Golf tournament set to raise funds for area youth, celebrate life of Peptis
SHERBURNE – The fifth annual Eric J. Peptis Memorial Golf Tournament is set to take place this Saturday at the Mountain Top Golf Course, with proceeds to go to community youth.
“He was just a good kid and an even better man, and he is sorely, sorely missed,” said Sue Lawson, mother of the late Eric “Eeker” Peptis. “He loved everybody and was liked by all. At his funeral, the director said it was one of the biggest he’s seen.”
For the fifth consecutive year, family and friends of Peptis will join together Aug. 6, 2016, at the Mountain Top Golf Course in Sherburne for a tournament and auction where all proceeds benefit a scholarship fund created in Peptis’ name.
“The purpose of this tournament and memorial fund is to try to turn the tragedy of losing Eric into something that can help others,” said friend and organizer Amy Doliver.
Said Doliver,” Eric meant so much to a lot of people in this community. The golf tournament is a way for family and friends to come together and share memories of Eric while raising money that goes back directly to the community that he loved so much.”
His mother said, “He was the life of the party and he loved just about everyone. He always wore a smile and never had a bad word about anyone. He loved both his sports and his family.”
His brother, Jake Peptis, said, “He was able to make any bad situation that much better with his witty humor and antics. Like the time we took mom and dad’s Jeep to Gathering of the Vibes in Connecticut, it was raining, cold and nasty, and he kept trying to get women to have a margarita with him, on a beach that wasn’t quite a beach.”
Danielle Deuel recalled her prom night with Peptis. “Eeker came to pick me up at my mom’s house for photos before we headed out to have dinner. I'm almost 5'8" and in heels, well… you see the dilemma. We took our photos with me in my bare feet at his request. I remember at prom, he did this crazy nerdy dance move, I can't remember what he called it, but it was his ‘signature move,’ and my friends and I had a good laugh.”
In a previous interview with The Evening Sun, Peptis’ mother said, “Growing up, Eeker was your typical scrappy kid. He hung out with all the neighbors, and had more friends than I’ll probably ever know about,” Lawson said. “As a man, he worked hard. He did what he had to do when he had to do it, and knew how to have fun. He liked his concerts, he lived for those. He loved to go with Jake and Sarah.”
Peptis’ mother recalled that Eric gave her her Mother’s Day present one day early. “It was a ten-dollar piece of sea glass wrapped in silver wire. It was green, he knew it was Mom’s color. He brought it to the house and I put it on a chain I had because it didn’t come with one.”
Peptis passed on Mother’s Day. His mother said her husband took her to a local jewelry store that following Thursday to purchase a nice chain, and she hasn’t removed the necklace since.
“Eeker, Cooper and Drake had planned to go to a NJ Nets game one year, I had commented how I wanted to go,” said friend Dan McCoy as he recalled memories of his friend. “A few days later he said he had to go to work, gave me the ticket and said have fun. It was a great time with our mutual friends. I wish he could have been there with us, but just shows his unselfishness and love for his friends. I will never forget that.”
The tournament is captain and crew style, and Doliver said that while the teams are filled up, those who wish to donate can do so by contacting her at 316-2450.
In addition to the 18 holes that will be played Saturday at Mountain Top Golf Course, there will be a Chinese Auction and 50/50 raffle.
Businesses that have donated include but are not limited to: Smokin’ Bones, The Blarney Stone Pub, Taylor’s Country House, Nina’s, Park Place, Fred’s Inn, and Hairaphenalia.
Doliver said there have been numerous private donors and gratitude is extended to each.
All money raised from the tournament, raffles and auctions will benefit the Eric J. Peptis Memorial Scholarship Fund which donates to the Norwich City School FIRST Robotics Team #145. A donation will additionally be made to Collin Fern Racing.
“He is greatly missed by many but through our loss we hope to help as many people as possible,” said Doliver.
Whether people called him Eric, Eeker, Eek, or Eekside, he was just a likable guy and everyone thought the world of him,” Peptis’ mother said. “There was always a laugh and a smile when he was around.”
“He was just a good kid and an even better man, and he is sorely, sorely missed,” said Sue Lawson, mother of the late Eric “Eeker” Peptis. “He loved everybody and was liked by all. At his funeral, the director said it was one of the biggest he’s seen.”
For the fifth consecutive year, family and friends of Peptis will join together Aug. 6, 2016, at the Mountain Top Golf Course in Sherburne for a tournament and auction where all proceeds benefit a scholarship fund created in Peptis’ name.
“The purpose of this tournament and memorial fund is to try to turn the tragedy of losing Eric into something that can help others,” said friend and organizer Amy Doliver.
Said Doliver,” Eric meant so much to a lot of people in this community. The golf tournament is a way for family and friends to come together and share memories of Eric while raising money that goes back directly to the community that he loved so much.”
His mother said, “He was the life of the party and he loved just about everyone. He always wore a smile and never had a bad word about anyone. He loved both his sports and his family.”
His brother, Jake Peptis, said, “He was able to make any bad situation that much better with his witty humor and antics. Like the time we took mom and dad’s Jeep to Gathering of the Vibes in Connecticut, it was raining, cold and nasty, and he kept trying to get women to have a margarita with him, on a beach that wasn’t quite a beach.”
Danielle Deuel recalled her prom night with Peptis. “Eeker came to pick me up at my mom’s house for photos before we headed out to have dinner. I'm almost 5'8" and in heels, well… you see the dilemma. We took our photos with me in my bare feet at his request. I remember at prom, he did this crazy nerdy dance move, I can't remember what he called it, but it was his ‘signature move,’ and my friends and I had a good laugh.”
In a previous interview with The Evening Sun, Peptis’ mother said, “Growing up, Eeker was your typical scrappy kid. He hung out with all the neighbors, and had more friends than I’ll probably ever know about,” Lawson said. “As a man, he worked hard. He did what he had to do when he had to do it, and knew how to have fun. He liked his concerts, he lived for those. He loved to go with Jake and Sarah.”
Peptis’ mother recalled that Eric gave her her Mother’s Day present one day early. “It was a ten-dollar piece of sea glass wrapped in silver wire. It was green, he knew it was Mom’s color. He brought it to the house and I put it on a chain I had because it didn’t come with one.”
Peptis passed on Mother’s Day. His mother said her husband took her to a local jewelry store that following Thursday to purchase a nice chain, and she hasn’t removed the necklace since.
“Eeker, Cooper and Drake had planned to go to a NJ Nets game one year, I had commented how I wanted to go,” said friend Dan McCoy as he recalled memories of his friend. “A few days later he said he had to go to work, gave me the ticket and said have fun. It was a great time with our mutual friends. I wish he could have been there with us, but just shows his unselfishness and love for his friends. I will never forget that.”
The tournament is captain and crew style, and Doliver said that while the teams are filled up, those who wish to donate can do so by contacting her at 316-2450.
In addition to the 18 holes that will be played Saturday at Mountain Top Golf Course, there will be a Chinese Auction and 50/50 raffle.
Businesses that have donated include but are not limited to: Smokin’ Bones, The Blarney Stone Pub, Taylor’s Country House, Nina’s, Park Place, Fred’s Inn, and Hairaphenalia.
Doliver said there have been numerous private donors and gratitude is extended to each.
All money raised from the tournament, raffles and auctions will benefit the Eric J. Peptis Memorial Scholarship Fund which donates to the Norwich City School FIRST Robotics Team #145. A donation will additionally be made to Collin Fern Racing.
“He is greatly missed by many but through our loss we hope to help as many people as possible,” said Doliver.
Whether people called him Eric, Eeker, Eek, or Eekside, he was just a likable guy and everyone thought the world of him,” Peptis’ mother said. “There was always a laugh and a smile when he was around.”
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