SHERBURNE – “He was just great, his whole attitude, he never had anything bad to say about anyone,” said Sue Lawson, mother of the late Eric “Eeker” Peptis. “He was an all around good guy.”
For the fourth consecutive year, friends and family of Peptis have organized a golf tournament where proceeds are to benefit the Norwich High School FIRST Robotics Team #145. It’s scheduled for this Saturday, Aug. 1, 2015.
Peptis passed away four years ago on Mother’s Day. According to Lawson, Peptis’ friend Amy Doliver initiated the first tournament the same year of his passing. “They worked very hard on putting it together that first year, and here we are in the fourth year,” said Lawson.
Peptis’ mother added that her son was fond of golfing and many other sports including – but not limited to – baseball and football. “He played Pop Warner and Little League growing up,” Lawson said.
Jake Peptis, brother of “Eeker” said that one of the best memories he has with his brother was his ability to formulate witty and clever nicknames. “It’s just the funniest thing how he could come up with nicknames for people, and he just came up with them for everyone so quickly.”
Peptis added that $1,000 of the money raised at the golf tournament this Saturday will be donated to the Robotics Team. “A bunch of our friends’ children are in it, and it is something cool for the kids to be able to do,” said Peptis.
The tournament is set up as Captain and Crew style and tee-off is at 10 a.m. at Mountain Top Golf Course in Sherburne. While the teams are said to have been filled, the day is open to the public for those who would like to show their support to the family and friends of the young man known by many in the community.
Robert Faucett said he and “Eeker” had been friends since the third grade. “I lived down the street from him and his family from third grade until seventh grade on Henry Street. We were best friends.”
Faucett shared one of his favorite memories about his friend and said, “One year – I think it was sixth grade year or maybe fifth – we went trick-or-treating together at my grandmother’s house on Beebe Avenue. He had dressed as Freddy Krueger and I as a scientist. … This fit us exactly to the ‘T.’ He would bust me for watching the education channels all the time and I could never sleep after we watched his scary movies.”
“Well …I can still see him scraping his knife fingers on the Elm Street sign that intersects with Beebe Avenue,” Faucett added.
Said Faucett, “I participate in the tournament to remember him first of all of course, but we used to golf together and took it up around the same time. It is one activity he truly enjoyed and that is how everyone who participates wants to remember him. We are happy doing what he enjoyed.”
For those who would like to attend but not play golf, the price of the dinner is $10.
Additionally, there will be chances to win various prizes at the Chinese auction and 50/50 raffle.
“We have donated for two years straight to the Norwich City School’s Robotics Team,” said Event Organizer Amy Doliver. “ This is a great program and extracurricular activity for students.”
Doliver added that it is a program that is special to Peptis’ family.
Jake Peptis and Lawson both said that discussions are in the works for next year to provide two scholarships to students from the Norwich High School. “We think it would be nice to be able to help some students with college costs,” said Lawson.
Said Faucett, “The fact that we get to remember our friend and raise money for students golfing at the same time is great. With the high cost of college, any way a kid can stay out of debt is a plus. We cannot keep sending our graduates into the world with an astronomical amount of debt before they even have a job. I for one still have college loans i am paying off and struggled for the first couple years to even pay them. So this is why I feel this scholarship is important to minimize the debt for some deserving student.”
Lawson added, “Eric’s nephew is on the Robotics team and the two were very close. We want to help out some of these kids.”
“My thoughts are that putting the money toward school programs will help give kids other options for after school and weekends rather than turning to drugs and alcohol,” said Doliver.
Peptis’ mother said, “We ask that anyone - golfers or not, friends or acquaintances - come to check out the tournament. It’s an all around good time and a way to remember my son, and a friend of many.”