The first word that comes to mind when thinking about the 2013 Ryan C. Gordon Memorial Kiddush Cup is “WOW”.

This year, in an effort to attract more people to our dinner event, we decided to begin The Cup two hours later than we have previously, so our tee-off time was scheduled for 11:00 a.m. and dinner was to take place at 5:00. And attract new diners we did.

Oh…the best laid plans. It started to drizzle around 9:00 a.m. and by 10:45 our golfers had taken shelter from what had become a deluge, waiting to find out if we were really going to tee off.

Almost every year, as you know if you’ve ever read these post-tournament round-ups, there is that ever-present threat of rain that never happens. This year, for the first time in our 14-year history, we were forced to cancel when that deluge turned the course’s greens to mini ponds and the greens-keeper said we couldn’t play – just 10 minutes before our tee-off time.

Many of us wondered, and asked…where was Ryan this year? For each year, as again you know if you’ve read these round-ups, when there’s been the threat of rain, we all credited Ryan for keeping it at bay. Not so this year.

Yet we’ve come to believe that perhaps there was a greater purpose in the rain coming, as it did.

Many people – both at the tournament and afterward, expressed their ‘condolences’ when they heard we had to cancel. As much as we would have liked to have played, what mattered more than anything was how many of our players showed up. Of the 122 golfers registered, 112 came to play – even in the pouring rain.

Within a ½ hour of canceling play, our volunteers and the Tradition’s staff readied the dining room for “dinner” and our raffle and live auction. MC’d by our dear friend and constant supporter, Fox61 Sports Director, Rich Coppola, our auction/raffle was our most successful ever! Dave Sherwood, from Sherwood Inspection Services, tried his hand at auctioneer and did a fabulous job. As usual, our raffle event was very exciting, and we must mostly credit Wynn Schoolnik for its success, as he once again pounded the streets and his computer to procure the best raffle prizes ever!

We once again thank our terrific chairs:

Dave Fried Financial Chair

Sandy Balayan Silent Auction Chair

Wynn Schoolnik Gift Chair

And ALL of our wonderful volunteers. There is no way we could do this without them!

Alida Cella Ariana Balayan Arlene O’Tell Barbara Gross Barry Schacht

Beryl Bloch Beth Pesce Bob Nolan Dave Sherwood Elise Schoolnik Gary Spelucin Henni Stolzman Julie Rappoport Ken Burt Kent Billings

Kimberly Dower Lynne Rappoport Mimi Block Nancy Huber Pat Glazer Phyllis Dober Saul Freilich Shirley Glasner Sue Harrison

In his short lifetime, Ryan never lost sight of what matters most. As competitive as he was, and no matter how much he loved to play, he never missed an opportunity to be with his family and friends, and in fact, often created the opportunities, leaving all of us with indelible memories.

Such as it was on Thursday, June 13th. We will never forget this most memorable day, when our wonderful golfers came together…not so much to play golf, but because they, too, know what matters most. And while many of our new dinner-only friends couldn’t make it because of the time change, several were able to come

Remarkably, the 2013 Ryan C. Gordon Memorial Kiddush Cup netted almost $27,000 – the most ever. Ryan’s charities, through Ryan’s Circle of Giving, and Beth Israel Synagogue will benefit from the most wonderful group of friends and supporters imaginable.

So yes, “WOW” is what comes to mind when thinking about this year’s tournament…and all who participate, both on and off the course.

Plans for next year’s tournament are already underway, and we have secured a date at Traditions – so please mark your calendars today – for Thursday, June 12th, 2014.

Hope to see you then – for another great day!