MONROE, Conn. — The Monroe Chamber of Commerce’s first annual Lee Hossler Memorial Golf Tournament was played under a clear blue sky at the Chris Bargas Golf Club at Whitney Farms Tuesday afternoon amid warm temperatures, a gentle breeze and plenty of sunshine.
“The weather’s beautiful,” Chamber President Ray Giovanni said before 40 golfers took to the greens in their golf carts. “I think Lee had a lot to do with that.”
Hossler, who passed away last January, is known for his long involvement with the town as a member of the Save Our Stepney Task Force and as “ambassador” of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce. He was Monroe’s Outstanding Citizen in 2017.
“Lee was a gentleman with white hair,” Giovanni told tournament participants seated in their golf carts before a shotgun start. “You may remember him. He always used to stand a little bit behind us, here on the side, watching what was going on. He was a true ambassador of our organization. For 20-some years he was very instrumental in pulling this together and getting all our tee signs — and he was so dedicated to our town of Monroe.”
Proceeds from the annual tournament funds scholarships for deserving Masuk High School seniors and numerous Chamber programs benefiting local businesses and the Monroe community.
Hossler’s wife, Dottie, her son, Michael, his wife, Kim, and their son, Jake, were honored guests at the awards dinner that Tuesday evening.
Dottie said people used to ask her why her husband organized the golf tournament, since he “wasn’t a golfer.”
“Actually, he was a golfer in Pennsylvania,” she said of Lee’s earlier days. “He was in a league and won a tournament in the 1960s.”
“Obviously, it’s a great honor to him,” Jake said of the tournament being renamed in honor of his late grandfather. “Last year, it was one of the things he talked about most to me. He always told stories about golfing and organizing this tournament.”
“We always offered to help, but it was his show,” Michael said with a smile.
“I’ve become very emotional about it,” Dottie said of the outpouring of support her family received since her husband’s passing. “I’m just very grateful for all the honors and kindness shown to our family, especially from Mr. Giovanni. His kindness in following up and seeing how we are … he has a great heart. He and Lee were best buddies.”
During the dinner, prizes were raffled off and Giovanni announced the winners of the tournament.
The team of Henry Guzman, Marvin Riviera, Jaimie Lopez and Doug won the tournament with a score of 59. Coming in second with a score of 65 was the team of Gaetano Marra, Jimmy Mondo, Jeff Fulchino and Chris Bajda.
Kevin Valenti had the longest drive and Henry Guzman hit his ball closest to the pin on hole four, within 10 feet and six inches.
Giovanni expressed his gratitude to the sponsors, the golf club, Chamber board members and all of the tournament’s participants, but the day belonged to the fond memories of Lee Hossler.
“We were all recipients of the wonderful work Lee did,” Giovanni said as he stood in the center of the dining room. “A round of applause for Lee.”
Giovanni introduced Hossler’s family, thanked them for attending the dinner and asked Michael Hossler to say a few words about his father.
“We are grateful for the way you honored my father,” Michael said, “and he’s been honored throughout town several different times, in several different ways.”
He said his father poured his heart into the golf tournament, adding he always wondered what it was like as he made his way around town, soliciting different businesses, trying to get golfers and pulling other things together for the annual event.
“It was really a passion project for him and it was one of the things that he absolutely loved to do,” Michael said. “My father was a salesman and a marketer at heart, but he also really valued the community — and that’s what he really loved about this event and working with the Chamber, and working with all the businesses that supported this.”
Michael said his father appreciated the relationships, those who participated in the tournament, and how much people were always willing to give.
“At his funeral services, I did say and we did repeat that he will be remembered, so if you wouldn’t mind raising a glass to my father, and if you’d repeat with me, “you will be remembered.”
Everyone in the dining room raised their glasses and said in unison, “you will be remembered.”
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