Montauk Pioneer - August 22, 2008

Children, Parents and Community Show Support For 30 Kids and 20 Parents For Fallen Firemen and Police

Kevin Rafferty, 13, of Islip, was reeling in five fluke in a row, aboard a fishing boat in Montauk last Saturday, with his mother and two sisters.

"My father would have loved this," he said, wearing a black T-shirt with the words, "In Memory of Detective Patrick Rafferty."

The young Rafferty was one of about 30 kids, and 20 parents, from Queens and Long Island, who came out to enjoy a carefree day of fishing aboard the Ebb Tide party boat out of Salivar's Dock. But besides fishing, these kids all shared the common bond having parents who were New York City police officers, fire fighters, Port Authority Police, and EMS personnel who were killed in the line of duty.

Eileen Rafferty, Kevin's mother, said her husband and his partner, Detective Robert Parker, both of the 67th Precinct, were killed on September 10, 2004, during a domestic violence dispute in Flatbush.

"It's overwhelming at times, the outpouring of strangers," she said. "Today is a huge example of it."

This trip was organized by Rich Warme, a mate on the Ebb Tide, and also by the boat's owner, Jane Bowman, who decided to donate a day of fishing to the New York Police & Fire Widow's & Children's Benefit Fund, which gives supplemental financial assistance to families who have lost a loved one in the line of duty.

"I lost two sons, and I know what it's like, so I wanted to help give back to these families," said Warme. "I also thought there were so many fathers lost, who can no longer get to take their kids fishing."

Jane Bowman, the boat's owner, of Montauk, said she also wanted to give back because her husband is a retired fireman of Yonkers.

"I know what it's like to worry all the time about whether your husband will come home, and to have him constantly putting his life on the line to help others," she said. "I thought what better way to have a carefree day than going out on the water fishing?

As the boat pulled into the dock around noon, after three hours at sea, the kids were awarded prizes of fishing rods and reels, donated Paulie's Tackle Shop of Montauk. They were wearing sunglasses donated by Lenny's Restaurant, and hats donated by the Ebb Tide.

Kevin Rafferty won for getting the first "keeper" fluke of the day, and his sister, Kara, 16, won for catching the biggest fish of the day, at over 21 inches.

"I'm going to take it home and cook it," she said. "I'm excited about this new rod, because my old one is in bad shape."

Gabrielle Scauso, 13, of Melville, won a rod for catching the first fish. "But I had to throw it back, because it was too small," said Scauso, who was fishing with her sister, Juliette, and their stepfather, Frank Herman.

"We even saw a giant sea turtle, which swam up to our boat, and the kids loved it!" said Herman. He said their father, Dennis Scauso, was a fireman with the Hazmat team in Queens, who was killed in the line of duty.

Linda Giammona, Director of Development for the New York Police & Fire Widow's & Children's Benefit Fund, said her organization, which was started in 1985 by Rusty Staub of the New York Mets, has raised and distributed money annually to over 700 families who lost a loved one in the line of duty.

"Our oldest widow is 98, and our youngest is 23," she said. "About half the families we've helped were either before, or after, 9/11 and most are from Long Island," she said.

Giammona, who lost her brother, a firefighter, in 9/11, and whose firefighter husband survived 9/11, said her non-profit organization is independent, and survives solely on private donations.

She said this was her group's first fishing trip, and that, "We are so happy that the Montauk Community has embraced us."

At a pool party and barbecue afterwards, at the home of Ken Giustino of Montauk, Giammona played a public service announcement of her group, which was narrated by Harrison Ford. The kids swam and ate hot dogs, hamburgers, and other food donated by a host of local restaurants, including Gurney's Inn, The Pointe Bar & Grill, MTK, Cromer's Market, Tipperary Inn, and Salivar's. Pepsi Company donated soda, 30 basketballs, and an Ex-Box to the children, and the Tipperary donated a bicycle, which was raffled off along with the Ex-Box.

"We were so grateful to all these businesses for helping make our day so much fun for these kids," said Giustino, who also helped organize the day-long event.

For more information on the New York Police & Fire Widows & Children's Benefit Fund, check their website at www.answerthecall.org