A few years ago, when St. Joseph of the Palisades High School decided to bring back football, there was a rally cry from prominent alumni who were going to raise money to help restore the history and tradition of the program.
One of the most influential and enthusiastic members of that group was a former St. Joseph great named Michael Tanner, a three-sport superstar (Class of 1975) who went on to play quarterback at Cornell University and became a member of the Hudson County Sports Hall of Fame.
"I have to say when we first started, Mike was one of the first people to get involved," said John Toomey, the school’s director of development. "He was the one constant who was there all the time, at all the meetings. He was very enthusiastic about bringing back football and helping us to raise money. He did so much to help get the program started again."
One of the ideas that was floated about the first year was to hold an alumni golf outing. It was perfect for Tanner, because the Secaucus native loved to golf and he loved St. Joseph.
So in the summer of 2001, the first St. Joseph Alumni Golf Outing was held. Thanks to the help of people like Tanner, the school was able to raise $4,000 that went directly to help start the football team, which returned to action that fall.
However, something else happened that year which changed the face of the golf outing forever.
Michael Tanner was tragically lost in the World Trade Center disaster. He was only 44 years old.
Last year, the golf tournament was officially renamed as the Michael Tanner Memorial Golf Outing, a fitting way to remember one of the greatest athletes in the history of the school.
"I wish I didn’t have to help run this event," said Gerry Bellotti, one of the school’s Board of Directors, Tanner’s former coach who became a very close friend. "I wish I could still be playing with him. Mike was such a great supporter to the program. It’s almost a little surreal that we’re organizing a golf outing and he’s not here. I’m glad to be able to do it, because I love St. Joe’s and I love Michael Tanner."
Many of Tanner’s friends and former teammates are dedicating their time and effort to make the second annual Michael Tanner Memorial Outing, which will be held July 17 at the Emerson Country Club in Bergen County.
Incredibly, the tournament is sold out, with more than 115 golfers participating.
"It’s going really well," Bellotti said. "I’m very happy about this. Hopefully, we’ll have a nice day and everyone will enjoy themselves."
Bellotti said that the school has received commitments from several of Tanner’s former teammates, including one, Jimmy Breen, who is coming back from California to play in the outing.
"Here’s a small world," Bellotti said. "Breen went on to play baseball at Manhattan College, and one of the people in Breen’s foursome that day is Bob Byrnes, who is the athletic director at Manhattan College now."
Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell has thrown his support to the outing and will participate as well.
"There will be a lot of good people coming back," Bellotti said.
Toomey said that last year’s event raised $16,000. They are hoping for more this time around.
"We’ve had a huge response," Toomey said. "People have been contacting us with donations."
Bellotti said that one of Tanner’s former classmates at St. Joseph is Terry Farmer, who is a vice-president with the Stanley Cup Champion New Jersey Devils.
"Terry has donated an autographed jersey of the Devils that we will raffle off," Bellotti said. "We have someone else who donated a wide-screen TV and a DVD player. We have other prizes as well. It’s great to see the way everyone has come together. It was a great event last year. We’ve made it even better this year."
Part of the proceeds from the outing also go toward the Michael Tanner Memorial Scholarship, which was established last year in his memory as well.
"We have classmates, friends, football players, business people and family people all coming together," Bellotti said. "It’s really great to see."
And a great way to remember a great guy.
"I remember when I first met him that he was such a nice guy," Toomey said.
It’s perhaps the greatest compliment anyone could ever give to Michael Tanner, that he truly was a great guy, perhaps even a better person than he was an athlete. He was so beloved that it’s vital that his name stays alive in this tournament that now unfortunately, but proudly, bears his name. – Jim Hague