Jerry Colagiovanni is a Jersey City native who grew up in West New York, before he took off to find the bright lights of the Jersey Shore, owning and operating the popular Point Pleasant Beach attraction Jenkinson’s-on-the-Boardwalk.
Colagiovanni also works for the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. A few years ago, Colagiovanni was introduced to the Turnpike Authority’s communications director Tom Suszka, who had also volunteered his services to the Hudson Reporter newspaper chain as a sports photographer.
Being that both Colagiovanni and Suszka were Jersey City boys through and through, the two struck up a friendship that was impenetrable, until Suszka died last August after a long battle with cancer. Tommy Suszka was just 47 years old.
“Once we hit it off, I knew that we were friends for life,” Colagiovanni said. “We did a lot of things together.”
One of the things that Colagiovanni did in his spare time was a fundraising project called PUCKS (Players Using Hockey to Care for Kids), where Colagiovanni would find a worthy cause, put together a charity hockey game, filled with some of hockey’s biggest celebrities, and donate the money to that cause.
“Over the years, we’ve had about 10 or so events to raise money for needy people,” Colagiovanni said. “Tommy used to help me out by taking the pictures at the games.”
Now, it’s time for Colagiovanni to give something back. This year, the charity game will benefit Tommy Suszka’s three young children in the form of an educational fund.
“He’s been part of my team, so now this is our chance to give something back in his honor,” Colagiovanni said. “We all wanted Tommy to live. He meant so much to all of us. This is the best way I know how to help. He helped me put together these games in the past and now we’re keeping Tommy’s memory alive and helping his kids in the process.”
The charity hockey game will take place Saturday, March 18, at the Ocean Ice Palace in Wall, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Colagiovanni and Jersey City native Tom Shine have received commitments from a host of legendary hockey greats from the Devils, Rangers, Islanders and Flyers, who will be on hand for the great event.
Some of the names expected to be there include former Devil greats Bruce Driver, Ken Daneyko, Randy Velichek, Bobby Carpenter, John McLean and Glenn “Chico” Resch. Hall of Famer Rod Gilbert, who heads the Rangers’ Alumni Association, has given a commitment to the Broadway Blueshirts’ contingent, including former Rangers Ed Hospadar, Pete Stemkowski, Pat LaFontaine and Joey Mullen.
Among the Islander greats, Bobby Nystrom, Garry Howatt and Ken Morrow will be on hand, as well as Reggie Leach and Jimmy Watson of the Flyers.
Colagiovanni said that he has reached out to two members of the “Miracle on Ice” 1980 Olympic hockey team, namely Dave Silk and Dave Christian, and they said they will try to attend.
“It should be a great night,” Colagiovanni said. “We got a nice group of people coming.”
Tickets for the game between the Hockey Legends and the Bud Ice All-Stars are priced at $10.00. A post-game reception will take place at the Boardwalk Bar & Grill at Jenkinson’s in Point Pleasant. Tickets for that reception are $5.
“We couldn’t have been able to pull this off without the help of Joan Dwulet of the Ice Palace and Crown Beer Distributor,” Colagiovanni said. “Tommy was always there for me and now it’s our turn to be there for Tommy’s kids.”
For ticket information, contact Colagiovanni at (732) 598-7052 or Shine at (201) 339-3639…
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