Around Lindenhurst: Softball raises $3G

On Oct. 22, Fireman’s Memorial Park in Lindenhurst was buzzing with softball players from early in the morning until late at night during the ninth annual Patrick Boylan Memorial Softball Tournament.

The tournament is held in honor Patrick Boylan, a Lindenhurst resident and New York City firefighter who died in 2002 of cardiac arrest during surgery.

Boylan served in FDNY Ladder Co. 7, which had nine firefighters killed in the 9/11 attacks. Boylan’s friend and tournament creator, Bob Weiden, said Boylan “always put others’ needs ahead of his own.”

“It’s wonderful to come together and celebrate his memory every year,” he added.

The first tournament was held for the Boylan family to celebrate Patrick’s life. It was such a success that it became an annual event. The number of teams participating increases every year, as well as those attending just to show their support, Weiden said.

Boylan’s family members attend every year, including his parents, who come up from Florida.

This year’s event included the sale of tournament T-shirts, raffle drawings and food sold and donated by Duffy’s Wings of Lindenhurst. More than $3,000 was raised, which will go to several local families in need.