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| By Sarah M. Corigliano Assistant Managing Editor SPRINGFIELD After the death of Springfield Police Officer Ronnie Tatro last year, his friends and family hosted a fund-raiser to benefit Tatro's wife, Wendi, and thier sons, Cody and Cameron. This year, to honor Tatro's memory and help local students pursue their dreams of serving the public as police officers, fire fighters and emergency medical technicians, they will host the Ronnie Tatro Memorial Golf Tournament on Sept. 23. The tournament is intended to return each year, raising money for the scholarship fund. This year, it will take place at Veterans Golf Course in Springfield. Steve Tatro, Ronnie's brother who is also a Springfield police officer, told Reminder Publications last week that the goal for this year's event is to make as much money as possible for the scholarship fund and to give it all to deserving students. Tatro and other friends and family decided on a golf tournament because of Ronnie's love of the game. "We're a pretty sports oriented family," Tatro explained. "He and I played a lot of golf and played in a lot of tournaments ... it was one of his passions before he became a family man. He taught me and my wife how to play." Tatro continued, "If I had to think of an event [to honor his memory], golf would be one of them." In the coming weeks, Tatro said event organizers will help organize a scholarship committee which will choose the annual recipients of the Ronnie Tatro Memorial Scholarship. Details of qualifications for the award will be released after the committee is formed. At press time, Tatro said many golfers had already reserved most of the afternoon slots and he had begun receiving calls for the morning. In addition to sponsors and golfers still calling to sign up for participation in the tournament, last week Tatro said Gary Rome Hyundai and Lia Toyota had contributed a car each for a hole-in-one competition at the event. Ronnie's other brother, Brian Tatro, also contributed to the tournament as a sponsor through his business, Tatro Electric. Anyone interested in sponsoring the event, or participating as a golfer, may contact Steve Tatro (883-9644), Daniel Mahoney (262-3051), Ted Cass (427-2842) or Mark Kenney (374-9761). Sponsorship levels are: Bronze $100 donation (sponsor recognition on web site/ booklet); Silver $250 donation (sponsor recognition on tee sign/web site/ booklet); Gold $500 donation (sponsor recognition on tee sign/web site/ booklet and a gift); and Platinum $1,000 donation or more (sponsor recognition on tee sign/green sign, flag sponsor, a foursome in tournament and a gift). |