Tom Bundros is one of those people with “big shoulders” – a
hard-working man with a keen intellect, Greek heritage and a good
nature who has lent time and talent to this community over and over
again.
Marlene and Mike Hughes shucked corn and cut tomatoes all morning. “Mayor” Rich Perez helped roll out tables and chairs and set up the tequila bar at the putting green. David Cox ferried extra tables and chairs to the golf course from St. Joseph’s Family Center. Randy Costa spent the morning schlepping and the afternoon mopping up. Chris Wheeler furnished water bottles. Troy Garcia smoked up a ton of ribs and Dave Bozzo made sure the side dishes were plentiful. Garlic Festival Queen Pageant Chair Alannah Radtke brought vivacious princesses Heather Brodersen, Alexis Guiza and Melissa Davis who sold the paper off the raffle tickets. Don Prieto, aka Elvis, showed up in a dazzling gold costume that would have made “The King” proud and Bill Christopher shelled out $650 bones for the “Elvis and Aver” package – a party performance and 6 fabulous bottles of Aver Family Vineyards vino. Satori, Fortino, Solis, and Martin Ranch wineries donated. So did Station 55, the Milias, and Mama Mia’s restaurants. Kim and Chris ably shouldered double duty as the lovely and talented tequila bartendresses and putting contest queens. Sal and Annie Tomasello greeted golfers, grilled up hot dogs and kept the beverages cold as Hole #3 hosts. Ann Marie “Fifth Avenue” Saaks and Bill Ayer kept groups “watered” and “cigar happy” as on-course mobile cheer spreaders after Joann Kessler and Chris Filice got everyone off to a cheerful start at the check-in table. Jeff and Barbara Orth donated wine (as did Michelle Garcia) for the dinner and the Orth’s poured freely. Longtime GF publicist Peter Ciccarelli secured a tickets galore package including a backstage meet-and-greet with Rascal Flatts. Pi Silverstein graciously took a zillion photos – check out the infamous “Kilt Man” and more at brianbowe.shutterfly.com. Don Gage worked the auction crowd with his velvet-gloved iron fist. Debbie and Rose Emma Pellicione and Shannon Catalano and the Classy Moms group whipped up cookies and brownies that disappeared like magic … and that’s just the tip of the cupcake. There are plenty of others who lent a hand to make the One for Brian Golf Tournament Dinner and Auction a rousing success last Friday – 100 golfers played, 240-plus came to the dinner/auction and sponsors, like the Filice Family, Lanny Brown and Headstart Nursery were prolific and generous.
OK, the sound system needed to be better and the auction/raffle went a tad long as nightfall crept over the (dare I call it quaint) BBQ area at the Gilroy Golf Course.
Fittingly, “One for Brian” came out just about as perfect as this year’s Garlic Festival. A palpable sense of goodness permeated the event. That sounds strange, but you really could feel it in the air – the extended Gilroy family, emanating from the Garlic Festival out – united to help take care of and support a member of the family. It was cool. Better yet, as committee member Don DeLorenzo said a few days afterward, “It was fulfilling. Everyone seemed fulfilled.”
One of Brian’s high school chums caught wind of the event and came on down to support him. Floored by the turnout and support, he asked Brian if he “knew” all these people at the dinner. Well, the answer is twofold – those he didn’t, he does now, and what really matters is that they knew Brian has devoted himself to making our city’s signature event the best and most renowned food and fun festival in the nation. They get it – that event pays far-reaching dividends for this community and the helm is manned by a person who walks the walk and believes in the spirit that carries our festival to the heights it has achieved. It’s such an important spiritual and economic engine for our community.
In saying a few eloquent words of thanks to the crowd, “Tough Guy” Brian (and he is) choked up a bit. How could he not with that turnout, that support, that Gilroy goodness focused on helping him get well?
Feel good Gilroy. Through your generosity an incredible $31,115 will be given to Brian this morning in what’s hoped to be a surprise encounter of the smiling kind at the Garlic Festival office.
The original goal for “One for Brian” was to try and raise enough to pay for one of the treatments he needs to defeat the carcinoid cancer that has invaded his body: about $15,000. That, we thought, would be a challenge, but potentially reachable. Even the wonderful committee that put it all together – Jeff Martin, Don DeLorenzo, Sam Bozzo and Jenny Derry – didn’t see the Gilroy generosity train coming down the tunnel. Shame on insurance for refusing to pay for a potentially life-saving treatment, but supreme kudos for Gilroyans who came through in the clutch.
Fact is, Gilroy delivered “Two for Brian” and that is certainly a huge burden off his shoulders and a great relief to his family.
In the months ahead, as he jets to Houston for the cutting-edge treatments he needs, he’ll no doubt remember the names on each of those hundreds of checks that will be carefully strewn on the board table – each written out directly to “Brian Bowe.”
Imagine how Brian will feel as he’s endorsing those and thinking about the future. What did Lou Gherig say in his famous farewell speech at Yankee Stadium? … “Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth … So I close in saying that I might have been given a bad break, but I’ve got an awful lot to live for.”
Brian won’t forget the Gilroy support he so graciously received Friday – just like I’ll never forget when my friend Jeff Martin built a wheelchair ramp to our front door after my wife was temporarily paralyzed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome.
Gilroy constructed a foundation Friday for Brian’s bridge over the troubled waters ahead. Gilroy is Great – and Brian’s going to have something to say about that when he’s presiding over the 50th Annual Gilroy Garlic Festival.
