Milltown FD golf event honors NYC firefighter
Benefits charity while celebrating memory of fireman lost on 9/11
BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer

Charles Garbarini

MILLTOWN - Though Charles Garbarini was someone borough firefighters never met, he is someone they will never forget.

The lieutenant with the New York City Fire Department perished in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, but his memory burns brightly, thanks to those who continue to honor it.

"That's the one thing about firemen - we take care of each other, come hell or high water," Milltown Deputy Fire Chief Jules Dekovics said.

The sixth annual Charles Garbarini Golf Outing will be a testament to that, as the event has been every year since the firefighter's death. A charity fundraiser, the event brings together Garbarini's widow, Andrea, his colleagues from New York, and the Milltown firefighters, in efforts to celebrate the memory of the man while helping others.

"It's a bond we now have, with her and with our brothers in the city," Dekovics said. "It's all about remembering one of hundreds of American heroes from that day."

After the 2001 attack, members of the borough fire department wanted to find a way to help one of the many suffering families left behind. Former Milltowner Gerard "Cookie" Sillcocks, who worked with

Garbarini for the New York City Fire Dep artment, suggested the group help the wife and children of his deceased friend and colleague.

Dekovics said he especially felt for the Garbarinis' sons, Philip and Dylan, who were 3 and 5 years old at the time of their father's death.

By October 2001, the local firefighters organized a car wash to help raise money for the family. Their determination shone through when rain threatened to thwart their efforts, and resourcefulness told them to use their boots to take up collections from passing cars in town. They raised $5,000 that day.

The golf outing was born soon after, creating a fun way for members of the community to help a family in need. Now that the Garbarini family has received all of the insurance payments due them, funds raised by the yearly event go to charity.

Dekovics, who chairs the event, said he confers with Andrea to determine where funds will be sent. They try to contribute to organizations with low overhead costs, so as much of the money as possible can go straight to the chosen cause. For the past two years, the event's proceeds were donated to the Connecticut Children's Burn Camp. This year, they will go to COSAC, the Center for Outreach and Services for the Autism Community.

According to Dekovics, the event has raised somewhere between $4,000 and $7,000 each year.

Scheduled for June 9, the outing will encompass a full day at the Cranbury Golf Club. Golfers will start the day with a breakfast of coffee and doughnuts, then tee off in a shotgun scramble format at 10 a.m.

Prizes for winning teams, longest drives and closest to the pin will liven up the competition. A crowd favorite, "Beat the Hunky," dubbed so because of Dekovics' Hungarian heritage, involves him staying at a par three hole all day, challenging players as they come through. A prize is awarded to anyone who can hit the ball closer to the hole than Dekovics.

Though Dekovics enjoys the competition, he has his own reasons for going head-to-head with players in "Beat the Hunky." He said it gives him a chance to meet with each person who participates in the day's events, and give them a personal "thank you."

"We want people to know that we really appreciate it," Dekovics said.

Door prizes will also be awarded, and lunch and a buffet dinner, complete with cocktail hour, are scheduled.

Though the proceeds may not total as much as previous years due to the state of the economy, Dekovics said, the important thing is to come together and honor Gambarini's life and heroism.

"It's all about the charity and the man and the sacrifice," Dekovics said.

Tickets for the event are $135, and include all three meals. For those who just wish to attend the dinner, those tickets are available for $35. To purchase tickets or for more information on the event, call Jules Dekovics at (732) 803-8691, visit www.milltownfire.org, or e-mail Dekovics at his web address, mfd_fdny_golfouting@ yahoo.com.