Jul 18, 2008 10:54 pm US/Central
Remembering Randy: 2 Events Celebrate His Life
Golf Tournament, Caribbean-Themed Party Raise Money For Randy Salerno Foundation
McHENRY, Ill. (CBS) ―
A wonderful day of golf and gala festivities is underway in the northwest suburbs to honor the life of our beloved colleague and friend Randy Salerno.
Randy passed away on Jan. 24 in a snowmobiling accident in northern Wisconsin. It was a shocking and devastating loss to Randy's family and friends, CBS 2 and the greater Chicago broadcasting community, and the millions who had gotten to know Randy from television.
But Friday was an uplifting day to celebrate the way Randy lived his life. He went for the punchline and made the most of every moment, and he regularly kept the entire newsroom in stitches.
But when he left the office every day, his family was always his first priority.
And he took great pleasure in a weekly round of golf.
In that spirit, the festivities began Friday morning with a 27-hole celebrity golf tournament at the Boone Creek Golf Club in McHenry, followed by a gala in his hometown of Crystal Lake.
Nearly 1,000 people filled a huge tent erected for the occasion at Lippold Park in Crystal Lake. Each person donated $75 a ticket to be wined and dined and serenaded with the Caribbean rock Randy loved at "Under the Caribbean Twilight."
They also bid thousands of dollars for dozens of auction items including a hand-crafted surfboard, with caricatures of Randy flanked by his musical heroes -- Jimmy Buffet on the left and fellow Coral Reefer Band member Mac MacAnally on the right.
Between the party and the auction and an all-day golf tournament, they hope to raise $150,000. Proceeds from the events will benefit Randy's foundation, which will offer scholarships to high school and college students from Randy's alma maters, Crystal Lake South High School and Illinois State University, who are looking to study journalism.
Randy headed to the Boone Creek Golf Club every Sunday during the summer, and his family and friends Friday played the kind of golf Randy enjoyed.
"We'll be playing the way Randy liked to play – fast, and probably loose," said childhood friend Tony Peters.
"He thought he was a golfer, but he enjoyed the sport," said childhood friend John Macklin, "and I think moreso than anything, he just liked to compete."
"Randy is smiling on us today," Peters said.
When Randy lost his life, he left behind his wife Irene and their three children, his parents, and many friends.
Irene Salerno says the events are helping everyone grieve.
"It has been healing; bittersweet too," she said. "I just hope that out of something so terrible, good things can happen; that good things will continue to happen in his name."
On the 14th hole, a maple tree was planted in Randy's memory. Some time ago, Randy battled the hazards and finally birdied the hole.
"I chose this hole because this is a memory this was a memory that I had with Randy; how he was so happy," said Randy Salerno Foundation Golf Chairman Keith Fiantago. "He was very happy because he birdied this hole, and he had conquered it, and he won all the points for this hole."
Some local celebrities headed to the golf course for the event, among them CBS 2's Jay Levine, Rob Johnson and Howard Sudberry, and director Joe Hoffman.
CBS 2's Joanie Lum and Jay Levine contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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