Former Students Honor Late Mahwah Teacher

This Monday, 130 golfers gathered to celebrate the memory of late Mahwah gym teacher and coach John Carty.

The 17th Annual John F. Carty Scholarship Golf Outing at the High Mountain Golf Club in Franklin Lakes raised money for scholarships that are awarded annually to Mahwah students. This year, the fund awarded $2,500 scholarships to four students.

The golf tournament “is like a big reunion for Mahwah students of all ages,” Roger Remo, who organizes the event each year, said. “This year, we had graduates of the Class of 1959 all the way through current high school sophomores playing golf in memory of Coach Carty.”

Coach John Carty taught at Mahwah schools from 1968-1990, with an attitude that Remo said allowed him to approach everyday asking the question, “What is best for the kids?” He taught phys ed, coached basketball, and, according to Remo, had a great “influence on all of the students that passed through his gym.”

Even current students who did not have Carty as a teacher or coach are probably familiar with his name and impact on the district: the high school gym is now named after him.

The John F. Carty Scholarship, which was founded in 1993 and raises money through private and corporate donations, has given away nearly $100,000 to Mahwah students so far.

“In my life, there were a couple of coaches who really made a difference, and John Carty was one of them,” Remo said. “He made a difference for everyone he taught, which is why so many people come together to remember him every year. We want to keep his memory alive.”

All of the proceeds from this year’s outing, which included a dinner, raffles, live auction of Phil Simms memorabilia, and a tribute by guest speaker Rich Lustig, who graduated MHS in 1988 and played for Coach Carty, will go into the scholarship fund.

“The event was filled with former Mahwah students, athletes and friends,” Remo said. “It’s just a great way to honor this great man.”

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