Golfers tee off for Steven J. Eisman Memorial fundraiser

Over a hundred friends and neighbors lined up in golf carts outside the Eisenhower Park Red Golf Course on a warm summer afternoon on July 23. Some were avid golfers aiming for a hole-in-one, while others were less familiar with the sport, but all came out to support the annual Steven J. Eisman Memorial Golf Outing, hosted by the East Meadow Kiwanis and Borrelli’s Italian Restaurant.

Steven Eisman died at 61 in November 2015 after a battle with pneumonia. The golf outing, which had been held for roughly 25 years at the time, was renamed in his memory because of his dedication to the community.

“He was the best friend I ever had,” said Tom Gallagher, as he got ready to tee off, and, another longtime friend, Gary Tabat, added, “He was loved and respected by every person who met him.”

Eisman was a past president of the East Meadow Kiwanis and Chamber of Commerce clubs and a past president of the Nassau County Bar Association. He also represented East Meadow as lieutenant governor of the Long Island South Central Kiwanis division and parliamentarian for the New York District Kiwanis.

“He was always a supporter of East Meadow,” added Debbie Coats, who organized the fundraiser along with Alan Beinhacker, Mike Litzner and Frank Borrelli, owner of Borrelli’s Italian Restaurant.

The event raised roughly $25,000 and included 85 sponsors from the community and beyond. “We’re doing better year by year,” said Brian O’Flaherty, of the East Meadow Kiwanis Club.

Proceeds from the golf outing go toward sending children to Kamp Kiwanis, in upstate Taberg, a summer camp for underprivileged children. The fundraiser also donates to community scholarships, the Alzheimer’s Foundation and the Easterseals veteran support foundation.

The event concluded with a dinner at Borrelli’s at 6 p.m., at which members of the community bonded over the day’s events.