Jim McNiff Memorial Golf Tournament

    On Tuesday May 8th, 124 golfers participated in the 1st Annual Jim McNiff Memorial Golf Tournament at the Fairchild Wheeler Golf Course. The success of this event resulted in a donation of $18,000 designated for renal cell cancer research at Yale Cancer Center via the Closer to Free Fund. Jim McNiff, a well-loved family man, friend, team mate and co-worker, retired from Western Connecticut Stae University in 2008 shortly before he lost his life to renal cell cancer at age 61. Jim loved a fun and healthy lifestyle and was active in sports all of his life, including softball, basketball, and golf up to the time of his illness.

    Jim's family, his widow, Mary McNiff, and his grown children, Sarah and Mike Conroy, James McNiff Jr, and Megan McNiff, as well as his life-long friends formed a committee to create this successful first-time event in his honor to raise funds to donate towards cancer research. They were overwhelmed by the response of family, friends, team mates, and former co-workers who stepped up to fill foursomes of this inaugural event. The committee obtained an amazing 33 sponsors for the tournament and received thousands of dollars worth of donated raffle prizes to give away at the dinner, catered by Vazzy's, following the tournament.

    This event could only have been as successful as it was, because of the tremendous outpouring of support by its golfers, sponsors, and prize donors. The family wishes to thank everyone for their generosity towards the tournament and goal of funding cancer research, particularly the Golf Tournament Committee composed of family and friends: Marilyn and Ken Firmender, Sue and Mark Valentine, Betty and Hank Sprouse, Kathy and Dave Gosart, Eileen and Bob Smith, Janis and Jim McGuire, Margie McEachern, Michael McEachern, Jaime O'Leary, John O'Leary, Kim Spinelli, Rhena Higgins, Laura DeVaux, Bernie Lee, and Kevin Field.

    The committee hopes to make this an annual event held on or around Jim McNiff's birthday, May 8th.