Never forgetting Long Beach’s Geri Yellin

The annual kickball tournament honoring the memory of Geri Yellin, of Long Beach, who died in 2018, at 47, after a lengthy illness, will take place at Lincoln Orens Middle School in Island Park on Aug. 10.

The annual Momma Yellin’s Kickball Classic, which started in 2022, raises funds for the Geri E. Yellin Scholarship, which is awarded to a Long Beach High School senior who exemplifies the characteristics Geri embodied: strength, bravery, determination and kindness. There will be a number of games throughout the day, and prizes will be raffled off by local businesses. Money raised from entry fees, sponsorships and purchases on the day of the tournament help fund the scholarship.

Yellin, a longtime resident of Long Beach, was born with congenital heart disease and faced numerous health challenges, including diabetes and endometriosis, a condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus, the endometrium, grows outside the uterus. Despite her illnesses, she found joy in life and was deeply involved in raising her daughter, Brooke Yellin, now 22, of Island Park.

Brooke said she learned that when her mother was born, “she was the color blue.” “She had 5 percent oxygen going to her brain,” Brooke explained. “Her doctors (said) that she would never have a normal life, she’d be a vegetable after two weeks — and then she was still OK. She was the embodiment of determination and going against the odds.”

The scholarship is the Yellin family’s way of ensuring that Geri’s spirit lives on by supporting students who share her qualities. Yellin was a stay-at-home mom who was dedicated to raising Brooke, her only child. Now, Brooke’s father, Ian, works two jobs to help put her through college.

“My mom was with me every second of the day,” Brooke said. “She was my best friend. I was standing there at 15, and I didn’t know what to do with myself, because I knew I wasn’t a dark, dark path kind of person. I knew that’s who my mom never raised me to be. I asked my therapist how I could keep her name alive.”

She decided to organize the kickball tournament, bringing the community together in a celebration of sportsmanship and remembrance. Held each of the past three years, it brings participants of all ages together for a day of fun and friendly competition. Before the tournament, Brooke sold phone wallets and bracelets to raise money in honor of her late mother. Now teams are formed, strategies are devised and the participants are caught up in the spirit of camaraderie.

Passionate about physical education and influenced by her mother’s encouragement of her athletic pursuits, Brooke has worked extensively with children as a coach and activity director at Long Beach Summer Camp. She also played soccer and was the first female placekicker on the Long Beach High School football team.

Over the past four years, Brooke has attended Queens College, working toward her goal of becoming a phys. ed. teacher.

“My mom looks down on me and says, ‘You picked the right career,’” Brooke said. “She supported everything that I wanted, and I still get to live that through P.E. and help kids out through physical activity. I’ve picked something that’s really meant for me, and it’s nice because my mom supported all my dreams.”

In the six years that the scholarship has been in existence, Brooke has raised about $5,000, even while taking a break during the pandemic. One scholarship is awarded each year to a Long Beach High student who has not only excelled academically, but also demonstrated Geri Yellin-like character.

“There’s a lot of athletic scholarships, and there’s a lot of academic scholarships, but there’s never really a highlight on a student’s character to push through adversity and overcome obstacles,” Brooke said. “Just because they had something bad happen in their life doesn’t mean that they have to go down that dark road. I know that my mom was the embodiment of the scholarship. She’s the (essence) of determination and strength, and kids need to be recognized for that.”

One of the recipients of the scholarship was Moira Ryan, who sent Brooke a thank-you card for receiving the honor.

“I never expected anything from these kids, ever, but the fact that I had got a handwritten thank-you card for just giving her a scholarship was something that made it all worth it,” Brooke said.

Balancing the organization of the kickball tournament with her full-time phys. ed. studies is no small feat, but Brooke has handled it with grace. Her dedication to ensuring her mother’s legacy is evident in every aspect of the event. From securing sponsors and volunteers to coordinating with participating teams, she ensures that every detail has been covered.

“When my mom passed away, the town of Island Park, the town of Long Beach — their support was amazing,” she said. “So if I can give support to them the way they’ve given support to me, then I think my life is set. I feel like I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing.”

For those interested in taking part in or supporting the event, more information can be found on the Instagram page geri.e.yellin.scholarship or by emailing byellin1018@gmail.com.