bills, treatment expenses and other costs not covered by health insurance.<\/p>\n
“Jen always put the needs of others first and we intend to do the same in her memory.”<\/p>\n
Among those expected to attend the event are New York Islanders captain Michael Peca, Islander goaltender and former Boston University star Rick DiPietro, former Islander and newly elected Hall-of-Famer Pat Lafontaine, and several members of the Islanders’ 1980s Stanley Cup winning teams including Bryan Trottier and Bob Nystrom.<\/p>\n
Others include retired NHL referee Paul Stewart, Capitals general manager and former Bowling Green star George McPhee, Islanders color analyst Joe Micheletti and New York Rangers play-by-play announcer Sam Rosen.<\/p>\n